Posted on 11/10/2006 10:27:55 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -
1110dvs-iraq-latest Al-Qaida in Iraq claimed in a new audio tape Friday to be winning the war faster than expected in Iraq and said it had mobilized 12,000 fighters who had "vowed to die for God's sake."
The U.S. military, meanwhile, reported that three U.S. soldiers and a Marine were killed Thursday in Iraq, the U.S. military said, bringing the number of Americans who have died in the country so far this month to 25. At least 105 U.S. forces died in October, the fourth highest monthly toll of the war.
On the audio tape made available on militant Web sites, the al-Qaida in Iraq leader also welcomed the Republican electoral defeat that led to the departure of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. He added that the group's fighters would not rest until they had blown up the White House.
"The al-Qaida army has 12,000 fighters in Iraq, and they have vowed to die for God's sake," a man who identified himself as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir said.
Al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, also urged the U.S. to stay in Iraq so his group would have more opportunities to kill American troops. "We haven't had enough of your blood yet," he told the U.S.
"We will not rest from our Jihad until we are under the olive trees of Rumieh and we have blown up the filthiest house - which is called the White House," al-Muhajir said. It was not clear what Rumieh was referring to.
Al-Muhajir became the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. airstrike in June. The tape could not be independently verified.
"The American people have put their feet on the right path by ... realizing their president's betrayal in supporting Israel," the terror leader said. "So they voted for something reasonable in the last elections."
Describing President Bush as "the most stupid president" in U.S. history, al-Masri reached out to the Muslim world and said his group was winning the war in Iraq faster than expected due to U.S. policies.
Since the war started in March 2003, 2,845 members of the U.S. military have died, according to an Associated Press count.
The Iraqi army also said it captured the Egyptian leader of an al-Qaida cell in restive Anbar province.
Acting on a tip, Iraqi soldiers descended on a building in the city of Rawah, 175 miles northwest of Baghdad, where they arrested local al-Qaida commander Abu Muhayyam al-Masri, whose name, like that of the group's overall leader, is a pseudonym meaning, "the Egyptian," a Defense Ministry official said.
Two aides, Abu Issam al-Libi, or "the Libyan," and Abu Zaid al-Suri, "the Syrian," also were arrested, along with nine other members of the cell, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.
The pseudonyms appeared to mark the men as foreign fighters, thousands of whom are said by Iraq's government to have crossed the porous border with Syria about 55 miles west of Rawah to join the insurgency. Their nationalities were not confirmed.
The official said al-Suri confessed to organizing at least one suicide bombing in Baghdad. He said the raid also netted a large quantity of weapons.
Rawah lies deep in Anbar province, where Sunni Arab insurgents routinely launch deadly attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces that show no sign of diminishing in numbers or intensity, more than three years after the U.S. invasion.
At least 11 of the American deaths in November have been in Anbar, including a Marine who died Thursday from wound suffered in fighting there.
A roadside bomb also killed two American soldiers and wounded another Thursday in western Baghdad, the U.S. command said. Another soldier was killed and one wounded by a roadside bomb that struck their truck Thursday during a combat logistics patrol west of Haditha, 140 miles northwest of the capital.
In other violence, six Iraqi soldiers were killed and 10 wounded when a suicide bomber drove his explosives-rigged car into an army checkpoint in the northern city of Tal Afar, the military said.
Army spokesman Brig. Najim Abdullah said the car stopped after soldiers opened fire as it sped toward the checkpoint. The unit's commander, who was among those killed, then led a group of soldiers toward it, when the driver, apparently faking death, detonated the explosives, Abdullah said.
Tal Afar has suffered frequent insurgent attacks, despite President Bush's declaration in March that the city was an example of progress made in bringing security to Iraq. Tal Afar lies 93 miles east of the Syrian border and 260 miles northwest of Baghdad.
Three members of a family were killed by gunmen who stormed their home near Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, police said.
At least 33 bodies also were found in Baghdad and several nearby cities, morgue officials said.
The new deaths came a day after Iraqi Health Minister Ali al-Shemari estimated 150,000 civilians have been killed in the war - about three times previously accepted estimates.
In comments to the AP during a visit to Austria, al-Shemari said he based his figure on an estimate of 100 bodies per day brought to morgues and hospitals - although such a calculation would come out closer to 130,000 in total.
"It is an estimate," al-Shemari said.
