Mystery Man Declares War on Al Qaeda
EmailIn a mysterious video posted on the Internet today, an unknown masked man identified as "one of the jihad leaders in Iraq" threatens to fight al Qaeda and groups affiliated with it in Iraq. The tape suggests either a deep split in Iraqi insurgent groups or a skillful propaganda coup by U.S. intelligence services, according to Fawaz Gerges, an ABC News consultant and professor of International Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies at Sarah Lawrence College. He says there have been major skirmishes between al Qaeda in Iraq and some tribes in the past few weeks resulting in a number of casualties. "Civil war is raging within the broader jihadist movement," notes Gerges. THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS ‘Al Qaeda in Yemen’ Makes Internet Debut Al Qaeda Undercover Video of New York City Led to Life Sentence Click Here to Check Out More of the Brian Ross Page Speaking Arabic on the tape, the masked man, "Abu Osama al Iraqi," announces the establishment of a secret alliance of six groups and 16 tribes, a total of 3,000 men, to fight al Qaeda in Iraq and the other groups, who he blamed for killing Sunnis. "We know that the crusader has been waiting for this day, that it’s his happiest day, but we are forced to do so," says al Iraqi. He adds that the plan is to use snipers to kill members of the opposite groups, then start attacking their cars before finally having face-to-face armed confrontations with them. The same masked man claims to have previously asked Osama bin Laden to remove al Qaeda leaders from Iraq because of their indiscriminate killings. "We’re waiting for Osama bin Laden’s response regarding our previous message because we think it reached him," says al Iraqi, adding that if they don’t hear from him in a week, it means he can’t see the truth. The sound quality on the tape is poor and often unintelligible. Al Iraqi’s voice may have been altered to make it unrecognizable, especially to members of the groups he intends to fight. The video was produced by an unknown entity called "The Word of Truth." A note posted at the end of the video asks members of al Qaeda to correspond and send questions about the statement to a specific Yahoo! e-mail address.
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The only link between AQ and the insurgency has been in the mind on Cheney and the MSM echo chamber.
Posted by: Jesus Reyes | November 8, 2006, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
I’m a registered Democrat who’s still giddy from the result of the elections, and if his constituents won’t vote him out then I hope Jefferson gets hit by a bus. If we needed any more signs that American politics favor incumbents far, far too much, this is it.
Posted by: David | November 8, 2006, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
i think this is ridiculous and that the Republicans will be bck in power come nxt elections because the democrats have no clear plan of action
Posted by: jon | November 8, 2006, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
“A note posted at the end of the video asks members of al Qaeda to correspond and send questions about the statement to a specific Yahoo! e-mail address. ”
WOWOW! reply to an Yahoo! ID. This is too childish! and these “rival milliants” expect Al-qeada to reply to this ID, so that US gov can get their IP address :-)! very funny…
Posted by: netnoob | November 8, 2006, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
This is so obvioiusly US intelligence propaganda. What a joke.
Posted by: Jen | November 9, 2006, 1:08 am 1:08 am
“i think this is ridiculous and that the Republicans will be bck in power come nxt elections because the democrats have no clear plan of action ”
Please tell me what “plan of action” the crony republicans have provided. Spend money borrowed from china is not a plan. Actually it’s worse than that. We now have to create many new plans to pay china back. when i say we, i mean all americans. that’s where your tax dollars are gonna go. as far as our presence as a fierce military…gimme a break. Iraq and afghanistan are BOTH winning…and we’re still spending. at least haliburton is doing well.
Posted by: mike in indy | November 9, 2006, 1:17 am 1:17 am
Umm…Nancy Pelosi already gave a detailed plan for the Dems first 100 hours in office on election night itself. They want to raise the minimum wage to $.25/hour, “break the link between lobbyists and legislation,” enact all reccomendations from the 9/11 commission, broaden the types of stem cell research allowed to recieve federal funds, roll back Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy and enact a “pay as you go” system which will not allow any increase in the budget. How is that not a plan? In fact, how is that not a GREAT plan?
