A caution against a rush to judgment. Al-Qaeda, after all, claimed responsibility for the Summer 2003 blackouts in the U.S. I don't think this analysis is conclusive, as so much of it is based on how the message claiming credit differs linguistically from other Al-Qaeda messages. That could be explained simply by a difference of authorship within the organization. Still, the involvement of Al-Qaeda has not been conclusively proven. This just in from MEMRI:
On March 12, 2004, the pro-Saddam pro-bin Laden London daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi(1) published the alleged statement by the Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades of Al-Qa'ida, in which the brigades claimed to be responsible for the March 11, 2004 bombings in Madrid.It should be noted that the Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades claimed responsibility for the August 2003 blackout in the U.S. (which was a large-scale technical failure), calling it "Operation Quick Lightning in the Land of the Tyrant of This Generation."(2)
The following is the translation of the statement, followed by commentary:
Text of the Statement
[The statement begins with the following three Qur'anic verses:]"When you punish, punish them in the way they have punished you." (Qur'an 16:126)
"Kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from where they have driven you out; for internal strife [Fitna] is worse than killing." (Qur'an 2:191)
"Whoever attacks you, attack him in the same way that he attacked you, and trust Allah and know that Allah is with those who put their trust [in Him]." (Qur'an 2:194).
"The Trains of Death Operation
"In their last statement, of March 2, 2004 [on the bombings in Karbala and Baghdad] the Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades promised that they were preparing for their upcoming operations, and behold, they are fulfilling their promise.
"The Death Brigades penetrated into the European Crusader heartland, and struck a painful blow at one of the foundations of the Crusader coalition. This is part of a settling of old accounts with Crusader Spain, the ally of the U.S., in its war against Islam…
"Where is America, Aznar? Who will protect you? Who will protect Britain? Who will protect Japan, Italy, and other agents? By striking at the Italian forces in Nasiriyya [Iraq], we sent you and America's agents a warning, demanding that you quit the coalition against Islam, but you did not get the message…
"Now we say it clearly, hoping that you [Aznar] will understand it this time. We at the Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades are not sorry for the deaths of so-called civilians. Are they permitted to kill our children, our women, our elderly, and our youth in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, and Kashmir, and we are forbidden from killing them? Allah, may he be praised, said: 'Whoever attacks you, attack him in the same way that he attacked you' [Qur'an 2:194].
"Take your hands off us! Release our prisoners! Get out of our lands! Then we will leave you alone.
"The peoples of America's allies must pressure their government to withdraw immediately from their alliance with America [in its fight] against terror (Islam)… And if you renounce [fighting us], we too will stop fighting you.
"We say to you that the Death-Smoke Squad will reach you soon, and then you will see [i.e. count] your dead by the thousands, Allah willing, and this is a warning.
"In another operation, the Al-Quds Army Brigades struck the Jewish Masonic temple in Istanbul, and this was the main Masonic temple, and three of the greatest Masons were killed… Had it not been for the technical failure, all the Masons would have been killed. But for reasons of divine wisdom, only three were killed. Allah be praised.
"We announce to the Bilal [I]bn Rabah Squad(3) that headquarters has approved [its] proposal. When the emissary arrives, the work will begin. We announce to the Abu Ali Al-Harithi Squad(4) that headquarters has decided that Yemen will be the third swamp(5) [in which] America the Tyrant of This Generation [will sink], in order to discipline the [Yemeni] government which is collaborating [with the U.S.] and that has abandoned Islam and now ranks second to [Pakistani President Pervez] Musharraf. Therefore, all the squads must be placed on alert, so that the operation will begin at 4515 S.B… [sic]. Do not forget to strike to the death; do not forget Abu Ali Al-Harithi; do not forget Sheikh Abd Al-Qader Abd Al-'Aziz (Al-Sayyed, Imam Al-Sharif), the great sage who was arrested three months after the September [11] events, and was extradited by Yemen to Egypt.
"We say to those who killed the clerics of the Muslim Sunnis in Iraq to stop, or else… and we promise the Muslims in the world that the strike of the Winds of Black Death (the anticipated strike on America) is now in its last phase [of preparation]. [It is] 90% [complete], Allah willing… Soon (when it suits the Jihad warriors), the believers [i.e. Muslims] will rejoice at Allah's victory.
"A warning to the nations: Keep away from the civilian and military institutions of Crusader America and its allies. Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar. Islam is coming, reinforcing [the Muslims] and humiliating [the infidels].
"The Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades (Al-Qa'ida), Thursday, the 20th of Muharram, 1425, which is March 11, 2004.
Commentary
The text of this statement includes linguistic usages and concepts that are incompatible with or alien to authentic Al-Qa'ida writings by Osama bin Laden, Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri, and others. The following are some examples, in order of appearance:
* Following the Qur'an verses is the title "The Trains of Death Operation." This is uncommon in bin Laden's writing. Also, it is noteworthy that the phrase "Trains of Death" is not reiterated in the text as the name of the operation.
