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Iraq: Al-Zarqawi death prompts attack warning
AP ^ | 06/11/06 | LEE KEATH

Posted on 06/11/2006 7:45:23 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

Al-Zarqawi death prompts attack warning

By LEE KEATH, Associated Press Writer

44 minutes ago

Al-Qaida in Iraq vowed Sunday to carry out "major attacks," insisting in a Web statement that it was still powerful after the death of leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

The statement did not name a successor to al-Zarqawi, who was killed by a U.S. airstrike Wednesday. But it said the group's leadership "renews its allegiance" to Osama bin Laden.

Bin Laden "will see things that will bring joy to his heart," it said, vowing "to prepare major attacks that will shake the enemy like an earthquake and rattle them out of sleep."

The authenticity of the statement could not be independently confirmed. It was posted on an Islamic militant Web forum where the group has posted statements in the past.

Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, told "Fox News Sunday" he expected the statement from al-Qaida in Iraq because "they're hurt badly." He said there had been a "steady drumbeat" of operations against al-Zarqawi's network since the leader's hideout was bombed.

"It's expected but I think we'll be prepared for it," Casey said of the threat. "But again, you can't stop terrorist attacks completely."

The statement was issued in the name of al-Qaida in Iraq but was put out by the Mujahedeen Shura Council, an umbrella organization of five insurgent groups that al-Zarqawi helped create.

The statement said al-Qaida in Iraq's leadership met after al-Zarqawi's death and "agreed to continue jihad (holy war) and not be affected by his martyrdom."

"The organization has strengthened its back, regained its footing and has been renewed with fresh blood," it said, listing previous prominent members who had been killed without setting back the group's attacks.

"For those who were waging holy war for the sake of al-Zarqawi, al-Zarqawi is dead. But for those who were fighting for the sake of God, God is alive and eternal," it said.

The phrase echoed the words used by the Prophet Muhammad's successor, Abu Bakr, after the prophet's death in the 7th century to urge Muslims to stick to their new faith.

The message left unknown the issue of who will succeed al-Zarqawi as the group's "emir," or leader.

Thursday's al-Qaida statement was signed by al-Zarqawi's deputy emir, Abu Abdul-Rahman al-Iraqi, and sympathizers quickly flooded Web forums with vows of allegiance to him.

But Sunday's message did not mention his name. There is confusion over whether he is still alive, after the U.S. military said a man named "Abdul-Rahman," whom it identified as al-Zarqawi's spiritual adviser, died in the airstrike alongside his leader.

The U.S. military has said the mostly likely successor is an Egyptian associate of al-Zarqawi named Abu Ayyub al-Masri, who has a $50,000 reward on his head.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; death; iraq; reprisal; zarqawi
As far as I know, Zarqawi's group was basically persona non grata among Iraqi Sunni groups. If they act up again, maybe more names to be passed onto U.S./Iraqi forces by piss-off Sunnis.

In S. Korea, few except brain-dead loony left showed any sympathy for his death. On Internet, many commented that Zarqawi got off too easy, when they heard that he might have been beaten to death. His beheading of a S. Korean was not forgotten.

1 posted on 06/11/2006 7:45:26 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster
Bin Laden "will see things that will bring joy to his heart," it said, vowing "to prepare major attacks that will shake the enemy like an earthquake and rattle them out of sleep."

What an odd choice of words in light of the two 500 pound sleeping pills al-Zarqawi was administered by the United States Air Force a few days ago.

It certainly shook his world like an earthquake.

2 posted on 06/11/2006 7:48:44 AM PDT by JCEccles
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To: TigerLikesRooster
...many commented that Zarqawi got off too easy, when they heard that he might have been beaten to death.

Well, being beaten to death sounds a lot more painful than being blown up into little pieces.

But, since I've never been beaten to death or blown up into little pieces I'm just speculating.

3 posted on 06/11/2006 7:50:42 AM PDT by Recovering Hermit (Apparently, most who protest for peace do so at the expense of hygiene.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Death Throes


4 posted on 06/11/2006 7:52:04 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
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To: Recovering Hermit

Great tagline!!!


5 posted on 06/11/2006 7:52:22 AM PDT by SIDENET (I like liberals...they taste like CHICKEN.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

The MSM-DNC claims that taking down just one man, be it Saddam, Bin-dead-Ladin, or Zarqawi, makes no difference.

Yet the put all of their effort into bringing down just one man themselves, thinking it will end the war and automatically put them back in power.


6 posted on 06/11/2006 7:52:49 AM PDT by digger48
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To: TigerLikesRooster
The article linked below is excellent. It counters the argument that when one leader is killed another just as competent will follow.

Many in 'next generation' of global terrorists are dead.

7 posted on 06/11/2006 7:54:54 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter (The Stations of the Cross in Poetry ---> http://www.wayoftears.com)
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To: digger48
The MSM-DNC claims that taking down just one man, be it Saddam, Bin-dead-Ladin, or Zarqawi, makes no difference.

I thought the paleo-news claim was that it makes it worse.   Before we only had deaths.  Now we have death threats!

8 posted on 06/11/2006 8:00:11 AM PDT by expat_panama
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To: TigerLikesRooster
They're boasting. But of course they don't how badly they've been compromised. A beast is at its most dangerous when its badly wounded. This one needs to be killed fast.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

9 posted on 06/11/2006 8:06:53 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: SIDENET
Thanks!

It was an observation I had ;-)

10 posted on 06/11/2006 8:10:15 AM PDT by Recovering Hermit (Apparently, most who protest for peace do so at the expense of hygiene.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
insisting in a Web statement that it was still powerful after the death of leader...

listen to the cries in the background: "I'm Melting! i'm melting... i'm melt...

11 posted on 06/11/2006 8:34:38 AM PDT by C210N (Bush SPYED, Terrorists DIED!)
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: TigerLikesRooster

The AP is stealing my act

13 posted on 06/11/2006 8:38:46 AM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Not a part of virtual reality)
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To: Straight Vermonter
Re #7

Yeah, I was thinking along the same line a while back (right after OIF was finished.) There will be less coordination, and more like random drive-by shootings by local gangs as time move on.

14 posted on 06/11/2006 8:48:00 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: JCEccles
What an odd choice of words in light of the two 500 pound sleeping pills al-Zarqawi was administered by the United States Air Force a few days ago.

I like to think of them as two 500 pound enemas. We have a couple with Bin Laden's name on them also.

15 posted on 06/11/2006 9:01:57 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici (My head hurts.)
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To: JCEccles
Re #2

two 500 pound sleeping pills

Caution: may experience severe headache, burning, and flash at the beginning.

16 posted on 06/11/2006 9:12:39 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Bring em on!


17 posted on 06/11/2006 10:05:11 AM PDT by Brilliant
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