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| Iraq | |
| Al-Qaeda in Iraq pledges support for al-Zawahri | |
| 2011-05-10 | |
| BAGHDAD— Al-Qaeda’s front group in Iraq reaffirmed its support Monday for the terror network’s second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri, a week after US commandos killed Osama bin Laden. Al-Qaeda has not yet announced a successor and there is some uncertainty about whether al-Zawahri will indeed take over for bin Laden. In a statement posted on an insurgent website Monday, the Islamic State of Iraq also taunted President Barack Obama as “the rat in the black house” and said he should remain fearful of bin Laden’s promise to threaten the United States. “The martyrdom of the sheik (bin Laden) will increase the determination and steadfastness among his brotherly mujahideen,” read the statement. “To our brothers in al-Qaida, first among them sheik Ayman al-Zawahri and his brothers in the leadership of the organization, may God reward you and grant you patience for this loss.” The statement amounts to an official letter of condolence for bin Laden, who was killed in a US strike last week on his compound in northern Pakistan. It was signed by Abu Bakr al-Husseini al-Baghdadi, a pseudonym for the anonymous new leader of al-Qaida’s front group in Iraq.
The new statement did not call for specific attacks on the US but said Obama should be mindful of bin Laden’s 19 operatives who attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. “And now the same fear and terror after his death will hurt you as his legacy, and will be a hard burden on you, spoiling your lives and threatening your security and consuming your economy,” the statement said. “It is the right of Osama bin Laden’s men to fulfill his oath.” Al-Qaida in Iraq has by and large confined its attacks to its home country. In a second statement Monday, it claimed responsibility for a suicide bomber who last week killed 20 police officers in the Iraqi town of Hillah by ramming the explosives-packed vehicle he was driving into a barricaded security compound. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #6 Seems to me that the #2 automatically becomes #1 when #1 is offed. That's the point of being #2, isn't it? One would think so, Spot, but most organizations do not have that 'promote from within' culture that armed forces and a few corporations like Procter & Gamble are noted for...which is why so many#2s end up parachuted in as the top guy for another company. Proof that Dr. al Zawahiri ought not be promoted is how much he is struggling now, after only few days at the helm. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-05-10 10:25 |
| #5 Oy Vey! Ti mir nit kayn toyves. Al-Zawahri |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2011-05-10 08:54 |
| #4 Seems to me that the #2 automatically becomes #1 when #1 is offed. That's the point of being #2, isn't it? That Ayman has to beg for support doesn't bode well for him. Neither does the big "Shoot Me" sign on his back. |
| Posted by: Spot 2011-05-10 07:53 |
| #3 OOOOppsies, forgot BHARAT RAKSHAK > WHITE HOUSE: AL-QAEDA NOT "STRATEGICALLY DEFEATED" WID BIN LADEN DEATH. Ex-POTUS Dubya's "long war" taint over just becuz the US got Osama - ditto for Radical Islam's jihad. The strategic strategy of strategeery .... |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-05-10 00:56 |
| #2 Isn't ISI (not the one in Pakiland) on their third or fourth al-Baghdadi by now? |
| Posted by: Zebulon Thranter9685 2011-05-10 00:56 |
| #1 She'd look sexier widout the cheek, lip gloss, + prob the beret. Thats two Qaeda affiliates for AYMAN. AYMAN 2, AWLAKI 0, OTHER 0 [AFAIK], although Ayman may want to consider donating his points to AwLaki + Other. To wit, * PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > [WH NatSecAdv Tom Donilon] US NOW LOOKING FOR ZAWAHIRI. * SAME > Al-QAEDA IN IRAQ SUPPORTS ZAWAHIRI, VOWS REVENGE. * SAME > AL-QAEDA GROUP [AQIM = Maghreb] CLAIM BIN LADEN TRIUMPH IN ARAB REVOLTS. Regional Muslims encourages to rise up and fight the "AMERICAN ZIONIST WESTERN UNJUST AGGRESSORS". Gaawd, anuther long one. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-05-10 00:51 |