Following days of speculation and conflicting reports, Lebanon-based Islamist group Fatah al-Islam has announced that its leader had been "captured or killed" by Syrian forces and named his successor, according to a U.S. intelligence monitoring service. So is this the second or third time he's been killed?
The group said Shaker al-Abssi and two other members of its group were ambushed in Syria while trying to link up with other Islamic militants from Iraq and Afghanistan, SITE Intelligence Group Monitoring Service reported. The three were either captured or killed in the ensuing gunfight with members of the Syrian security forces, said the statement. Did they bring the little woman around to identify the body? Again? Abu Mohamad Awad had been named to succeed Abssi at the head of Fatah al-Islam, said the group. They like me! They really like me!
SITE said the statement, the authenticity of which has still not been confirmed, was posted on an Islamic militant website on Monday.
Conflicting reports have been circulating in the Arab media for over a week concerning the wanted Abssi. Al-Liwaa daily reported earlier this month that he may have headed to Turkey to live with a Lebanese extremist known as Abu Bakr Aqida.The paper added that Abssi was last seen "last week in what is known as the Taware neighborhood of the Ain al-Helweh refugee camp in Sidon," Lebanon.
But An-Nahar newspaper said that another militant group, Osbat al-Ansar, had played a role alongside a leading Palestinian figure in hiding Abssi and his aides. It said Lebanese security forces have confirmed information that Abssi was still inside Ain al-Helweh, according to Lebanon's English newspaper The Daily Star.
Fatah al-Islam fought a fierce three-month battle with the Lebanese army last year in the northern Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared, which left some 400 people dead, including 168 soldiers. In November, Fatah al-Islam reportedly claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in Damascus that left 17 dead in September.
Continued on Page 47
This article starring:
Abu Bakr Aqida
Abu Mohamad Awad
Shaker al-Abssi
Posted by: Fred ||
12/11/2008 00:00 ||
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A senior advisor to US president-elect Barack Obama says the White House's approach to Iran will undergo a 'big change' in the future.
William M. Drozdiak, who was delivering a speech in Berlin, also highlighted the important role Iran plays in the region. "Iran plays a key role in establishing peace in the region and Washington needs Tehran to achieve the goal," he added.
He's just clueless. 'Key role in establishing peace'? What kind of peace do you think Iran wants?
"I am sure that the change will be one of the greatest changes in the US foreign policy over the recent years," IRNA quoted Drozdiak as saying on Wednesday.
The top advisor said that the Obama administration will try to reach out to Iran and this will follow holding consultation with the European allies of the United States. The 59-year-old American politician noted that the fight against drugs production and trafficking provides the two countries with a common ground to engage in direct talks.
#2
A strong case can be made that Iran is a natural US ally. That Persian shiites are more likely to support such an alliance (and participate in a healthy democracy) than Arab sunni would. That emerging US ally India could play a role in closing making this happen and that a new president is a good way to justify a fresh start.
But all of this first requires the mullarchy to go away first. Unfortunately it is a near nuclear police state. A minor detail Bill misses. Gosh.
#4
The region will be peaceful once it's filled with smoking radioactive holes in the ground and it's entirely likely that Iran will bring this about so ....
#6
Out of the three problem countries(SA,Pak and Iran)the general population in Iran is most pro west.Somehow we need to remove the govt though-how?.In SA and Pak we have friendly govts but dangerous elements within the establishments eg ISI/military in PAK and too much religious power in SA!!!
#8
Maybe, just maybe, BHO & Co. are saying all the "right" things so when they do the "wrong" thing (bomb Iran back to the stone age), they can say to everyone, "Look, see, we tried to negotiate, we tried to reason, but they were having none of it and that left us with no other option."
I fully realize this is more likely than not wishful thinking on my part but one can HOPE... for... CHANGE.
Although the news of Obama's promise of a "nuclear umbrella" for Israel would appear to discount the possibility he would ever attack pre-emptively, at least on its surface.
#12
* "SAVING THE JIHAD" > IMO ISLAMIST IRAN MUST DETONATE OR CONDUCT AN INDIGENS NUCBOMB TEST(S), ideally on or before Year 2010 but absolutely NLT 2012 maxima, AS THE LONGER THE LEAD TIME THE HARDER IT WILL BE FOR RADICAL ISLAM, ETC. TO DEFEAT OR DESTROY US ENTRENCHMENT.
Pragmatically, before 2010 the threat from Iran = Radical Islam to Israel stems mainly from PROXY TERROR ATTACK, ESPEC BIOWAR OR CHEMWAR. POST 2010 + INDIGENS IRANIAN NUCBOMB TESTS > ISRAELI VS. IRAN/ISLAMIST WAR- OR TERROR- MAJEURE WILL INCREASINGLY TEND TOWARDS NUCLEARIZED OR OTHER WMD-COMBIN CONFLICT, WID THE ADVANTAGE GOING TO THAT SIDE WHICH PREEMPTIVELY STRIKES FIRST
*PAN-ISLAMIST PRE-NUCLEARIZATION [2008-2010/12] > Again, IMO Iran will prefer to maintain a low-profile, which in turn means that the US may have no cause to attack Iran short of PROVING [United Nations = UNSC]]THAT IRAN PROVIDES DE FACTO COVERT SUPPORT TO VARIOUS LOCAL-REGIONAL TERROR CONTRARY TO ITS PUBLIC RHETORIC, AND THAT IN CONSEQUENCE A NUCLEARIZING IRAN CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO NOT SUPPORT OR PROMOTE NUCLEAR TERROR + NUKE-BASED NATIONAL MILITARISM.
IOW, the US will need to formally link covert Iranian policies and actions to a high-profile, severe to catastrophic TERROR EVENT = ATTACK.
IN THE ABSENCE OF THIS SAME, THE OTHER CATALYST FOR US MILACTION REMAINS THE NORTH KOREA-TAIWAN ISSUES, ESPEC NORTH KOREA VEE ITS NATION-WIDE FAMINE [UNO = over 40% of NOKOR population needs IMMEDIATE FOOD AID]??? The succession to KIM JONG-IL is uncertain, and the UNO says under 1/2 of NK is de facto starving and likely to get worse into 2009.
#15
PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > PAKSITAN EXPANDING ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM - NEW PLANT PROJECT UNDERWAY COULD PRODUCE ENOUGH PLUTONIUM FOR 40-50 BOMBS A YEAR. Could spark a REGIONAL NUCLEAR RACE, espec wid INDIA; + US URGES PAKISTAN NOT TO USE NEW REACTOR FOR WEAPONS [read, IRAN + NUC TERROR].
* SAME > PAKISTANI NUCLEAR SCIENTIST [AQ Khan] SAYS HE OBTAINED PARTS IN JAPAN.
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Following days of speculation and conflicting reports, Lebanon-based Islamist group 
A senior advisor to US president-elect Barack Obama says the White House's approach to Iran will undergo a 'big change' in the future. 
