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.
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.
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.
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.
Death Throes
Great tagline!!!
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.
I thought the paleo-news claim was that it makes it worse. Before we only had deaths. Now we have death threats!
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
It was an observation I had ;-)
listen to the cries in the background: "I'm Melting! i'm melting... i'm melt...
The AP is stealing my act
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.
I like to think of them as two 500 pound enemas. We have a couple with Bin Laden's name on them also.
two 500 pound sleeping pills
Caution: may experience severe headache, burning, and flash at the beginning.
Bring em on!
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