THE US, THE UN AND IRAQ, ELEVENTH THREAD

9/11 Commission Report, September 20, 2004

2 THE FOUNDATION OF THE NEW TERRORISM

2.1 A DECLARATION OF WAR
In February 1998, the 40-year-old Saudi exile Usama Bin Ladin and a fugitive Egyptian physician, Ayman al Zawahiri, arranged from their Afghan headquarters for an Arabic newspaper in London to publish what they termed a fatwa issued in the name of a "World Islamic Front." A fatwa is normally an interpretation of Islamic law by a respected Islamic authority, but neither Bin Ladin, Zawahiri, nor the three others who signed this statement were scholars of Islamic law. Claiming that America had declared war against God and his messenger, they called for the murder of any American, anywhere on earth, as the "individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it."1

Three months later, when interviewed in Afghanistan by ABC-TV, Bin Ladin enlarged on these themes.2 He claimed it was more important for Muslims to kill Americans than to kill other infidels. "It is far better for anyone to kill a single American soldier than to squander his efforts on other activities," he said. Asked whether he approved of terrorism and of attacks on civilians, he replied: "We believe that the worst thieves in the world today and the worst terrorists are the Americans. Nothing could stop you except perhaps retaliation in kind. We do not have to differentiate between military or civilian. As far as we are concerned, they are all targets."

American Soldier, by General Tommy Franks, 7/1/2004
"10" Regan Books, An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

page 483:
"The air picture changed once more. Now the icons were streaming toward two ridges an a steep valley in far northeastern Iraq, right on the border with Iran. These were the camps of the Ansar al-Isla terrorists, where al Qaeda leader Abu Musab Zarqawi had trained disciples in the use of chemical and biological weapons. But this strike was more than just another [Tomahawk Land Attack Missile] bashing. Soon Special Forces and [Special Mission Unit] operators, leading Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, would be storming the camps, collecting evidence, taking prisoners, and killing all those who resisted."

Capture of al-Qaeda mastermind of Golden Mosque explosion
...
Abu Qudama operated under terrorist cell leader Haitham al-Badri.

Al-Badri was "a known terrorist," a member of Ansar al-Sunna before he joined terror group al Qaeda in Iraq, al-Rubaie said.

However, Iraqi authorities "were not aware of his being the mastermind behind the golden mosque explosion" until Abu Qudama's arrest, al-Rubaie said.
"The sole reason behind his action was to drive a wedge between the Shiites and Sunnis and to ignite and trigger a sectarian war in this country," al-Rubaie said, referring to al-Badri.

Congressional Intelligence Report 09/08/2006
REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
Conclusion 6. Postwar information indicates that the Intelligence Community accurately assessed that al-Qa'ida affiliate group Ansar al-Islam operated in Kurdish-controlled northeastern Iraq, an area that Baghdad had not controlled since 1991.

UN CHARTER Article 51
Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defense shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.

George Bush is not the primary problem. Exterminating al-Qaeda wherever it established and establishes itself is the primary problem.

Informed Comment
Thoughts on the Middle East, History, and Religion

Juan Cole is President of the Global Americana Institute


Sunday, June 10, 2007

Paris Hilton & Iraqi Prisoners


American cable news has been fixated on the jailing of socialite Paris Hilton for the past week, on grounds that she twice violated the probation sentence she earlier received for drunk driving. They interrupted coverage of world leaders at the G8. They briefly spliced in Gates's decision not to reappoint Peter Pace as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. A new frenzy broke out with every tiny twist . She was brave, she was weeping, she was mentally fragile. She was released, she was rejailed, she shouted it was unfair and cried, she was undergoing psychiatric evaluation.

Just for a little perspective, we could consider the news from Iraq on Saturday. Incoming mortar fire from guerrillas hit Bucca prison, killing 6 inmates and wounding 50.

The US military is holding 19000 Iraqis, 16000 of them at Bucca. Although most are guerrillas or their helpers, a lot of them were picked up because they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Once arrested, an inmate often cannot clear himself for months or years. I don't think they have access to attorneys. No one cares if they are depressed. At Abu Ghraib earlier on, some inmates were systematically tortured. It is unlear if all such practices have ceased.

Some Iraqi women have been held in this way. Some were essentially hostages, taken to make them reveal where their husbands or fathers were or to guarantee their good behavior. Their reputations were shot, since Iraqis think Americans are sex fiends and wouldn't trust the virtue of a woman who had been in their custody. The unmarried among them are likely doomed to be spinsters.



American television never mentions that the US has 19000 Iraqis in jail, or that some have been women, or that some are innocent, or how they feel about being in prison.

So is Paris Hilton being given special treatment by our media? We all are, folks.

MAHMOUDIYA, Iraq - An apparent suicide car bomber took aim at a U.S. convoy carrying demolition experts on Sunday, collapsing a major highway overpass south of Baghdad and trapping American soldiers in the rubble.

Quote:

George Bush is not the primary problem. Exterminating al-Qaeda wherever it established and establishes itself is the primary problem.

I/We feel the war in Iraq is exacerbating the problem instead of helping it.

There has been some evidence presented to support this position, especially over the last year, and I wish you'd seriously consider our viewpoint.

Cycloptichorn

exterminating al-Qaeda in Afghanistan is primary

'Pak tribal areas safe haven for al Qaeda'
Washington, June 9 (PTI): Pakistan's tribal areas bordering Afghanistan have become a "safe haven" for al Qaeda and Taliban militants, and Washington should prod Islamabad to be more aggressive and vigorous in dealing with the lawless areas, a top US security official has said.

Lt.Gen. Douglas Lute, who has been nominated as the Assistant to the President for Iraq and Afghanistan, said "Pakistan is going through a turbulent time here. And the tribal area along their western border have become, unfortunately, a safe haven for al Qaeda."

"You said they're searching for one in Iraq. Well, they've got one now in western Pakistan... (President Pervez) Musharraf's got an election coming up. So he's got to deal with that. But, look, we've got a right to expect them to be more aggressive and vigorous in dealing with those lawless tribal areas," the Deputy National Security Advisor told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

ican wrote :

Quote:

exterminating al-Qaeda in Afghanistan is primary

how is that to be accomplished when al-qaeda fighters move freely between afghanistan and pakistan ?
the pakistani president seems not to be committed to expell the al-qaeda fighters - they are really occupying a "no-man's-land" not under the control of the pakistani authorities .
hbg

Quote:

'Pak tribal areas safe haven for al Qaeda'
Washington, June 9 (PTI): Pakistan's tribal areas bordering Afghanistan have become a "safe haven" for al Qaeda and Taliban militants, and Washington should prod Islamabad to be more aggressive and vigorous in dealing with the lawless areas, a top US security official has said.

Lt.Gen. Douglas Lute, who has been nominated as the Assistant to the President for Iraq and Afghanistan, said "Pakistan is going through a turbulent time here. And the tribal area along their western border have become, unfortunately, a safe haven for al Qaeda."

"You said they're searching for one in Iraq. Well, they've got one now in western Pakistan... (President Pervez) Musharraf's got an election coming up. So he's got to deal with that. But, look, we've got a right to expect them to be more aggressive and vigorous in dealing with those lawless tribal areas," the Deputy National Security Advisor told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

...
it seems that both taliban and al-qaeda fighters are moving around at their own speed and will ... good luck trying to oust them .
...

...
Should we pull out, the Iraqis would get rid of al-Qaida pretty quickly.