Iraqi-Only Suicide Bomber Unit Set Up - Claim

[cal04]

In a bid to deflect criticism that most suicide bombers in Iraq are foreigners, the group al Qaida in Iraq has purportedly formed a unit of potential suicide attackers who are exclusively Iraqis. The terror group announced the unit today in a website posting signed by Abu Maysara al-Iraqi, the spokesman of al Qaida in Iraq. The posting could not be authenticated, but it appeared on an Islamic website known for carrying messages from militant groups.


The US-led multi-national force and the Iraqi government have repeatedly said that most of the suicide bombers – who have killed hundreds of people – are foreigners who have come to Iraq to wage what they regard as “holy war.”Today’s posting said: “In response to God’s decree, and the heavy insistence of the (Iraqi) brothers and their longing for paradise, the Ansar platoon from the land of Iraq has been formed.”

“Dozens hurried to register their names to meet their God,” the posting said. It told of one Iraqi youth who had rebuked his leader for failing to give him a suicide assignment, telling him he would complain to God on the Day of Judgment because “you prevented me from meeting my God.” Al Qaida in Iraq is led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian. It has claimed responsibility for many of the bloodiest attacks on coalition and Iraqi targets since the 2003 overthrow of the dictator Saddam Hussein.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4721310

[Roland99]

1. "the group al Qaida in Iraq"

Who's on their board of directors? What's their Mission Statement? How does their charter read?



I DESPISE seeing that media-created phrase.

[Igel]

3. It wasn't created by the media; it first showed up

on a website claiming to speak for Zarqawi and his group.

[Roland99]

8. And who's to say that website wasn't created by the U.S. gov't?

[Igel]

9. I'm not saying it was or wasn't created by the government.

My intent was clear.

The claim was it was created by the media. I pointed out that this is probably a false claim. Unless, of course, there's some evidence that the media has created the allegedly al-Zarqawi-affiliated site themselves, and therefore are self-reporting.

[formercia]

2. Do they have a 401K?

Hell of a way to retire.

[sabra]

4. al-Qaida Announces Iraqi Suicide Squad

<<SNIP>>
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050621/API/506210797&cachetime=3&template=dateline

al-Qaida Announces Iraqi Suicide Squad

By MAAMOUN YOUSSEF
Associated Press Writer

June 21, 2005

Iraq's most feared terror group said Tuesday that it has formed a unit of potential suicide attackers who are exclusively Iraqis, an apparent bid to deflect criticism that most suicide bombers in Iraq are foreigners.

Al-Qaida in Iraq announced the unit in an Internet posting signed by Abu Maysara al-Iraqi, the group's purported spokesman. The statement could not be authenticated, but it appeared on an Islamic Web site known for carrying messages from militant groups.

"In response to God's decree, and the heavy insistence of the (Iraqi) brothers and their longing for paradise, the Ansar platoon from the land of Iraq has been formed," the posting said.

"Dozens hurried to register their names to meet their God," the posting said. It told of one Iraqi youth who had rebuked his leader for failing to give him a suicide assignment, telling him he would complain to God on the Day of Judgment because "you prevented me from meeting my God."

<</SNIP>>

[bluestateguy]

5. Ugh

Al Qaeda used to have a negligble presence in Iraq before this war started, but that's all changed now!

If we wanted to hunt for Al Qaeda cells it might have been a better idea to stay focused on Afghanistan. For that matter, you'll find a hell of a lot more Al Qaeda in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the UAE. But since those countries are our "friends" I guess that's OK.

[daleo]

6. Once more, I confess to some skepticism

This whole "al-Qaida website" thing has its doubtful aspect. Certainly, there is no reason to believe anything posted on these sites is in any sense "official" (from al Qaida I mean). Given that there is supposed to be a war on terror, it seems odd that these websites continue to exist with no apparent interference. One suspects that they serve the interests of both sides of the conflict, in terms of propaganda and counter-propaganda, so one should take these missives with a grain of salt.

[DS1]

7. Hey, the CIA is getting cocky with their post-detonation passport-planting