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Purported Al Qaeda Letter Calls Truce in Spain
My Way ^ | 3/18/04 | Opheera McDoom

Posted on 03/17/2004 11:21:48 PM PST by kattracks

CAIRO (Reuters) - A group claiming to have links with al Qaeda said on Wednesday it was calling a truce in its Spanish operations to see if the new Madrid government would withdraw its troops from Iraq, a pan-Arab newspaper said.

In a statement sent to the Arabic language daily al-Hayat, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombings that killed 201 people, also urged its European units to stop all operations.

"Because of this decision, the leadership has decided to stop all operations within the Spanish territories... until we know the intentions of the new government that has promised to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq," the statement said.

"And we repeat this to all the brigades present in European lands: Stop all operations."

Skepticism has greeted previous claims of responsibility by the group for attacks in Turkey and Iraq. U.S. officials say its links with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network are unclear.

An unrelated videotape of a man describing himself as al Qaeda's European military spokesman also claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombing, saying it was in retaliation for outgoing Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's domestically-unpopular support for the U.S.-led Iraq war.

In a shock election result three days after the Madrid bombs, Spain voted in the Socialist party, which has since said it will probably withdraw its troops from Iraq.

"The Spanish people... chose peace by choosing the party that was against the alliance with America," the statement said.

WE WANT BUSH TO WIN

The statement said it supported President Bush in his reelection campaign, and would prefer him to win in November rather than the Democratic candidate John Kerry, as it was not possible to find a leader "more foolish than you (Bush), who deals with matters by force rather than with wisdom."

In comments addressed to Bush, the group said:

"Kerry will kill our nation while it sleeps because he and the Democrats have the cunning to embellish blasphemy and present it to the Arab and Muslim nation as civilization."

"Because of this we desire you (Bush) to be elected."

The group said its cells were ready for another attack and time was running out for allies of the United States.

"Whose turn is it next? Will it be Japan or America, or Italy, Britain or Oslo or Australia?" the statement said, adding Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were also targets.

The group is named after Muhammed Atef, also known as Abu Hafs, a close bin Laden aide killed in the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.



TOPICS: News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alablaj; hoax; mcdoom; opheeramcdoom
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The statement said it supported President Bush in his reelection campaign, and would prefer him to win in November rather than the Democratic candidate John Kerry...

Because, if Kerry wins, they just don't know how they're going to handle being hauled into court for the "illegal" activities.

...as it was not possible to find a leader "more foolish than you (Bush), who deals with matters by force rather than with wisdom."

This coming from a group of sub-humans who kill innocent men, woman and children to attain their means.

And as for foolish leaders, it's Saddam who was found hiding in a hole in the ground and it's Osama who's living in a cave.

1 posted on 03/17/2004 11:21:49 PM PST by kattracks
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To: kattracks
Hey. They are threatening my city.
2 posted on 03/17/2004 11:33:09 PM PST by Eurotwit
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To: kattracks
Great. I can hear it now. The lib response to everything will change from "Bush lied" to "Al Queda supports Bush".
3 posted on 03/17/2004 11:35:10 PM PST by SAR_dude (In memory of "Nick the Slick" 1948-1970. You are not forgotten.)
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To: kattracks
Where is NATO??????????????????????????????

DOA.
4 posted on 03/17/2004 11:39:03 PM PST by SevenDaysInMay (Federal judges and justices serve for periods of good behavior, not life. Article III sec. 1)
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To: kattracks
Spain's new leader.


5 posted on 03/17/2004 11:41:11 PM PST by swilhelm73
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To: kattracks
Is this for real? If it is then the kooks are being extra-stupid today. If that is their version of reverse-psychology then they need some serious remedial help. LOL.

Maybe it is from one of Kerry's foreign friends.

6 posted on 03/17/2004 11:41:40 PM PST by spetznaz (Nuclear missiles: The ultimate Phallic symbol.)
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To: kattracks
Jeez, this was probably written by Terry McCauliffe himself.

