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Al Queda to Spain: We’ve stopped our jihad on you...for now
EFL
A group claiming to have links with al Qaeda said Wednesday it was calling a truce in its Spanish operations to see if the new government would withdraw its troops from Iraq, a pan-Arab newspaper said.

In a statement sent Wednesday to the Arabic language daily al-Hayat, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombings that killed 201 people, also urged its European units to stop all operations.

"Because of this decision, the leadership has decided to stop all operations within the Spanish territories... until we know the intentions of the new government that has promised to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq," the statement said.

"And we repeat this to all the brigades present in European lands: Stop all operations."

Well, isn’t that special?
So outrageously obvious was the cowardice and craven fear of the Spanish people that Osama’s boys now have no trouble being absolutely BRAZEN about their freedom to operate in Western Europe.
This letter says a lot: a.) that they’re in Europe in numbers and dug in pretty deep.
b.) that more attacks have been planned, even if not yet executed
and c.) that the favorable (to Al Q) outcome to the Spanish election has only bought the Spanish...and the rest of us a temporary, conditional reprieve.
All of this, certainlty, was predictable and yet it’s still, at least to me, horrifyingly stunning.
Of course, they could be bluffing...but I wouldn’t bet my life on it.
Posted by: Jen 2004-03-17
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=28387