Posted on 06/18/2004 6:00:42 PM PDT by blam
'Top level' al-Qa'eda suspect in Paris
By Henry Samuel in Paris
(Filed: 19/06/2004)
French anti-terrorism magistrates are questioning an al-Qa'eda suspect described as one of the "highest level terrorist suspects to be caught in years".
Said Arif, who experts believe to be a lieutenant of Iraq's most wanted terrorist leader, Abu Musab Zarqawi, was flown from Syria to Paris on Thursday night and placed under investigation in relation to a series of planned terrorist strikes in Paris.
A spokesman for the French interior ministry described Arif as "highly mobile, with all the terrorist techniques taught in Afghanistan". He said France had been looking for him for "many months".
Arif's lawyer said his client had been in jail in Syria for around a year before being extradited, but intimated that any incriminating statements during that time had been made under extreme duress.
"The declarations he made during that year in detention are to be treated with caution," said Felix de Belloy.
According to a judicial source, Arif is "close" to Zarqawi, al-Qa'eda's toxin and chemical poisons specialist suspected of masterminding some of Iraq's bloodiest suicide attacks.
He was also wanted in connection with the so-called Chechen network, "a group suspected of having trained in Georgia to fight the Russians in Chechnya before plotting several terrorist strikes in France and elsewhere in Europe".
Born in Algeria in 1965, Arif deserted the army before joining terrorist training camps in Afghanistan.
Investigators have also cited him as being in "close relation" with a Frankfurt-based group whose planned bomb attack of a market in Strasbourg in December 2000 was prevented at the last minute.
That's funny!
Great tagline.
An important kill in Saudi Arabia
An important kill in Pakistan.
An important capture in France.
A good day.
Good day indeed.
Whoa! I missed this!
1. This guy.
2. Nek Mohammad (likely predator victim)
3. Moqrin (almost certainly)
4. "Somebody" in Fallujah
This may be a super big turning point.
That is not to forget the real downer in the last 24 which has been the murder of Paul Johnson.
I read the source article, and it seems this evil coward has been in Syrian captivity for around a year. The French just got him extradited. The only other detail I recall is a terrorist-appeasing French official said - and I'm paraphrasing - "He's been subjected to harsh interrogation techniques, so we should take what he says with caution."
I take it this Felix de Belloy is the guy's lawyer.
This case, the Krekar case, as well as the legalistic shananigans being propangandized about Saddam's status, not to mention the hoopla over Guantanamo, et. al. shows that a major effort needs to be made to educate the educatable on the type of war we're really engaged in, and how the Geneva Convention is being misapplied.
It's real easy (given what's put out by the UNbiased media) to get depressed and start thinking we're losing. We're not, "Failure is not an option!"
One thing I would like to see is more emphasis on is the PR aspect (both here at home and to the world) of who we are fighting and why we are fighting and why you should suppoet us. It's my opinion that this (like the cold war) is a war of ideas.
I believe that we have reached the stage in the War on Terror where a Declaration of War is now required. Although the Congress passes the declaration, for all practical purposes it will not happen unless it is presented to them by the President. Therefore, if you agree that a declaration is needed, please contact President Bush (202-456-1111) and urge him to submit a Declaration of War to Congress.
this is how they will question him.
Do you have any gray poupon?
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