Al-Qaeda leaders "busy" in Iran: Rumsfeld

Yahoo-AFP ^ | 5/21/03

[Hipixs]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Senior al-Qaeda leaders are "busy" in Iran, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said amid reports that terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia were directed by a small cell of terrorist leaders in Iran.

"Just from a factual standpoint there is no question but that there have been and are today senior al-Qaeda leaders in Iran and they are busy," he said.

Rumsfeld spoke after thanking the crown prince of Bahrain, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, for his country's support in Iraq.

Earlier, the Arab television news network Al-Jazeera aired an audiotape purportedly by top al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri exhorting Muslims to carry out more suicide attacks against western targets.

"I think these guys are the enemies of free people anywhere," the Bahraini crown prince told reporters after meeting with Rumsfeld.

"We must work together with all of the coalition in the war against terror to ensure their capability to finance, to transport and to execute acts of terror are significantly diminished," he said.

He said he saw no easing up in the war on terrorism thanks to US leadership "which we support and are proud to be a part of."

The New York Times cited Bush administration officials as saying that intercepted communications strongly suggested that a small cell of al-Qaeda leaders in Iran directed the May 12 suicide attacks in Riyadh, which killed 34 people.

The United States was sending a strong protest to Tehran, the report said.

[Hipixs]

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Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld welcomes Dominican Republic President Rafael Hipolito Mejia Dominguez to the Pentagon in Washington May 21, 2003. REUTERS/Stephen Boitano

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U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, right, hosts an honor cordon welcoming Dominican Republic President Rafael Hipolito Mejia Dominguez to the Pentagon, Wednesday, May 21, 2003, in Washington.(AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

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Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld (R) enters the Pentagon with Barain's Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad AL-Khalifa in Washington on May 21, 2003. REUTERS/Stephen J. Boitano

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Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld (L) speaks at the Pentagon with Barain's Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad AL-Khalifa in Washington on May 21, 2003. REUTERS/Stephen J. Boitano

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US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (L) responds as he and Bahrain's Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (R) take a few questions from reporters(AFP/Paul J. Richards)

[Hipixs]

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[My2Cents]

[b4its2late]

The United States was sending a strong protest to Tehran, the report said.

Turning the heat up on another Axis of Evil member......

[jazzyjen97]

The Iranian people with the proper moral, and financial support will overthrow these beasts before 2005.

[hchutch]

How does a dictator know he is at serious risk for an extremely horrible day?

Rumsfeld starts mentioning the country he runs in conjunction with the words "al-Qaeda". A lot.

[colorado tanker]

How stupid could the Iranians be? If the #2 Al-Qaeda is in Iran, we'll be comin' after him. How could they not know that???

[jungleboy]

Al-Jazeera...the communications TOOL of Al-Qaeda. The US must stop this TOOL... it is doing great harm in our war on terrorism.

[Spruce]

Attention! You in Iran. This is the United States. We have you surrounded! Come out now with your hands where we can see them or we will come in and kill all you SOBS!

[hchutch]

I couldn't tell you what the Iranians are thinking.

But Rumsfeld's been mentioning Iran in conjunction with al-Qaeda quite a bit recently. The mullahs could be in for a VERY bad day if they don't take the hint.

What are the chances they will take the hint? I'd put them at slightly worse than my chances of getting a date with Jennifer Love Hewitt.

[mystery-ak]

I have a feeling I won't be seeing my hubby anytime soon.

[Grampa Dave]

It appears that the murdering mullahs in charge of Iran may be up for a regime change. Or is that an oil change from Islamofacists to Free Iranians.

[colorado tanker]

LOL!

[Shermy]

Ya know, Rumsy has been hinting at Iran for weeks - does our media follow up on the information? Nope. They're brain dead.

[hchutch]

Aren't the Iranians also big backers of the Chechen separatists?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I totally agree. Why are they still on the air when we have B-1s loafing overhead ?

[DoctorMichael]

The United States was sending a strong protest to Tehran, the report said.

............and if these polite, back-channel, non-threatening, discrete, personal pleas for help in the War on Terrorism don't help in a given amount of time then a more formal presentation of the 'evidence' should be made at (for what it's worth) the UN.

Ramp up the pressure!

[Shermy]

Bin Laden son, al Qaeda terrorists spotted in Iran 2/15/03

Al-Qaida tied to Iran intelligence, military: Models of WTC, Pentagon at Tehran spy base (2/03)

Laden's right-hand man imprisoned in Iran: Reports 2/17

IRAN DENY PRESS REPORT OF IMAN AL-ZAWAHERI'S ARREST, BUT...2/18

Al-Qaida fighters leave Afghanistan through Iran and Iraq; most going home to Arab countries

Tehran given details of Iranian interference in Afghanistan'

ZALMAY KHALILZAD SAYS AL-QA’EDA GUERILLAS ARE IN IRAN

Terrorists trained by Iran tracked from Uzbekistan

ITALY LINKS TERROR PLOTS TO AL-QUEDA IN IRAN (10/13)

_______________2003____________________

Al-Qaeda leaders "busy" in Iran: Rumsfeld| 5/21/03

Iran, al-Qaida link suspected

Sources: Al-Qaida in Iran Directed Saudi Bombing Newsday | 5/16/03

[Shermy]

Aren't the Iranians also big backers of the Chechen separatists?

Quietly and circuitously. They have deals with Russia to back down. As long as there's plausible deniability the Russians can publicly proceed with their nuke and other deals with Iran.

[Dog]

We are going to find out one day soon I suspect that a raid was launched into Iran to snatch and grab this AQ senior leadership. There is no way we will allow them to sit in that country forever directing attacks on our homeland and interests.