Al-Qaeda offers US safe passage from Iraq
MrBrian
Posts: 2,672
From correspondents in Dubai
December 23, 2006 03:54am
THE head of an al-Qaeda-dominated group in Iraq offered to give US troops a month to pull out free of attack in an audiotape posted on the internet overnight and demanded an answer within two weeks.
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi also charged that Washington had attempted to open communications through Saudi intermediaries but said he had rebuffed the overture, in the voice recording whose authenticity could not immediately be verified.
"We are offering you the opportunity to withdraw your troops in complete safety and we are expecting your response within two weeks,'' said the voice purporting to be that of Baghdadi, leader of a self-proclaimed Islamic emirate in western and north-central Iraq that is dominated by al-Qaeda supporters.
"We appeal to President George W. Bush to seize this historic opportunity which should allow your troops to pull out in safety,'' it said.
Bush has faced intense political pressure to overhaul his Iraq policy, following the rout of his Republican party in mid-term elections, rock-bottom approval of his management of the Iraq war and mounting US combat deaths.
A policy review by the Iraq Study Group, a bi-partisan panel, recommended that all frontline US troops be withdrawn by early 2008.
But Mr Bush made it clear Wednesday that he was opposed to any precipitate withdrawal from Iraq and that in the short term US troop numbers might even rise.
"I want the enemy to understand that this is a tough task, but they can't run us out of the Middle East; that they can't intimidate America,'' he said.
The voice recording also charged that US officials had made contact with the al-Qaeda front organization through Saudi intermediaries in a bid to open up communication but said that the overture had been rebuffed.
"The giant has begun to collapse and is seeking to negotiate through various parties, particularly through its agents,'' it said.
"It conveyed to us through the Saud family (the royal family in Saudi Arabia), the dictators of the (Arabian) peninsula, its desire (to negotiate), claiming already to have sat down with all parties apart from us.
"But we told it: 'We don't negotiate with those who have shed the blood of our children'.''
US officials have expressed readiness to open up communications with insurgent groups in Iraq but have always excluded those with links to al-Qaeda.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,20967589-5005361,00.html
December 23, 2006 03:54am
THE head of an al-Qaeda-dominated group in Iraq offered to give US troops a month to pull out free of attack in an audiotape posted on the internet overnight and demanded an answer within two weeks.
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi also charged that Washington had attempted to open communications through Saudi intermediaries but said he had rebuffed the overture, in the voice recording whose authenticity could not immediately be verified.
"We are offering you the opportunity to withdraw your troops in complete safety and we are expecting your response within two weeks,'' said the voice purporting to be that of Baghdadi, leader of a self-proclaimed Islamic emirate in western and north-central Iraq that is dominated by al-Qaeda supporters.
"We appeal to President George W. Bush to seize this historic opportunity which should allow your troops to pull out in safety,'' it said.
Bush has faced intense political pressure to overhaul his Iraq policy, following the rout of his Republican party in mid-term elections, rock-bottom approval of his management of the Iraq war and mounting US combat deaths.
A policy review by the Iraq Study Group, a bi-partisan panel, recommended that all frontline US troops be withdrawn by early 2008.
But Mr Bush made it clear Wednesday that he was opposed to any precipitate withdrawal from Iraq and that in the short term US troop numbers might even rise.
"I want the enemy to understand that this is a tough task, but they can't run us out of the Middle East; that they can't intimidate America,'' he said.
The voice recording also charged that US officials had made contact with the al-Qaeda front organization through Saudi intermediaries in a bid to open up communication but said that the overture had been rebuffed.
"The giant has begun to collapse and is seeking to negotiate through various parties, particularly through its agents,'' it said.
"It conveyed to us through the Saud family (the royal family in Saudi Arabia), the dictators of the (Arabian) peninsula, its desire (to negotiate), claiming already to have sat down with all parties apart from us.
"But we told it: 'We don't negotiate with those who have shed the blood of our children'.''
US officials have expressed readiness to open up communications with insurgent groups in Iraq but have always excluded those with links to al-Qaeda.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,20967589-5005361,00.html
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
Wow. What ever happened to the "We don't negotiate with terrorists" tough talk?
Just another Bush regime house of cards?
Of course we negitiate with terrorists. The minute the polititians thought that they knew more about war than the generals, this thing was over. Sadly, it's our brave men and women who get to pay the price of being a political football.
old music: http://www.myspace.com/slowloader
Great idea!!!
Yeah, because our plan has been working well so far...
The ridiculous thing here is this. These kooks are selling this propaganda/perspective, which is as arrogant as any of the Bush administration.
If the Bush administration has in fact tried to contact them, communicate with them and negotiate; is that not what most of you have been talking about all along? Communication? Understanding? Negotiation? Finding a middle ground?
In truth, on the surface this appears to be a boastful insult to the American Military, designed to embarrass the American military. But below the surface lies it's true intent. A challenge.
Al-Qaeda doesn't want the American Military to leave, yet. They have their own agenda and that agenda calls for not only killing Americans and anyone or group who supported America in this absurd war; but they also have a shit load of Muslims they want to kill.
Once the American Military leaves, Al-Qaeda who proclaim themselves "freedom-fighters" for Islam; will have no excuse or justification to continue bombing, slaughtering and destroying all Muslims who do not fit into al-Qaeda's parameters as real and true Muslims.
Make no mistake, Al-Qaeda wants the American Military there. They need the shield to justify their murder.
Sadly al-Qaeda, much like Bush, pretend there is someone winning this war. A war where no one wins. There are no winners in this war. We all lose.
Al-Qaeda's propaganda is no different from the Bush Administration and all american administrations before it.
Ulitmately, I fear the American Military will bomb the crap out of Iraq, even more and Al-Qaeda will continue to bomb the crap out of everyone, also.
Al-Qaeda is also very foolish in it's belief that even if and when the American Military leave irag; it will be over. They will celebrate the so-called defeat of the American Military and pump as much boastful propaganda into the media, as possible.
Even while the American Military and Black Ops hunt and destroy as many Al-Qaeda training camps and members as they can find. Make no mistake, that's exactly what would and will happen.
Nothing will be over. This shit will continue as long as there is an Al-Qaeda and as long as Al-Qaeda continues their attacks and murder.
Only difference is, that maybe America will wise-up and allow Al-Qaeda through it's hateful and murderous actions; to turn the whole world against them and hang themselves on a International scale and on the the International stage.
news flash. they already have. If we can't protect the citizens of iraq, we are no longer in control.
We have control in a majority of areas...they strike through terror.
maybe you should stop getting your news flashes from el queda's website.
they dont have control. the majority of the country is secure and peaceful except for slum areas of baghdad where they are killing each other.