Posted by: Travis | November 9, 2006, 6:19 am 6:19 am
Al Qaeda is a CIA creation.
Posted by: John | November 9, 2006, 9:39 am 9:39 am
Tim Osman was the CIA’s nickname for OBL. This one is just another sock-puppet. Nothing to see here folks keep moving.
Posted by: Ricochet | November 9, 2006, 10:50 am 10:50 am
This is definitely a fake propaganda attempt by some U.S. Intelligence. It’s too stupid to be true. BTW, go Republicans!
Posted by: Ash | November 9, 2006, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
I find it amazing at the number of Americans who want to defend the terrorists because they don’t like VP Cheney-just amazing.
Posted by: Joey | November 9, 2006, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
I do not want to “defend terrorist because I don’t like Cheney”, in fact it is a toss-up who I dislike more the former or the later. Both have given me reason to question the motive behind everything they do.
But I do want a change in the action, I want a thought to develope that does not have at its root the phrase “liberal” anything. I am so sick of hearing how Dems have no plan, or will get us all killed just because we dare to want this war to be paid for as we go, and that we want bench marks to be met and degrees of seperation made, I am not a bad American because of my wanting these things.
The feeling I have now after tuesday vote is more people out there agree with me. And I won’t be accussed of wanting bad things to happen to our Troups if I dare say “bring them home” .
You can’t tell me the military thinks this has gone well. Or that they believe thier Commander in Chief has his right wing s–t together. Perhaps the right wing nuts can tell us what thier plan is and we can go about ending this mess.
The presure can now shift to asking real questions in Washington about what is really going on.
Or does it benifit the right to drag this out and to keep everyone believing it can’t end and will go on and on and on and on…..I want answers and I want them now.
Posted by: Bonnie J Kimberly | November 9, 2006, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
Fools, every one of you who voted Democratic are fools. The Democrats only have a plan to wreak the country. Now we are at the mercy of our enemies who rejoice in the knowledge the have the coward infidels back in control of the United States government. Now there will be an attack on US soil. When that happens all you fools who voted Democratic will be begging for the Republican Conservatives to come save the day. Fools.!!!!!
Posted by: John | November 9, 2006, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
John Stuart Mill
Posted by: K.G. | November 9, 2006, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
“to fight al Qaeda in Iraq and the other groups, who he blamed for killing Sunnis”
al Qaeda is a sunni group. so why would they be blamed for sunni deaths? If this was real you think they would be blamed for Shi’a deaths
Posted by: kevin | November 9, 2006, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
Rumsfeld is that you? I was expecting him to find a new job so soon!
Posted by: Aaron | November 9, 2006, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
JOHN,
Are you trying to be funny, or did you forget who was in charge when 911 or the 1st WTC bombing happened?
And the word is “wreck.” I think Mr. Bush has pretty much made a wreck of things by wreaking havoc to our economy in the long term (wait till next year), our standing in the world, and our diplomatic efforts for the next 20 years. He has turned us into a big, fat joke.
K.G.,
Who said dems weren’t willing to fight for anything? Being liberal doesn’t mean total passivity. I was all for Afghanistan, but even you “conservative” types have to recognize that the Iraq war for democracy was just an attempt at wagging the dog (and stealing oil) that got out of hand. Look at Iran & N. Korea and ask me if Bush really cares about our security. All those people killed in Iraq. And for what?!?
Posted by: Bigdawg88 | November 9, 2006, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
SO saying “Dems have no plan” is the best the lemmings can do? That rhetoric is as tired as the troops at this point. I think the lemmings missed the big FLIP FLOP by the lead lemming when he asked Rummy to resign.
Keep chanting how you’ll be back in two years, but I suspect 2008 is when the other shoe drops. this backlash is large its hairy and its here to stay for a while.
Come knocking in 08 and I think America is going ot say we gave at the office. And gave and gave and gave and now the money IS ALL GONE.
