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| Iraq |
| Al-Qaeda ups anti-Iranian rhetoric |
| 2006-11-24 |
| Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah has been branded a "worshipper of idols, an agent of the anti-Christ," and "charlatan" by Iraqi al-Qaeda leader Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajir in a statement made earlier this month, the full text of which has now become available. The message, which also contained threats to blow up the White House, forms another escalation in al-Qaeda's increasingly hostile anti-Iranian rhetoric, that has also targeted Hizbullah . Discussing the actions of US President Bush, Muhajir said in the statement, released by al-Qaeda's al-Furqan Foundation, translated into English by the Al-Boraq Workshop, and reproduced on the Jihad Unspun website : "He (Bush) turned to the Sham (Syria and Lebanon ) and terrorized its tyrant (Basher Assad), who is a Rafidi (Shiite) and a Nusayri (one of Shiite's factions). The blockade continued until he (Assad) had to open his country to hundreds and thousands of Persians to acquire citizenship in it, (so the they can) support the charlatan agent of the anti-Christ, Nasr Allat (a common nickname for Hizbullah's Nasrallah, and meaning a supporter and worshipper of Idols) who is called Nasrallah...""Hence, the Old Persian Empire has become complete, extending from the countries behind the river, Iran and IraqÂ… to the Sham (Syria and Lebanon)," Muhajir said. The al-Qaeda leader said the United States had become an agent for Iran. "I wonder whether the wise of Romans (Americans) realize that they have become slaves and mercenaries for Persia, and that they are fighting Persia's battles for free," he said. On November 17, Sunni al-Qaeda followers in Lebanon released a statement on the internet calling on Lebanese Sunnis to prepare for an imminent confrontation. According to the SITE Institute , a website which monitors Islamist web activity, the statement also said:"Let the Rafidi (Shiites) know that we are ready to fight them with Allah's help and let it be a war. We are more eager for it than they." Meanwhile, al-Qaeda in Iraq has declared the establishment of a Caliphate (Islamic State), in anticipation of the withdrawal of US troops from the region. "In a long waited step, for which sacrifices were granted and martyrs bloods were shed to achieve its path; the Mujahideen Shura Council in Iraq has announced the establishment of the 'Islamic State of Iraq,' the state of Islam that will rule the law of Allah on people and lands, that will protect the core (center) of Islam and acts as a solid shield for the Sunni people on the land of Iraq," al-Qaeda said in a statement, published on the newly created Caliphate Voice Channel website . The al-Qaeda site also accused Shiites of working with the United States to kill former Iraqi al-Qaeda leader Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi. "O monotheist MuslimsÂ… O Mujahideen across the world; today we announce the end of a stage of Jihad and the start of a new one, in which we lay the first cornerstone of the Islamic Caliphate project and revive the glory of religion," Muhajir declared. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 It's just as well that I'm not the president and commander in chief of PETA. Advocating for the somewhat indiscriminate killing of animals might not reflect well upon my constituiency nor my administration. And yet it seems like such a good idea. Indeed it seems necessary, since all else has been tried and failed. I feel conflicted. I'm willing to compromise. Have we tried targeted assassination? Certainly Iranian, Syrian, Saudi, and Russian branches of PETA have shown success in this regard. Advice, anyone? |
| Posted by: Mark Z 2006-11-24 21:07 |
| #6 When Al Q gets a few suicide bombers into semi secure areas in Tehran or Hezb areas of Beirut, we can take them seriously. But for now this is just puff. |
| Posted by: mhw 2006-11-24 13:43 |
| #5 Do you ever get the feeling the Iraq war happened to show the world how much the Sunni's and Shia hate each other???? |
| Posted by: Ebbolump Glomotle9608 2006-11-24 12:31 |
| #4 Less talk, more action! |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-11-24 11:50 |
| #3 I'd like to know who is his statement writer. Of course the "wise of Romans" is meant ironically, but the usage is rather odd, with "anti-Christ" to boot. Keep in mind that Mohammed supposedly declared war on the "Romans" -- who we'd call the Byzantines -- after they refused to submit to Allah. The modern jihadis see a parallel in the American refusal, so use references to "Rome". |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-11-24 11:08 |
| #2 "I wonder whether the wise of Romans (Americans) realize that they have become slaves and mercenaries for Persia, and that they are fighting Persia's battles for free," he said If only the West would show them what Roman conflict resolution looked like. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2006-11-24 09:14 |
| #1 "anti-Christ"... "wise of Romans"... I'd like to know who is his statement writer. Of course the "wise of Romans" is meant ironically, but the usage is rather odd, with "anti-Christ" to boot. Unless it is the translation that got these few button slapped on. Of course, the rule of thumb applies: "watch hands, not lips". As far as I can judge, there has been always a working relationship between mullahs and AQ, perhaps not underwritten by warm friendship but rather they became strange bedfellows out of necessity, as they see it. The inclusion of the two mentioned buttons seem to indicate that the statement is intended for western MSM consumption. To what end, that is the question. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2006-11-24 00:25 |