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| Iraq |
| AQI accuses 1920 Revolution Brigades of betraying Islam |
| 2007-09-24 |
| An Al Qaeda front-group lashed out on Sunday at a key nationalist Sunni Muslim insurgent faction in a rare criticism of a fellow rebel group, accusing it of betraying Islam by joining US forces in their fight against Al Qaeda. In a statement posted on at least two Islamic websites used by Iraqi insurgents, the Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella group of insurgent factions dominated by Al Qaeda, called on members of the 1920 Revolution Brigades to repent during Ramazan. “We call on the leaders and wise men of the [1920 Revolution] Brigades to reconsider where this path will lead them and, swearing to God, we tell them that you have betrayed your religion and the pure blood of your martyrs,” the statement said. Over the past few months, US commanders in Iraq have reported increased cooperation with their former adversaries in the 1920 Brigades in fighting Al Qaeda. In their statement, the Islamic State of Iraq said they wanted to “point out to the nation the truth behind the dangerous deviation [from the path of jihad] of the 1920 Revolution Brigades after we kept silent for so long in hopes they would repent”. “However, we tell you [Brigades members] that the door of repentance is still open especially in this blessed month ... and to stop aiding the occupying crusaders or their miserable projects,” it said. Several Iraqi Sunni insurgent groups, angered by Al Qaeda attempts to impose their hardline version of Islam and repeated attacks on civilians have publicly denounced the extremist organisation and formed alliances to fight it. The 1920 Revolution Brigades has begun to overtly cooperate with US forces and Sunni tribes against Al Qaeda and are also helping the Americans track down members of the terror movement. The statement said that the Brigades had fought alongside the Americans west of Baghdad in the Abu Ghraib area, while one of its splinter groups, Iraqi Hamas, had helped US forces in Diyala province. The Brigades, which are believed to include many Saddam Hussein loyalists, were also accused of cooperating with the Anbar Salvation Council, a coalition of Sunni tribal forces fighting Al Qaeda, and staffing the police force in Fallujah. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 It's tragic that the 1920s are not Iraqi soldiers instead of an armed gang of thugs. How long before we fighting them again ? |
| Posted by: wxjames 2007-09-24 15:49 |
| #1 In all actuality, 1920's are fighting for GOD. So, this propaganda is bunk. Just watch and see. Maybe they will get the rest of Al-Q as an afterthought. After all, if they are this good at determining evil, they may be far better at destroying the devil. It is too bad 1920 took so long to wake up to the evil that surrounds them. It is not a crusade, it is a fight against evil. Wake up guys. |
| Posted by: newc 2007-09-24 00:57 |