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| Europe |
| Al-Qaeda demands Italy withdraw troops from Iraq |
| 2004-07-18 |
| A statement posted on an Islamist website purported to be from the Al-Qaeda terror network demands Italy withdraw its troops from Iraq, under threat of a series of car bomb attacks. "O Italian people, your government has participated in the war on Iraq and sent troops and arsenal to our country. We urge you for the last time to demand that it withdraw peacefully from Iraq," said the statement. Dated July 17, it was signed "Khalid Ibn al-Walid Brigade, Al-Qaeda". Its authenticity could not be verified. "If your government does not obey, the solution lies in successive car bomb" attacks, the statement said. A group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq - Khalid Ibn al-Walid Brigade, is holding a Filipino hostage and has threatened to behead him if Manila does not push forward by a month the withdrawal of its contingent in Iraq. It was not immediately clear if the same group issued Saturday’s statement, posted on the website http://www.ansarnet.ws/vb. "We have sent messages in the past but the Italian government did not understand because it only understands the language of blood and jihad (holy war)," said the statement. The group also sent "a second message to the Italian people and government" telling them to "bear the consequences" of rejecting a peace offer from Osama bin Laden. An audiotaped statement issued April 15 by the terror chief gave European governments until July 15 to pull their troops out of Muslim countries. The ultimatum was later authenticated by the US Central Intelligence Agency. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #7 RelevantTopic: You are right that it is not against the Catholic Church, but why limit it to US and Jews? It’s against all infidels. They don’t care what kind of infidel you are. Did the KKK care what kind of person a black person was? Did Hitler care about nationality or accomplishments of individual Jews? An infidel is an infidel. All are fair game. |
| Posted by: B 2004-08-30 11:28:14 AM |
| #6 The Doctor wrote: They're getting very, very bold. Interesting, though, that they seem to be targeting the political structure of Italy in their messages, and not the Vatican. Do they realize what a mistake that would be if they attacked Vatican City, I wonder. Regardless, I hope the Italians ignore this. Their "holy war" isn't against the Catholic church. It is against the United States and its allies as they claim that this is a modern crusade: the United States versus Islam. The thought of attacking the Vatican is irrelevant. |
| Posted by: RelevantTopic 2004-08-30 11:18:13 AM |
| #5 AQ is going to keep pounding on the Euro's they think are vunerable to withdraw. Interesting that all of the mass demonstrations against the war in certain countries may be actually causing the Islamists' to now think threatening them might work. It worked on the Spanish, it won't work on the Brits. But the Italians don't exactly have a stellar history when it comes to warfare unless you're willing to head back aways. Was it Hitler or Napoleon that noted Italy doesn't end a war on the same side she started unless she changes sides twice? |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2004-07-18 4:55:04 PM |
| #4 I'm shocked, shocked, I tell you, that they would try this. After all, it's never worked before. Oh, wait.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-07-18 2:26:18 PM |
| #3 Al Q is getting smart. They are eliminating the middleman in their transactions and going for the top leadership in Italy. Right now it appears that they will give a pass to the Vatican because the Vatican does not actively oppose al Qaeda. That is, of course, subject to change at any time. And you never know with al Q. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-07-18 12:53:15 PM |
| #2 We swear that the cars of death will not stop So that's where all the Corvairs went... |
| Posted by: Raj 2004-07-18 12:38:10 PM |
| #1 They're getting very, very bold. Interesting, though, that they seem to be targeting the political structure of Italy in their messages, and not the Vatican. Do they realize what a mistake that would be if they attacked Vatican City, I wonder. Regardless, I hope the Italians ignore this. |
| Posted by: The Doctor 2004-07-18 12:13:46 PM |