Posted by: R.G. | November 9, 2006, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
The CIA think that we are not inform…..Sunnis agains Sunnis….what a lovely plan
Posted by: Ricardo | November 9, 2006, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm
The CIA think that we are not inform…..Sunnis agains Sunnis….what a lovely plan
Posted by: Ricardo | November 9, 2006, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
The CIA think that we are not inform…..Sunnis agains Sunnis….what a lovely plan
Posted by: Ricardo | November 9, 2006, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
Oh… and don’t forget your prayer rug!
Posted by: T.E. | November 9, 2006, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
al qaeda kills indiscriminately; it doesn’t care if it’s Sunni or Shia. If you don’t abide by their extremist view of Islam, you’re dead, regardless. As far as this person in the tape is concerned, there has already been a split amongst the native Iraqi insurgents and foreign born al qaeda members, and they end up shooting it out. This is nothing new. al qaeda is causing the most death and destruction in Iraq at this moment.
Now, I expect all of you Democrats to act like adults with your new found toys. Make good, and keep your giddiness down to a silent smile. The party line has been, DIFFERNT DIRECTION, WE CAN DO BETTER. Well, let’s see what you can do. Run the country safely, and what happens in 2 years will be interesting. Oh, BTW, how come, with all of the close races through out the election day, not ONE call of voter fraud was screamed at the top of the lungs by a Republican? Not one.
Posted by: LJ | November 9, 2006, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
Come on you fellow americans of this great nation. We dont need all this fuss about who is right or wrong. We just need to fight for freedom and stability for our children to feel safe and secure.
Posted by: Gilbert of LA | November 10, 2006, 1:28 am 1:28 am
Bonnie….. Relax. Theres still about two weeks before they come for us.
Posted by: DJ | November 10, 2006, 3:27 am 3:27 am
I am constantly amazed that no matter what the subject, the “I hate Bush” crowd, goes into the same rant.
Bush used the same economic policies that FDR and JFK used to end recessions. Do the Democrats, congratulate him for coming over to the bright side? No the run screaming from the traditional Democrat platform, pretending to know it wont work.
LBJ tried “No Child left Behind” in 1965. Teddy Kennedy authored the bill in 2000, but look how many people are screaming about how awful that “Bush Policy” is.
I sure hope someone has a fresh approach to winning in Iraq. They have my full support.
Posted by: Sternberg | November 10, 2006, 6:16 am 6:16 am
As a Republican, I am not too upset at the election defeat. What I am concerned about is the loss of our freedom and liberties by the dissolution of our own empowerment which derives from being able to run our economy without the fear of attack on our soil.
Posted by: Steve Williams | November 10, 2006, 7:45 am 7:45 am
Bigdawg88,
Bill Clinton was the President when the 1st WTC attack happened.
If you are going to go on a rant, at least try adn get the facts straight.
Posted by: ChrisN | November 10, 2006, 11:26 am 11:26 am
“Fools, every one of you who voted Democratic are fools.”
This is exactly what’s wrong with America and why the dems won. People like this find it absolutely inconceivable that they could be wrong and are totally filled with hatred and insults toward anyone who has a different opinion than them.
Posted by: duane zeny | November 10, 2006, 11:27 am 11:27 am
I’m hoping in 08 neither party wins, how about an independent in office?? As of now I see no one who’s worth putting in office, anywhere, nationally or locally. All we are doing is getting rid of the old frauds for new ones. Growing up in DC my views have always been bad about politics, they are ALL fakes only out for the retirement and what they can steal for us. It’s time for the citizens of this country to remove EVERYONE and start from scratch.
Posted by: Ali | November 10, 2006, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
Ali
Really what we need to do is remove the word “idependent” from political affiliation.
Posted by: John Andre | November 10, 2006, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
I dont believe I have the right to say who or who not to vote for, but I can see where everyone is coming from.The deal in Iraq has gone on too long. I mean are we really even getting anything accomplished because it doesnt seem like we are. We hear about threats and crap all the time and yet we to see a result of action takin’.The war will never be over because we wont stop it and neither will they but at least we could bring our troops home for a while and see what accumulates, I mean we have men and women over there that havent been able to contact their families in months and its rediculaus or we hear from them and they say that their coming and then get told that their not because their being sent somewhere else until mission complete. Yes I am damn proud to be an american because im free to have this opinion but at what costs?
