Posted on 02/04/2004 1:51:39 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Al-Qaeda linked group claims blasts AN Islamist group, Ansar al-Sunna, with alleged links to al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility today for the deadly twin suicide attacks in the northern Iraqi Kurdish city of Arbil, according to an Islamist Internet site. "Our joy on Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) was boosted by this attack against the agents of Jews and Christians," the statement said. It was not possible to independently verify the statement. The statement expressed sympathies with the "brothers" of the militant group Ansar al-Islam, which Kurdish political groups have fingered in the attack and which is suspected of links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
"The Sunnis in Iraq and everywhere in the world have understood that the Crusaders cannot enter the provinces of Kirkuk and Niniveh without the help of the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) and the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party), run by their agents Jalal Talabani and Massoud Barzani, respectively," it said. The statement was dated February 4 and bore the signature of "Abu Abdullah al-Hassan bin Massud, head of the Ansar Al-Sunna army". "The two agents (Talabani and Barzani) have prepared the way for the American army to occupy the two provinces, despite the fall of the atheist Baath regime ... before handing the two provinces to the Crusaders. "That is why we watched for the occasion to avenge the two tyrants, whose hands are stained with the blood of Muslims ... and who coordinated with the Crusaders to strike our Mujahedeen brother group Ansar al-Islam, their women and their children. "So we have hit their main offices," added the statement, entitled The Two Conquests of Arbil, using the same terminology as that of bin Laden in reference to the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington. Two bombers detonated vests packed with explosives in the offices of the main Kurdish parties, the PUK and KDP, in Arbil, 350km north of Baghdad. Key officials from parties were among at least 105 people killed as hundreds gathered to celebrate the Muslim Eid holiday. "We advise Muslims not to frequent the places used by these dirty men (Talabani and Barzani). We have (Mujahedeen) brothers, whose number only God knows, and who are devoted to God," warned the group, which has previously published a dozen statements on a website whose address is constantly changed. A television station owned by the PUK said today a Yemeni had been arrested in connection with the Arbil bombings, the deadliest attacks in Iraq since the ouster of Saddam Hussein's regime last April. The suspect was seized in a hotel in the northern oil centre of Kirkuk and explosives were found in his possession, the station said.
From correspondents in Dubai
February 5, 2004
In a statement posted on the site, the group said "two of our martyr brothers attacked the two dens of Satan in Arbil" on Sunday.
Agence France-Presse
Please read and help alert all to this important information:
Our newly deployed troops have problems getting armor which is vital!
Do you have a solid reason to doubt that this group of people has links to "Al Qaeda"?
Yes. Our intelligence sucks.
Hmm. Yet it is precisely our intelligence which tells us that there exists a group of people called "Al Qaeda" and that they were responsible for the kamikaze attacks of 9/11/2001. Perhaps that is wrong too?
Ok then, I'll just disbelieve that as well, and choose to believe that Saddam Hussein himself was behind 9/11.
You can't say I'm wrong, can you? On what basis? You think that "Al Qaeda" was behind 9/11? Pssh. Says who? There's no such thing as "Al Qaeda". What? You believe our intelligence? But have you forgotten? Our intelligence sucks!
Were aren't relying on "alleged" ties coming from who knows where to prove that Al Queda exists. They have declared their existance, we have seen video of Osama. There is real evidence (something lacking in many circles these days.) Nice try though.
Ok then, I'll just disbelieve that as well, and choose to believe that Saddam Hussein himself was behind 9/11.
And I didn't say I had reason to disbelieve. I said I had reason to doubt. They are not the same thing. Again, nice try.
You can't say I'm wrong, can you? On what basis? You think that "Al Qaeda" was behind 9/11? Pssh. Says who?
Says Osama.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/12/13/tape.transcript/
Nice try, though.
There's no such thing as "Al Qaeda". What? You believe our intelligence? But have you forgotten? Our intelligence sucks!
Our intel does suck. Enough so to doubt an unattributed "alleged" link to Al Queda, that's for sure. Doubt, Dr. Frank. I would think a man of science would be familiar with the concept.
Are you sure? I'm not even sure they call themselves "Al Qaeda", for starters.
we have seen video of Osama.
Yes we have. I agree that there is a guy named Osama bin Laden and that we have sources for this which are more or less independent of intelligence. But the idea that he is in charge of a group called "Al Qaeda" and that it is namely this group which has responsibility for what happened on 9/11/2001 comes from intelligence. (Which "sucks", so therefore, apparently, is wrong.)
And I didn't say I had reason to disbelieve. I said I had reason to doubt.
Point taken. Doubt away.
["Al Qaeda" behind 9/11] Says Osama. (link)
Oh please. That transcript is a translation from Arabic that was made by our intelligence (which "sucks"). So it must be incorrect. For all I know they could've been exchanging recipes. Also, even if the transcript is accurate, Osama may express familiarity with the attacks and his responsibility for them - but he never mentions any group named "Al Qaeda"! The allusions to the group behind the attacks are interpreted to be references to "Al Qaeda", by our intelligence (which "sucks").
Doubt, Dr. Frank. I would think a man of science would be familiar with the concept.
Doubt is fine and dandy.
So here we are in a war against (lefties say) some group called "Al Qaeda", and nobody else. Lefties say they want us to fight this war, and not get "distracted" by other things (like Iraq). Okay, fine. So then where the hell are we supposed to send our soldiers to fight "Al Qaeda"?
Here's a group of people in Iraq which (ALLEGEDLY) is tied to that group, "Al Qaeda". You doubt those ties (because our intelligence "sucks"). Well, that's great. But so what, then? You got a better idea? If you know of a group, in some place, which has MORE DEFINITE (not just alleged) ties to "Al Qaeda", then speak up, I'm all ears.
But the criticism that Iraq is "distracting" us from fighting "Al Qaeda" makes no sense unless you actually have a real reason to disbelieve (not just "doubt") that some of these groups in Iraq are connected to "Al Qaeda". So do you?
Good one!!!
Agence France-Presse
Or just maybe top notch French reporting....we can't let it look like the US was ever right now can we.
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