Hassan Salem, of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, or SCIRI, said the 150,000 figure included civilians and police, as well as those who were abducted, killed and whose bodies were brought to morgues run by the Health Ministry. SCIRI is Iraq's largest Shiite political organization and holds the largest number of seats in parliament.
No official account for Iraq deaths in the post-invasion conflict has ever been available. Accurate figures are difficult to establish because police and hospitals often give widely conflicting tolls of those killed in major bombings. Death figures also are reported through multiple channels by government agencies that function with varying efficiency.
A member of the movement of radical anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, al-Shemari also repeated the Shiite-dominated government's demands for a speedier U.S. transfer of authority to Iraqi forces and the withdrawal of U.S. troops to their bases, away from Iraq's cities and towns.
"The army of America didn't do its job. ... They tie the hands of my government," al-Shemari said. presence in Iraq.
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They are certainly winning it in the hearts and minds of America.
Well, their party just had a big victory here in the US.
The stupid American voters have handed immediate encouragement and ultimate victory to Al-Qaida. The job in Iraq will not be completed and the deaths of thousands of American servicemen will be for nought.
So, now the Democrats are in power and al-Crapa is saying they are winning.
The bottom line on this is:
Vote for Republicans, terrorists lose. Vote for Democrats, terrorists win. In the terrorists own words.
Wait,I took Iraq was not part of the war on terror!Let's go GOP get this message out!NOW!
Defeat In The War On Terror Is Now Almost Certain
Personal ^ | Nov. 8, 2006 | attiladhun2
Posted on 11/08/2006 11:13:03 AM PST by attiladhun2
This morning a great many of the talking heads are saying the Republican defeat could actually be a blessing in disguise, if it will motivate the GOP to return to its conservative principles. However, I believe it will turn out to be not just a political debacle, but a strategic defeat of monumental proportions. I doubt if OBL and his lieutenants are sitting around in their cave today telling each other, "Gosh! This Republican defeat might cause the GOP to return to its conservative core. We better be careful. Such a renewed party could regain power in '08 and we'll be in mucho-big trouble!" Do you think that's what is going on in terrorist ratholes around the world? You know they are rejoicing. The loud and clear message is terrorism can be effective beyond their wildest dreams.
Last night the American people had a chance to stand up to the terrorists and give the President's party the nod for at least another two years. Instead, the American people cried "uncle" after the fashion of the Spaniards following the Madrid bombings. Of course, that was not the intent of the electorate, but that is certainly how OBL and Co. will perceive it. We are likely to see an increase in terrorist activity over the next two years in both Iraq and Afghanistan. There is a real possibility this nation will abandon Iraq and possibily even Afghanistan, if we are faced with increasing casualities in either of those places. Knowing how the Democrats abandoned South Vietnam, this is more than just a possibility.
The War on Terror has had a diverse genesis. However, one thing is clear. Failure of American will after the fall of Saigon in 1975 definately comes into play. (The terrorists themselves understand this). The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 would likely not have occurred were it not for America's acute strategic paralysis during a period exaberated by a witless President. Thus, the path to 9-11 really begins with those Marines being lifted off the roof of the U.S. embassy in Saigon. A defeat in Iraq is now made more likely by this election defeat. The American people failed to stand up to terror, and by so doing have invited horrors that will make 9-11 seem tame by comparison. There is just no way you can put a smiley face on this.
Former Presidential Candidate George McGovern to Discuss Iraq Exit Strategy With Democrats
And a quote:
"The best way to reduce this insurgency is to get the American forces out of there," McGovern said. "That's what's driving this insurgency."
Now that the majority of the people in Missouri and Ohio
have turned them into anti-war BLUE states, the election
of the HILDEBEAST is pretty much a done deal in 2008.
It will be interesting to see if Al-Qaida targets the
white house when she is living there.Since our borders will remain porous, they certainly will be able to do it if they choose.The dream of Jefferson and Madison is in danger of
becoming meaningless.We have nobody to blame but ourselves.
Americans have voted. They prefer the Al'Qaida/Democrat message over President Bush/Republicans. We quit, we give up and move forward. It's only a matter of how far America will bend over.
Winning?
What the heck has given them so much confidence, lately?
If we can't win this thing we may as well build the biggest wall possible around our country because militarily, we'll be finished.
Finished, meaning our citizens and politicians can't be counted on support our brave military.
Again this is only the begining, Hell I wouldn't be surprised if ubl himself comes out with a rant..
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