Free Republic

Read in the context of Doug Hagmann’s explanation of al battar, is this a simple misunderstanding or something more sinister? From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating what led to the two-and-a-half hour delay of a Tuesday flight from Atlanta to Houston, an agency spokeswoman said Wednesday morning. An AirTran spokesman said a man traveling with a group Tuesday afternoon refused to turn his cell phone off before takeoff. But the woman sitting behind the man said it wasn’t a phone at all, and feels the entire incident was the result of poor communication. “He was not...

The twentieth issue of Al-Battar welcomes the approach of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins on October 15. Citing historic Ramadan battles in the time of the Prophet and more recently in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, and elsewhere, the lead editorial calls for an “eminent deed - the Jihad” at an “eminent time - Ramadan. . . . Here we are now, approaching this Blessed month. Lions of Islam! Make it a new turning point for victory, glory, and power.” A religious “Book of Guidance” sees God’s judgment in the “continuous calamities and punishments that have befallen America, beginning...

The eighteenth issue of Al Battar demonstrates the galvanizing effect of communications from Al Qaeda’s leadership on the movement. Enthusiastic citations of a recently released audiotape from Ayman Al-Zawahiri run through the entire magazine. In the lead editorial, Al-Farouq Al-Aamiri writes: “Thanks to God, the tape . . . proved the important fact that, despite all the lies and controversy pursued by the Americans, the Islamic Army in Al-Qaeda is triumphant on the battlefield, unlike Bush’s victories, which are only on the pages of the ‘New York Times’ and the ‘Washington Post.’” The news section focuses on the Al-Zawahiri tape,...

Healing Iraq Daily news and comments on the situation in post Saddam Iraq by an Iraqi dentist Wednesday, April 07, 2004 More on Sadr's insurgency Sadr's aide and head of his office in Najaf, Qays Al-Khaz'ali, has declared the latest looting and killing spree going on in several Iraqi southern cities as an Intifada against the occupation. Speaking on behalf of Muqtada, he stated that they will certainly not calm down any soon because the Quran orders them not to; "Fight those who fight against you". And he has also made it clear that they stand united with their 'Sunni...

The armed wing of the Islamic Palestinian resistance group Hamas, the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades, announced on Saturday it had successfully fired a new home-made anti-tank missile at an Israel tank. "Our combatants fired an Al-Battar (sword) missile on Friday made by the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades on an Israel tank in Beit Hanun (northern Gaza Strip)," a statement said. It said the missile hit the tank successfully. The army said earlier Saturday that Israel troops had come under fire from an anti-tank rocket. A number of home-made rockets of the Qassam type made by the Hamas fighters were fired across the...