* "Settling old accounts," both as a linguistic form and as a concept, is alien to authentic Al-Qa'ida writings.
* The use of the concept of "agents" is taken from the vocabulary of nationalist ideology, while bin Laden and his followers relate to their enemies primarily as infidels.
* The phrase "but you did not get the message" is not one used by bin Laden, who does not cast his operations in the light of "messages," rather, as acts in and of themselves to further the goals of Al-Qa'ida for the sake of Allah. Thus, it follows that:
* The concept of conditionality, as in the statement "And if you renounce [fighting us], we too will stop fighting you" is not a bin Laden concept.
* The term "The Tyrant of the Generation" was used in the previous statement of alleged responsibility by the Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, for the August 2003 U.S. blackout – which was caused by a large-scale technical failure.
* In authentic Al-Qa'ida writings, the September 11 attacks are not referred to as "events" but as "raids" (the early Islamic term ghazwah).
* The announcement of an operation to begin at "4515 S.B." or reference to an operation that is "90% completed" is alien to bin Laden's scholarly Islamist style.
Thus, this statement does not seem to be an authentic Al-Qa'ida document.(6)
* Yigal Carmon is President of MEMRI
Endnotes:
(1) Al-Quds Al-Arabi's editor, Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan, who has in the past interviewed Osama bin Laden, has also praised him. See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 319, December 21, 2001, 'Terror in America Retrospective: A bin Laden Special on Al-Jazeera Two Months Before September 11,' http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP31901 .
(2) See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 553, August 19, 2003, 'Al-Qa'ida Claims Responsibility for Last Week's Blackout,' http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP55303 .
(3) One of the early companions of the Prophet Muhammad, an Ethiopian who remained loyal to the Prophet despite being tortured.
(4) Ali Al-Harithi was an Al-Qa'ida operative eliminated in a targeted killing in Yemen.
(5) That is, after Afghanistan and Iraq.
(6) See MEMRI's Inquiry and Analysis 156, December 30, 2003, 'Assessing Islamist Web Site Reports Of Imminent Terror Attacks In The U.S.' http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=ia&ID=IA15603 .
The ETA experts I have heard on television said that ETA has never conducted an attack like this. The experts see ETA as a holdover communist terrorist organization which has never launched a large, coordinated attack, never inflicted such casualties, usually attacked government/symbolic targets and always warned of their attacks.
If this is ETA, they have adopted the AQ mass murder/mass terror model. Time will tell.
I'm trying to figure out just how the "message" was delivered. Was it a paper piece of mail or was it electronic? If it was electronic I would tend to give it less credence, but if its paper it may be a stronger indication of its authenticity. Also, if it is paper, was it hand-delivered or post? If post, it seems it would have to be authentic because of the day it was delivered.
Rusty it came in email form.
Typical Muslim radicals.....they want all the glory, and none of the responsibility. Unfortunately for them, they see the murdering of innocent people as glorious.
If another attack does occur in this country, will we finally take to the streets and dispense our justice? Or will we absorb another day like 9/11/01. I don't think my heart could stand another breaking like 9/11.
If this attack does happen, Muslims in America, peaceful or not, will take the brunt of the retaliation for Al Qaida's actions. I don't know...if they do, maybe they'll realize that they should've gotten up and eliminated extremism from their religion when they had the opportunity.
I just hope it's more chatter from the caves.
Political Correctness? You have got to be kidding.
Another article, http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/beichman200403120916.asp
Wild Hare
Thanks for the info.
DC Watson - If this attack does happen, Muslims in America, peaceful or not, will take the brunt of the retaliation for Al Qaida's actions.
The sad thing is that many of these people left the middle east because they could not eliminate the extremists in their midst. But as another blogger said (forget which site) "If a rat comes and bites your daughter in her crib, do you find the rat responsible or try to exterminate them all?"
We live in interesting times
Ya well, if that's the excuse they want to use for coming here, I guess it matches up with every other excuse I've heard. Plain and simple, a refugee is someone who seeks asylum within a foreign power to avoid persecution or danger.
Therefore, they've come to our yard, yet they don't want to play by our rules, they want our rules to be changed to suit them. Americans can overpower Radical Islam, so the poor tired and hungry ones that came here from the Middle East need to jump on the American wagon, or simply face the consequenses of the actions of their Muslim brothers.
Maybe they couldn't beat them over there, but if they teamed up with us, they certainly could. Problem is, Mulsims all around the globe are making all of us wonder about them, because they've saidm and done nothing.
D.C. Watson - Very eloquently written. I can add nothing more as your post matches exact sentiments.
