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Iraq
Zarqawi may take his war to the West
2004-09-24
Abu Musab al Zarqawi continues to wage his war in Iraq. It's the number one destination for holy warriors, many of whom now come from the West. "Those terrorists will, sooner or later, mount operations both in Europe and in the United States," says CBS terrorism consultant Rohan Gunaratna. Police and intelligence agencies say Zarqawi's now powerful network extends from Iraq to Syria, Turkey, Chechnya and Europe, smuggling people through porous borders, using fake documents. As CBS News an organization with extensive experience with fake documents Correspondent Sheila MacVicar reports, it's a network that experts say will undoubtedly spread to the U.S. A bug planted by Italian police in a Milan mosque in 2001 caught al Zarqawi operative explaining how the network is expanding: "We need foreigners. We have Albanians, Swiss, English. The important thing is that they are very stupid and cultured." In Iraq, al Zarqawi is behind a wave of suicide bombings and kidnappings, but his group also has a deadly and practiced interest in poisons. Raids in London and Paris in 2002 turned up evidence Zarqawi cells were trying to make the poison Ricin, and planning to use cyanide. Intelligence analysts say this is a strategy Zarqawi could return to.
Zarqawi is a low-tech but clever thug.
Arrests in Germany and Italy revealed the core of his network in Europe and elsewhere: men he had been in prison with, men he trained with in camps in Afghanistan and now, men recruited and smuggled into Iraq. People who deal in fake passports, collect money and wait. "Today we see a new generation coming up in the ranks of militant Islamist terror," says Rolf Tophoven of the Institute for Terrorism Research and Security Policy. "These are young people, fanatical people."

It's a new generation with Zarqawi as one of its leaders. "We have had good effect against his network, we're going to keep it up and we are going to take it apart piece by piece," says Gen. John Abizaid But Zarqawi has been a moving target. He escaped Afghanistan, and so far, is surviving in Iraq. As he slipped into Iraq, he could slip out again and analysts warn, take his war to the cities of the West.
Posted by:Dan Darling

#7  ZF, that was the point I was ineptly trying to make to Aris yesterday. 9/11 was huge, spectacular, hit the US/NYC economy hard, but in the end did not terrorize Americans into changing government policy. 3/11 and other A.Q. attacks have been much smaller and not terribly spectacular, although the attack in Spain, at least, effected a change in government with subsequent removal of Spanish and other forces from Iraq. Looking at the stories posted on Rantburg, almost all attempts have been stymied before they got well started. And, there are almost daily reports of operatives at all levels being arrested or killed, fund sources blocked, and equipment stashes confiscated. And finally, as the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq have demonstrated, when Americans get mad, they get even. One almost feels sorry for the poor terrorists -- if only they weren't actively evil!
Posted by: trailing wife   2004-09-24 5:07:49 PM  

#6  I blame Bush
Posted by: Dan Rather   2004-09-24 10:22:21 AM  

#5  This is not what I would call a surprise. Anyone can carry out terrorist attacks. Murderers kill people every single day without cops being able to prevent these crimes. If Al Qaeda has people on the ground here, as is likely, a terrorist attack is only a matter of time. The problem for them is that another Al Qaeda attack on American soil will have a similar impact on the American psyche as 9/11. (9/11 was a tactical victory for Al Qaeda but a strategic disaster). It will increase popular support for crushing the terrorists wherever we can, including operations like leveling Fallujah and other cities in Iraq that remain rebellious. Where, then, are the terrorists going to induct and train their operatives? They may yet gamble on a positive outcome from an attack in America, but I think it's an even bigger gamble than 9/11, given the extent to which Muslim atrocities have turned the American people against the terrorists.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2004-09-24 10:09:04 AM  

#4  If he coulda he woulda. It's hard to believe his capabilities have improved since 9/12 or will improve in the future. He may get lucky once. But that will only spell more sufering for the ME, not the death of the Great Satan.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2004-09-24 9:53:23 AM  

#3  The combined U.S. intel team which assisted in uncovering Saddam should bag the Islamic serial killer, Zarqawi very soon, hopefully prior to this madman butchering any further hostages.

It would be of great benefit to take this murdering serial killer alive and force him to talk all the 'outside' assistance he has been receiving, in addition to other crucial intelligence concerning the jihadic terror network within Iraq.
Posted by: Mark Espinola   2004-09-24 9:23:04 AM  

#2  Zarqawi is the new boogie man. I can't see his type of cell patiently infiltrating the US.
Posted by: Super Hose   2004-09-24 4:27:02 AM  

#1  Attention K-Mart Shoppers: This video report is loaded with contradition. Initially the narrative points out Zarqawi's travel network circa 2002 (while based in Iraq) with ricin attack attempts --in the West--notably London and Paris; then the narrative discusses how Zarqawi may "take his war to the West"

Conspicuously absent from the report (1) that Zarqawi was based in Iraq after leaving Afganistan but before the invasion, and (2) Zarqawi has been operating in the West all along.

Another obvious news report with a taint of propaganda a.k.a. Rather.

Posted by: Capt America   2004-09-24 1:51:17 AM  

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