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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Al-Qaeda threatens Japan, Poland, and Bulgaria |
| 2004-07-21 |
| Groups purportedly linked to al Qaeda have vowed to attack Japan, Poland and Bulgaria unless they withdraw from Iraq, the latest attempts to rattle the U.S.-led coalition after Manila pulled out its troops under pressure. Japan, however, vowed on Wednesday to keep its 550 non-combat troops in place despite the threat. "For the rebuilding of Iraq, we must continue our support and not give in to terrorism," Deputy Cabinet Secretary Masaaki Yamazaki told a news conference in Tokyo. A different group claiming to be the European wing of al Qaeda warned Bulgaria and Poland of attack, the latest in a wave of warnings against U.S. allies in Iraq, where insurgency has raged since the invasion to oust Saddam Hussein last year. "To the crusader Bulgarian government which supports the Americans, we ask you for the last time to withdraw Bulgarian forces from Iraq or we will turn Bulgaria into a bloodbath," said the statement. "To Poland and the despicable Prime Minister Marek Belka, withdraw your forces from Iraq or you will hear explosions ripping through your country when we want," it added. The authenticity of the statement could not be confirmed. Yamazaki said Japan was checking the credibility of a statement purportedly from a group led by Islamic militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, but said its stance on Iraq remained unchanged. Japan's troops are based in the southern Iraqi town of Samawa, a spot that has seen little of the kind of violence suffered by other parts of Iraq. The threat against Poland and Bulgaria came from a previously unheard-of group and was posted on a Web site not normally used by militants. It said both countries would face attacks similar to the train bombings in Madrid in March and the September 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. cities. "We are waiting for information from other partner countries and have no confirmation that the terrorists are planning any concrete actions on Polish territory," Poland's Deputy Defence Minister Janusz Zemke said in response. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #5 Frank G, I was talking about Poland. Roughly 50% antisemitic. Maybe an exaggeration, but not by much. A lot of antisemites in my family so I know what I'm talking about, unfortunately. I'm Roman Catholic too, and Polish by birth, and also a supporter of Israel. I would have been called "Jew" if I said this on one of the Polish forums. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-07-21 10:53:13 PM |
| #4 Hatred of Jews?? WTF? Have you seen a bigger hawk on supporting Israel on this site than moi? Roman Catholic....but not Polish. I don't see it, Raphael, gonna have to call bullshit on that one |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-07-21 10:37:57 PM |
| #3 will the world's most Catholic nation bow down to Allah? Yes. Because their hatred of Jews blinds them to the real state of the world. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-07-21 10:33:53 PM |
| #2 Let's take a look at the players: Bugaria - these guys were semi-official hit men for the Soviets, I hope they retained their cajones; Japan - will the samurai spirit of Yamato prevail over decades of subservience to the oil sheiks; Poland - will the world's most Catholic nation bow down to Allah? |
| Posted by: borgboy 2004-07-21 8:17:15 PM |
| #1 it is about time the West started to publically threaten the countries that support these asshats! |
| Posted by: Dan 2004-07-21 2:03:39 PM |