Posted by: chrissy | November 10, 2006, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
PLEASE, trading insults and stating who is a ‘fool’ is no way to conduct real discussions. Let’s keep things civil and sensible.
The Democrats won the midterm elections because the nation perceived that the war in Iraq was unnecessary, badly planned, too expensive in lives, money and prestige and, to top it all, it is probably illegal. The whole enterprise reflected badly on our nation. The Democrats coalesced around the anti-war sentiment in the country and used it to produce an historic victory.
{I’m guilty of supporting the war at the beginning – because, and only because, Saddam was supposed to have WMDs that he was planning to give to terror groups. Once that little falsification was cleared up – we should have cleared out – with our apologies and some reparations. Also, some investigations into ‘what went wrong’ about the decision to go to war.
As a general rule, invading a nation to democratize it is not a wise policy. Democracy takes different forms in different cultures and some cultures prefer a benevolent monarchy to an open democracy. The point is – they have to choose – not us.}
Posted by: Andre | November 10, 2006, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
John Stuart Mill = Dead White Male.
Did old Johnny send any of his kids to War? or is it only us low life slobs?
Posted by: waldo | November 10, 2006, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm
for those with questions about the videos authenticity please see the following NY Times article from 9/17/06 as additional info
“Iraqi Tribes to Join Forces to Fight Insurgents”
Posted by: jw | November 10, 2006, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
I think it’s funny that you all think the mujahidin are smart. In Tall Afar they gave out bumper stickers asking the citizens to call a specific number to report coalition forces movement. Neither the Republicans or Democrats have a plan of attack. You all are the corps of we should do this and that. You don’t know the real horrors of war and the difficulty that we go through day in and day out trying to fight these clever individuals. Stop responding and start making a difference. You sicken me on this Veterans Day with your words of discouragement. You’re the reason why soldiers become distrought and ultimately the reason why soldiers let their guard down.
Posted by: abu_marwan | November 11, 2006, 5:12 am 5:12 am
All this back biting, Republican this, Democrat that. The truth is most of us just believe what our party of choice tells us to believe. We are no longer looking for answers; we just point fingers of blame. We are no longer united, and a house divided will surly fall.
Posted by: Tina | November 11, 2006, 7:17 am 7:17 am
Is this the new Think Tank solution to getting out of Iraq…I could have written a better final act…with IMPEACHMENT and WAR CRIMES lined up for the “worst” criminal actors in America.
Posted by: Faye | November 13, 2006, 3:30 am 3:30 am
Steve Williams,
“Bill Clinton was the President when the 1st WTC attack happened.
If you are going to go on a rant, at least try adn get the facts straight”
A bit hypocritical considering President Bush was sworn in on January 20, 2001. If I remember right, the attacks happened September 11, 2001. My calender must be wrong, I swear September comes later in the year than January. There is no single president to blame for the attacks. Please have your “facts” right before you claim them to be.
Posted by: SD | November 14, 2006, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
Some of you ‘ enlightened ones ‘ out there that want investigations to find out what is really going on might be dissappointed. You might find out that there are a lot of really good things happening over there that the media hasn’t been reporting on. Put another way, if we had this media the USA AND our allies would have lost WW11. Yes, there are horrors happening everyday. But an immediate pullout or a defined timetable will surely wreak much more havoc on the inhabitants of that country. And if you don’t have the vision to see the long term repercssions of a western pullout from Iraq before that country is stabilized you are being very shortsighted. Or maybe you just don’t care.The potential ramifications of a perceived Jihad victory there are truly frightening for of the Middle East and the rest of the civilized world.
Posted by: Arthur Chance | November 15, 2006, 7:46 am 7:46 am
Faye, Either you are not old enough to remember or you’re just not bright. The FIRST WTC bombing happened on Feb 26,1993.