Total crapola!
7 posted on 03/17/2004 11:44:31 PM PST by Bullish
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To: kattracks
Any reporter with a name like 'Opheera McDoom' is likely to be a pallet shy of a truckload.
8 posted on 03/17/2004 11:49:08 PM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge.)
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To: Bullish
Sounds funny but this falls in line with the group and supposed leader Abu Mohammed al-Ablaj.
9 posted on 03/18/2004 12:26:08 AM PST by endthematrix (To enter my lane you must use your turn signal!)
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To: spetznaz
Agence France Presse
November 16, 2003

Al-Qaeda warns of attack on Japan, claims bombing of Italian post

DUBAI -- A London-based Saudi newspaper, Al-Majallah, said it has
received a statement from Al-Qaeda warning of an attack in Tokyo and
claiming responsibility for last week's anti-Italian bombing in Iraq.

Abu Mohammed al-Ablaj, purported to be an Al-Qaeda leader, warned the
Japanese, "If they want to destroy their economic power and be
trampled under the feet of the combatants of Allah, let them come to
Iraq," he said. "Our strikes will reach the heart of Tokyo."

Japanese Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba said that Tokyo remains
committed to aiding with the reconstruction of Iraq, but the timing of
a deployment of Japanese troops depends on the situation.

Abu Mohammed al-Ablaj also claimed the strike on the Italian police
post in Nasiriyah on behalf of Al-Qaeda. "Our strikes ... will be
painful, and what we did to the Italians in Iraq, against their
command base in Nasiriyah in the south of the county, is an example,"
said Ablaj, who often communicates by e-mail with Al-Majallah.

He also renewed threats against the United States and Israel. "Let
America and Israel mourn their dead from now, as well as the
destruction which they will suffer," the statement warned. "The Jews
and Americans will never be safe so long as we are alive."
___________________________________________________________

They have and will continue to attack America and her allies...ITALY, TURKEY, SAPIN, SAUDI ARABIA...
10 posted on 03/18/2004 12:31:50 AM PST by endthematrix (To enter my lane you must use your turn signal!)
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To: kattracks
This little tidbit is NOT mentioned in the first reports of this letter. See the article here from this morning...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3555444&thesection=news&thesubsection=world

======

Purported al Qaeda letter calls truce in Spain

18.03.2004
9.45am

CAIRO - A group claiming to have links with al Qaeda said on Wednesday it was calling a truce in its Spanish operations to see if the new government would withdraw its troops from Iraq, a pan-Arab newspaper said.


In a statement sent on Wednesday to the Arabic language daily al-Hayat, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombings that killed 201 people, also urged its European units to stop all operations.

"Because of this decision, the leadership has decided to stop all operations within the Spanish territories... until we know the intentions of the new government that has promised to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq," the statement said.

"And we repeat this to all the brigades present in European lands: stop all operations."

In a shock election result just days after the Madrid attacks, Spain elected the Socialist party, which has since said it will probably withdraw its troops from Iraq.

The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades have previously claimed responsibility for bombings in Turkey and Iraq.

"The Spanish people... chose peace by choosing the party that was against the alliance with America," the statement said. The newspaper planned to publish it on Thursday.

Outgoing Spanish Prime Minister Josa Maria Aznar was a staunch ally of the United States in the Iraq war, although a majority of the Spanish people were opposed to sending Spanish troops there.

"Praise be to God who gave us this victory in the conquest of Madrid... where one of the pillars of the axis of Crusader evil was destroyed," the statement said, affirming its earlier claim for the Madrid attacks.

A US official in Washington has previously said the group's link with al Qaeda is unclear.

A newgroup posting has it from Reuters in the original, non-Bush version also...

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%22purported+al+qaeda+letter%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&edition=us&scoring=d&selm=
6x56c.98989%248k2.59258%40nntp-post.primus.ca&rnum=6

It can be confirmed HERE as well...

http://www.shttp://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2849590a12,00.html

It first shows up as the "Bush Version" a few hours later, in India here:

http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp;:4058d424:acf845be6d89eb28?type=worldNews&locale=en_IN&storyID=4591099

Does it strike anybody but me, that this is a little odd, especially considering that no one mentioned this when it first came out? Is there a transcript anywhere?

(accidental cross-posting to another thread, btw)...
11 posted on 03/18/2004 12:39:24 AM PST by dandelion
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To: swilhelm73
As a matter of fact, he was ambassador to Spain in the mid-1930s.
12 posted on 03/18/2004 12:41:59 AM PST by Atlantic Friend (Cursum Perficio)
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To: dandelion
Yes, it does seem odd, especially in light of the fact that Reuters seems so anti-Bush. It doesn't seem logical that they would omit the "al Qaeda" preference for Bush when first publishing the letter. They could, and probably would have made the most of this.

Perhaps this was an add on by some al Qaeda/Kerry friendly sources?

13 posted on 03/18/2004 12:57:43 AM PST by kattracks
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To: kattracks
I think it's especially interesting that this development shows up late in the day - and all of the original postings of this report on the Reuters website were pulled just a few minutes ago. The pages were left blank for several minutes, and they have just been refreshed with the new "Bush" version...
14 posted on 03/18/2004 1:05:30 AM PST by dandelion
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To: dandelion
And what a "coincidence" that this comes on the heels of Kerry being questioned as to which foreign leaders have told him they want him to win the election.
15 posted on 03/18/2004 1:13:11 AM PST by kattracks
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To: kattracks
AH! Here we go - from Reuters website, this afternoon: http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=478035&section=news .topNavBarPadding { border-style : none; padding-top : 2px; padding-right : 5px; } .topNavBarBorder { border-left : 1px solid #000099; border-right : 1px solid #000099; border-bottom : 1px solid #000099; padding-left : 15px; padding-right : 6px; padding-top : 3px; padding-bottom : 3px; vertical-align : middle; } .masthead { background: #FFFFFF url(images/dots.gif) repeat-y fixed top right; } .utilbox { background: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #C2C6CB; padding: 3px; font: 12px verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #666666; } .utilbox a { text-decoration: none; font: bold 12px verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #666666; } .utilbox a:hover { text-decoration: underline; color: #666666; }
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Purported al Qaeda letter calls truce in Spain
Wed 17 March, 2004 20:11

CAIRO (Reuters) - A group claiming to have links with al Qaeda says it is calling a truce in its Spanish operations to see if the new government would withdraw its troops from Iraq, a pan-Arab newspaper says.

In a statement sent on Wednesday to the Arabic language daily al-Hayat, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombings that killed 201 people, also urged its European units to stop all operations.

"Because of this decision, the leadership has decided to stop all operations within the Spanish territories... until we know the intentions of the new government that has promised to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq," the statement said.

"And we repeat this to all the brigades present in European lands: Stop all operations."

In a shock election result just days after the Madrid attacks, Spain elected the Socialist party, which has since said it will probably withdraw its troops from Iraq.

The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades have previously claimed responsibility for bombings in Turkey and Iraq.

"The Spanish people... chose peace by choosing the party that was against the alliance with America," the statement said. The newspaper planned to publish it on Thursday.

Outgoing Spanish Prime Minister Josa Maria Aznar was a staunch ally of the United States in the Iraq war, although a majority of the Spanish people were opposed to sending Spanish troops there.

"Praise be to God who gave us this victory in the conquest of Madrid... where one of the pillars of the axis of Crusader evil was destroyed," the statement said, affirming its earlier claim for the Madrid attacks.

A U.S. official in Washington has previously said the group's link with al Qaeda is unclear.

     

 

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16 posted on 03/18/2004 1:15:33 AM PST by dandelion
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To: kattracks
Note: Opheera McDoom's name does not appear on the document yet.
17 posted on 03/18/2004 1:18:44 AM PST by dandelion
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To: dandelion
Opheera McDoom doesn't sound legit either.
18 posted on 03/18/2004 1:20:43 AM PST by kattracks
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To: kattracks
He, she, it, seems to be an Egpytian based Reuters reporter;

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Opheera+McDoom
19 posted on 03/18/2004 1:27:28 AM PST by swilhelm73
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To: swilhelm73
Thank you.
20 posted on 03/18/2004 1:34:03 AM PST by kattracks
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