Iraq's al Qaeda denies arrests linked to group

[maddezmom]

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iraq's al Qaeda wing denied on Friday that several people arrested in Spain and Iraq this week were its members, according to an Internet statement.

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U.S. forces said on Thursday they had detained a senior associate of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al Qaeda's leader in Iraq, while Spain announced on Wednesday the arrest of 11 suspected Zarqawi followers.

"We've become used to the lies of the crusaders and their followers. Every now and then they hold a Muslim and say they have captured an aide to Sheikh Zarqawi," the statement said.

"Spain claimed it has arrested a group of Zarqawi aides. Each Muslim, now is suspected of belonging to al Qaeda," said the statement signed by the group's spokesman Abu Maysarah al-Iraqi.

"In Mosul, the enemies of God claimed to have arrested a senior official and aide to Zarqawi...We tell you that your brothers are well...and continuing their jihad," it added.

The statement could not be immediately authenticated.

~snip~
more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050617/wl_nm/security_qaeda_denial_dc;_

[Igel]

1. Possible.

One the one hand, plausible deniability. "No, they weren't our men ... we're above being captured." Otherwise "Allah" takes a ding.

One the other, how better to gain instant honor and respectability? "I'm with the Big Guy!"

Ah, how to weight likelihood of intentional falsehoods.

Then again, do we want to think the nice respectable Spanish government would intentionally lie? Hmmm ...

[pinniped]

2. Face it, nothing about the mythical al-Zarqawi will ever be confirmed.

He's a mystery, he's a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma!

This can't even be confirmed!

[leftofcool]

3. I've checked my secret decoder ring,

consulted the crystal ball and a whole pack of angel/tarot cards. They all say the same thing........."info classified"

[maddezmom]

4. You say Zawahri (borrowed from DU'er Karenina)

And I say Zarqawi
You say Allawi
And I say Malarkey
Zawahri, Zarqawi, Allawi, Malarkey
Let's call the whole thing off