Posted by: Dave | November 15, 2006, 9:54 am 9:54 am
Um sorry to dissapoint your two cents worth ms faye but the first wtc attack was under clinton, it was a van bomb, merely shook the hell out of wtc. Bush was president for the second attack, jet liners.
Posted by: john | November 15, 2006, 10:17 am 10:17 am
“roll back Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy ”
Boy, you’ve bought the Democrat/MSM story hook, line, and sinker. If the tax cuts were for the wealthy, then why are the wealthy paying more in taxes under the Bush administration than the Clinton administration.
Facts are your friends.
Posted by: Michael McCullough | November 15, 2006, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
“The war will never be over because we wont stop it and neither will they but at least we could bring our troops home for a while and see what accumulates,”
See what accumulates? Like accumulating nuclear weapons in Iran? What a brilliant plan!
Because the Democrats will sabotage our current war efforts, we will be forced to fight a far bloodier war — probably on our own soil — in less that 10 years.
Posted by: Michael McCullough | November 15, 2006, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
“A bit hypocritical considering President Bush was sworn in on January 20, 2001. If I remember right, the attacks happened September 11, 2001. ”
The first WTC bombing occurred on February 26, 1993. I believe that Bill Clinton was president at the time. Not to mention the Al Qaida embassy bombings in Africa, the incident in Somalia, the Cole incident, etc., etc. Bill Clinton did nothing substantial and it only emboldened Al Qaida.
As I said earlier: Facts are your friends.
The fact is that the Democrats/MSM don’t believe that we’re in a war not of our own choosing, and if we don’t win that war, we will fight it another day, except with nuclear weapons and on our own soil.
Of course, they’ll still blame President Bush and, as usual, won’t take responsibility for their own actions.
Posted by: Michael McCullough | November 15, 2006, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
“Oh, BTW, how come, with all of the close races through out the election day, not ONE call of voter fraud was screamed at the top of the lungs by a Republican? Not one. ”
Because Republicans aren’t little baby whiners like Democrats are.
What we need is voter identification, including a purple finger. The Democrats would never go for this though because that would eliminate the dead vote (one of the Dem’s strongest constituencies), the felony vote, multiple voting, and imaginary people voting.
Posted by: Michael McCullough | November 15, 2006, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
“broaden the types of stem cell research allowed to recieve federal funds”
The problem is that adult and umbilical stem cell research have yielded cures or improvements for over 70 diseases or conditions. Fetal stem cell research has yielded exactly 0.
There is nothing to prevent private fetal stem cell research. However, the money is not flowing into these coffers because the results have yielded nada, as in nothing. Investors are investing in other kinds of stem cell research because it’s getting results.
Fetal stem cell research is just another way of making the country feel good about abortion.
Posted by: Michael McCullough | November 15, 2006, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
“I think Mr. Bush has pretty much made a wreck of things by wreaking havoc to our economy in the long term (wait till next year), ”
The economy is arguably in the best shape that it’s ever been in. We don’t have the Clinton dot.com bubble like we did in the 1990s and the resultant recession that began while Clinton was still president.
The only way the economy will go south is if the Democrats raise taxes. Tax cuts made the economy grow great for JFK, Reagan, and the current Bush. However, raising taxes for social programs that don’t work is more important for Democrats than is keeping a strong economy.
Posted by: Michael McCullough | November 15, 2006, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
“As a general rule, invading a nation to democratize it is not a wise policy.”
Yeah, things sure turned out awful in Germany and Japan, eh?
Posted by: Michael McCullough | November 15, 2006, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
“Freedom, by its nature, cannot be imposed. It must be chosen.” -Appointees Against War
Posted by: SourDove | November 15, 2006, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
It is wishful thinking-this imagining George Bush is the reason for all hell on earth
Posted by: Daan | November 15, 2006, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
why dont we come home to the us this was not are war in the frist placeso why stay we lose more pepole then we have towe could talk this out in the frist place i say we come home
Posted by: jessey | November 15, 2006, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
bring are troops home !bush is a ass
Posted by: jessey | November 15, 2006, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm