The War reaches Europe: Strategy document reveals Al Qaeda's plans

Dagbladet ^ | 11 March, 2004 | Helge Øgrim

[Eurotwit]

If it really is Al-Qaeda who is responsible for the horrific deeds in Madrid, the terror war has reached the shores of Europe. The reaction to it will be critical.

Spanish authorities immediately claimed that ETA was behind the bombings. That carries some weight because Spanish police carries out a close surveilance of the Basque terrorists, and are probably privy to information that is not in the public domain.

However, Bin Laden's terror organisation ha claimed responsibility and the bombings carry all the hallmarks of an Al-Qaeda operation

A revealing strategy document from the islamists outlines their strategy. This document has been carefully analysed by Forsvarets Forskningsinstitutt (Norwegian armed forces research institute) as well all western intelligence services.

In 42 pages, the unknown authors discuss how they can force the US-led coalition out of Iraq.

The role of Spain and the UK is analysed.

The conclusion is that the key is to hit the weakest chain of the alliance, the country in which a terror attack will cause the most political shake-up, and force a withdrawal from Iraq: Spain.

Over six pages the document reveals in-depth knowledge and analysis of spanish election going back 25 years.

Conclusion:

Two, maximun three attacks will give the desired effect.

Al-Qaeda hopes that Spain will be the first in a domino-effect that will strengthen their position in Iraq.

- We thought their strategy was aimed at terror attacks against coalition forces in Iraq, says researcher. Thomas Hegghammer at the Norwegian Armed Forces research institute.

It now looks like it is the civil Spanish population which is the target of the islamists.

The Al-Qaeda network thinks that public opinion will demand a withdrawal, and that the (socialistic) opposition wil win the elections.

The opposite might just be the effect, even though the document according to Hegghammer reveals in-depth knowledge of Spain. He sees no reason to doubt the authenticity of the document

The strategy document is written in arabic sometime between may last year and the end the year.

[Eurotwit]

My translation.

[Renfield]

Sounds plausible to me. I don't think this is the work of ETA; they usually phone ahead to let the authorities know that a bomb is about to go off, allowing innocents to evacuate.

[brownsfan]

I certainly hope the Islamists have misread the Spainish, just as they misread the Americans. I don't think that they expected the response that they got to 9/11. I hope that the Spainish follow our lead. I also hope that our government is there for the Spainiards in any way they need assistance. We are fighting a cowardly, dispicable, unprincipled enemy. We need to be united in our efforts.

[Semper Paratus]

just as they misread the Americans

They didn't misread the liberal half, just our half.

[TomGuy]

FoxNews reporter was saying this morning that al-Qaeda might have started contracting out terrorism. If so, ETA or similar internal groups could start creating attacks with the financial and knowledge assistance of al-Qaeda.

[livius]

Ping to something I just posted - an article I found from 2001 detailing the connection between ETA and Al Qaeda.

This is hot!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1096207/posts

[17th Miss Regt]

If that is so, then a lot of groups that would merely be watched normally, will now be gone after with a vengeance. Because of this, I think any terrorist group would be somewhat hesitant about taking this step. There objective is to achieve their political end, not provoke their own extermination. Most, but not all, terrorist leaders can make that connection.

[livius]

The conclusion is that the key is to hit the weakest chain of the alliance, the country in which a terror attack will cause the most political shake-up, and force a withdrawal from Iraq: Spain.

Excellent analysis, and it certainly ties in perfectly with yesterday's pre-election events.

[longtermmemmory]

al-Queda is outsourcing!!!!!?????

[katana]

If ETA has tied their wagon to Al Qaeda I think there may be a couple motives. One would be sheer greed and the desire for funds to support their "normal" operations. The other may be more long term and subtle. They probably just insured that the conservatives will be returned to power with a huge parliamentary majority. If that was their purpose, then the idea may be to increase the weight of Madrid's thumb, and thus (they hope) push the Basque population into a genuine revolt that (voilà!) ETA will lead.

[G L Tirebiter]

FoxNews reporter was saying this morning that al-Qaeda might have started contracting out terrorism.

Oooh! Outsourcing! Bad! Lost jobs!No tax breaks for terrorists groups that outsource...

[Eva]

That's the danger in Europe, that the leftists interests may be co-operating with the terrorists.

[Sender]

Does this mean al Qaeda is outsourcing to stay competitive? Or merely forming business alliances to gain market share?

[Eva]

I was just reading an old article that someone dug up about the ETA joining with Al Qaeda. It occurred to me that this article that you posted indicates that the Islamist terrorists are planning to use the socialist left, much the same way that the socialist left decided to use the Democrat party, that is to take it over from within, as a fifth column. It will be interesting to see if the socialists are dumb enough to fall for their own tactics.