There is ONE thing that I could add to D.C. Watson's post. I am sure that there are TRAITORS out there that aren't necessarily jihadist terrorists that are licking their chops and waiting for the right opportunity to strike. We should find these s.o.b.s and give them the same treatment. It seems, with the arrest of the woman spy, we are starting to find the ones most easily to uncover. What about those that "seem" normal and are in deep cover?
Joesph, you are right. You don't have a clue. When anyone takes a life they are taking the place of God. Only God gives life and only God can rightly take it. DC is talking about the suicide bombers killing themselves. I think you know that and you're just being a jerk because you couldn't respond to the posts about religious intolerance in Saudi. The suicide bombers are not martyrs. They are murderers. Every civilizied person recognizes them as murderers. Look at Jesus as the perfect example. Even when they were driving the spikes through his flesh and nailing him to the cross, he did not condemn his murderers, but said "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." The Jews who took part in his crucifixion thought they were doing God's work just as the suicide bombers think they are, and they are just as wrong. Of course the Koran denies his death on the cross and blinds you to the truth, just as the suicide bombers are blinded by its' lies. You have been taught to believe that the bible has been corrupted. What your teachers are really saying is that God is not capable of preserving His word. Mohammed and the first Muslims worshiped the 3 sisters/3 goddesses as well as Allah until Mohammed decided he had been deceived by Satan and cut the "satanic verses" from the Koran. Was an Old Testament prophet of God ever deceived by Satan? Was Jesus deceived by Satan? Think about it.
man you really are not reading what i wrote..
my point is that adela comes off as really scared of dieing at the hands of some crazy suicide bomber or by a truck bomb or something. and if her faith was so strong then why should dieing be something to be afraid of. she is going to heaven...
that is unless they are some doubts in there mind that heaven does not exist because if there where no doubts then death was not be anything to fear.
It is my great fear that one or another of these vermin will do something horrendous enough that the US will be forced to do something horrendous.
It's true that the big hurts, in the end, will happen to Muslims. The culture is uncompetitive in any way with any area save sub-Saharan Africa. If a million Muslims die because of the snakes in their midst, it will, sad to say, because they hold the snakes to their breast.
What if crazed members of the American Assemblies of God, may a few Chruch of Christers, started bombing foreign lands? Why, we'd make them stop.
Muslims won't do that.
Rusty, it was an email to the al-Quds newspaper in London.
Joey fiddles while Spain burns. The chattering class turns to introspection when viciously attacked. Remember the question "why do they hate us" after 9/11? Hundreds dead, and the Joeys of Europe, exhausted by living their post-modern existence are already searching for a subclass to pander to.
Islamist suit them perfectly. They are not introspective, they know the language of victimization, and they have clear objectives. Joey is hopelessly outflanked. He doesn't realize he is losing, because he cannot even imagine that he is at war.
Thanks epg...
Joey, we are just appreciative of the gift of life given to us by our God, and don't feel that filthy nightgown wearing bombers are the reason that life should be taken away.
Our responsibility is to assure the safety of our children, and to make sure they have a world to grow and fourish in without having to worry about being blown to bits.
Death is but a door, time is but a window. We're just not willing to be pushed through that door by radical Islam. I doubt this will sink into that amazingly thick skull of yours but now you can have someone read this to you.
I have never used any insults or offensive language on his board or anywhere else,but i cannot help myself saying that Joseph is an idiot.
Either that ,or a muslim who lives by the strict quranic rules.
In his posts he asks me why am i afraid of death,since i`ll go to heaven ?!
What does that mean in your narrow mind,Joseph?!
Would you like all us westerners to commit suicide and go to heaven or wherever?!
Ofcourse i don`t want to be killed and not by muslim terrorist for that matter.
To die and go to heaven is a muslim thing,which i don`t want to have any part of.
We have better things to do,places to go,people to meet,goals to achieve,children to raise,mountains to climb,oceans to sail...did you get the picture?!...while you muslim fanatics have one and only one thing in mind:how to die and how to kill others in the process.
Winds of changes are coming,Joseph and people like you will be hunted down and eliminated.
The tragedy in Spain is the begining of the end for the muslim cancer.
Spain will be the place where muslims dug their own grave,and the USA will be the one to nail down the coffin.
Adela,USA.
oscar, you are correct in saying
'The sad thing is that many of these people left the middle east because they could not eliminate the extremists in their midst.'
But when someone comes to a civilised country seeking asylum, we should remember that once Mohommad did this. He asked the people of Medina to give him sanctuary away from 'persecution' in Mecca. They did this for him, but when his power increased he expelled or murdered all who would not serve him.
Frank Herbert describes the core philosophy of Islam succinctly.
'When I am weak I will ask for mercy because that is your nature.
When I am strong I shall give you none, because that is mine.'
Joseph,
Turn your question to (about?) adela around and apply it to the Muslims. Why all the grief when a Muslim is killed? According to so many of your clerics, he or she has achieved the highest goal possible - martyrdom. Shouldn't that be a joyful occasion?
jay