Statement Warns of More Attacks (Stop support for Israel, Russia, and convert to Islam or else)

Yahoo! ^ | Nov. 16, 2002 | ALAA SHAHINE

[Michael2001]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - A statement attributed to al-Qaida threatened more attacks in New York and Washington unless America stops supporting Israel and converts to Islam, an Arab TV reporter who received the unsigned document said Saturday.

Yosri Fouda, correspondent for the satellite station Al-Jazeera, told The Associated Press he received the six-page document on Wednesday. That was a day after the TV station broadcast an audiotape purportedly made by Osama bin Laden (news - web sites).

Fouda, who is known for good contacts within al-Qaida, would only say that the statement came from his sources with the group. But he insisted he was certain it came from the terrorist movement's leadership.

Fouda, speaking by telephone from London, said the statement called on Americans to stop supporting Israel and other governments that "oppress" Muslims or face more attacks. The statement also called on Americans to convert to Islam, he said.

Fouda quoted the statement as saying: "Stop your support for Israel against the Palestinians, for Russians against the Chechens ... for corrupt leaders in our countries ... (and) leave us alone or expect us in Washington and New York."

He added the statement demanded U.S. troops leave the Arabian Peninsula, and justified the killings of American civilians because they pay taxes that finance military operations.

There was no immediate reaction from Washington. No officials were available for comment at the Pentagon (news - web sites) or the National Security Council Saturday afternoon. A report on the statement as described by Fouda was carried in The Sunday Times of London.

Fouda is a prominent Arab television journalist who has broken several important stories about al-Qaida. In September, Al-Jazeera broadcast Fouda's interviews with two top al-Qaida operatives hiding in Pakistan, Ramzi Binalshibh and Khaled Sheik Mohammed.

Binalshibh was arrested in Karachi, Pakistan, shortly after the broadcast and was transferred to U.S. custody.

Fouda said the statement also referred to the crisis between the United States and Iraq as one more reason to attack Americans.

"You are placing Muslims under siege in Iraq, where children die every day. Oh, how weird that you don't care for 1.5 million Iraqi children who died under siege, but when 3,000 of your compatriots died, the whole world was shaken," Fouda quoted the statement as saying.

Meanwhile, a militant Islamic Web site that carries news about al-Qaida has dismissed as lies a report that a senior member of the terror group is in U.S. custody.

U.S. officials in Washington said Friday that one of the leaders of al-Qaida had been detained in a foreign country and handed over to U.S. authorities.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to identify the detainee, but said he was not al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, his chief depity, his son or the suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The site scoffed at the U.S. officials' refusal to name the detainee. "Maybe they fear to announce a certain name, and al-Qaida would issue a denial so their (the U.S.) situation would become worse," it said.

[JeepInMazar]

Choose your prophet, Moehammed, Larryhammed or Curlyhammed.

ROTFL

[NYC GOP Chick]

I'd seriously consider leaving any major city at this point.

I'm not a coward -- I'm staying put in lower Manhattan. This is my home and NYC is where I was born, and I'll be DAMNED if I'm going to let some delusional bastards who wear sheets instead of clothing run me out of my home.

[mathurine]

All these third world pricks hanging out in America because their homelands are miserable, ignorant, decrepit and probably islamic; and are that way because of islamic economic counterproductivenism are going to be disappointed when the islamic terror-vermin blow up these islamics intermingled with us in their current beloved homeland here as they threaten to do. Islamic country/cults put up with the expression of these threats, whether they are real or not. Well, sound off Saudis and the rest of you so-called islamic countries who follow this so-called religion. If you don't agree with your threatening militants , speak up. If you do, and more and more of us think you do, stand by for destruction. This position taken by your militatants is totally unacceptable. They plan to kill us, and we don't go for the idea. So we will kill them, and if you have to go down along with them, well, why not? You are with them if not against them. Better you than us. At least we give the world something culturally, economically and intellectually. And, of course, we are us, and you want to be them, and somebody's got to go.

[Chapita]

How many people die in car wrecks each year? Bet it is higher than 3000!

Yet, I'll bet you aren't afraid to hit the roads in your car, are you?

Maybe you'd better hurry on down to the mosque and convert, OR face death!

[Monty22]

Oh come on..

That's no excuse to sit back and wait for death to approach us by islamic faith.

[mfreddy]

I hate to open myself up to flames but I choose to believe that the recently expressed opinions by the President and Powell are part of the campaign to, 1. avoid mass histeria in the US and other Christian countries, and 2. to allow Al Queda the opportunity to continue to show their hand. I don't believe for a moment that we don't have contingency upon contingency, and that we are ready, willing and able to hold both terrorists and their sponsors (read: countries) accountable in the case of a catastrophic attack.

Of course this means armageddon, and this is not a scenario that is spoken of in anything but classified circles. This is not information that is prone to being leaked.

I also believe that Powell is not a believer that anything like this would ever happen, and does not believe the "doomsday" scenario is necessary.

If a mass retaliation were to occur, that would truly signal the "war on Islam" and it is not wise to inform a billion people that you are coming. This retaliation will involve several nuclear countries (Pakistan and Iran).

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

[neutrino]

I've got a much better idea for stopping the attacks. Truly. Alas, it would violate posting guidelines, so I can't post it...not yet. But the mo-slimes are going to keep it up until my solution to the problem is accepted (dare I say demanded?) by the electorate.

[Mr. Mojo]

That's the spirit! ...

But it would probably be a good idea to stock up on potassium iodide.

[prophetic]

so true Cindy

Soo darn true

[NYC GOP Chick]

Why? If they were to detonate a nuke or some other WMD by, say, the NYSE, I'm close enough that I'm going to be vaporized in seconds anyway.

[Kryptonite]

Why isn't the press reporting exact quotes about the threat to "convert to Islam, or else"? This is their core message. Could it be that reporting the lunacy of forced conversion in full detail would galvanize the public even more behind GWB? NAW....

[Mr. Mojo]

Is your idea related in any way to the photo in post #21? Or is it immigration related?

[Travis McGee]

You go girl!

[Monty22]

Anyone that didn't notice that 9/11 was a gentle "push" for us to go islamic or die, it's probably too late.

They'll never get it. Sadly.

[Squantos]

LMAO !......Hey come on don't hold back :o) !!!

Stay Safe !

[areafiftyone]

LOL!

[Mr. Mojo]

Not necessarily. Any nukes they would have would be crude and small, probably even smaller than what we dropped on Japan. ...And most people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki survived outside of a half mile radius from ground zero. Your chances of survival are very high, and much higher if you're a little prepared.

[Dataman]

We have our first convert!

[Chapita]

**************"That's no excuse to sit back and wait for death to approach us by islamic faith."******************************************

Why live in fear over propaganda?

Where are you going to "scurry" to?

[tet68]

"they'd be stupid enough to use it if they did have it, wouldn't they"

Yes they would, although stupidity doesn't really enter into it, they are called to it by their belief, so there should be NO doubt in anyone's mind
and after the next attack there won't be.
And we know there will be a "next attack".

Tet