Even though it only had 51 troops in Iraq, the Philippines has dealt the coalition and the free world a major blow by caving in to terrorist demands and withdrawing them. Not only will they not bring peace to the Philippines or the Middle East, but many more people will be murdered by the terrorists. After all, they have seen that it works. From AP:
BAGHDAD, Iraq – New online statements by purported militants threatened attacks against three U.S. allies — Poland, Japan and Bulgaria — if they don’t pull their troops from Iraq, a day after a Filipino hostage was released because the Philippines bowed to insurgents’ demands and withdrew its tiny contingent….
The new threats against Poland, Japan and Bulgaria were worrying signs that militants may be emboldened by their success against the Philippines. The United States and other coalition allies had criticized the government for agreeing to withdraw its 51-member contingent to save the life of truck driver Angelo dela Cruz, who was kidnapped two weeks ago.
The same group that kidnapped dela Cruz, the Khaled bin al-Waleed Corps, took aim at Japan. The group is the military wing of Tawhid and Jihad, the group led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
“To the government of Japan: Do what the Philippines has done. By God, nobody will protect you and we are not going to tolerate anybody,” said a statement signed by the group. “Lines of cars laden with explosives are awaiting you; we will not stop, God willing.”
A Foreign Ministry official in Japan said Wednesday that Tokyo would not pull its 500 troops, sent here for medical and reconstruction duty. Japan refused in April to withdraw after three Japanese were kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents. They were released unharmed….
The veracity of the latest statement could not be determined. A new statement signed Tawhid and Jihad on Wednesday cautioned readers to trust only statements posted on the group’s behalf by Abu-Maysara al-Iraqi, the pen name of a frequent contributor to sites known for militant Muslim content. The threat against Japan was not posted by Abu-Maysara al-Iraqi.
While Tawhid and Jihad — a name referring to the central Islamic tenet of monotheism and to holy war — has claimed many attacks, it rarely issues threats or warnings. It earlier claimed responsibility for beheading U.S. businessman Nicholas Berg and South Korean translator Kim Sun-il.
An online statement from a previously unknown group that identified itself as al-Qaida’s European branch contained threats to carry out deadly attacks in Bulgaria and Poland if the two countries don’t withdraw their troops from Iraq.
The statement, signed by the Tawhid Islamic Group, appeared Wednesday on an Islamic Web site known as a clearing house for al-Qaida and groups linked to the terror network. The group identified itself as “al-Qaida in Europe.” The authenticity of the statement and the group could not be verified.
The group said Bulgaria and Poland will “pay the price” just like the United States and Spain did, referring to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington and deadly explosions on trains in Madrid in March.
“To the crusader Bulgarian government which is allying itself with the Americans and to the Bulgarian people we demand, for the last time, that you withdraw Bulgarian troops out of Iraq or we swear we will turn Bulgaria into pools of blood if you don’t comply,” said the statement.
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said Friday he won’t pull out Bulgaria’s 480-strong infantry battalion from Iraq. Last week militants threatened to kill two Bulgarian truck drivers in Iraq, while the fate of the second hostage remained unclear.
The group’s statement also had a warning to Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka: “Pull your troops out of Iraq or you will hear the sounds of explosions that will hit your country, at the time we choose.”…
On Wednesday, Deputy Defense Minister Janusz Zemke said withdrawing troops from Iraq would be a “terrible mistake” that would only encourage terrorism.
I’m glad somebody realizes that. It’s too bad Janusz Zemke doesn’t work in Manila.