Al Qaeda urges Muslims to help Syria rebels
This image from video provided by the SITE Intel Group purports to show al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a web posting by al-Qaida's media arm, as-Sahab, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012. / SITE Intel Group/AP Photo
BAGHDAD - Al Qaeda's chief has called on Muslims from other countries to support rebels in Syria seeking to overthrow President Bashar Assad, saying they cannot depend on the West for help.
Ayman al-Zawahri, in a videotaped statement released late Saturday, asked Muslims in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey to join the uprising against Assad's "pernicious, cancerous regime." All four states border Syria.
A senior Iraqi security official also told the Associated Press on Saturday that intelligence over the last four months has revealed a flow of al Qaeda-linked fighters from the northern Iraqi city of Mosul into Syria.
The comments by both the Iraqi official and al-Zawahri came a day after two suicide car bombers struck security compounds in Aleppo, a Syrian city that had been relatively peaceful throughout the country's 11-month-uprising. Though there was no claim of responsibility, suicide bombings are a hallmark of al Qaeda.
"There is no treatment for (the Assad regime) other than removal," al-Zawahri says in the eight-minute video posted on jihadist websites, according to U.S.-based SITE Intel Group, which monitors militant messages.
"Don't depend on the West and Turkey, which had deals, mutual understanding and sharing with this regime for decades and only began to abandon it after they saw it faltering," he said. "Instead, depend on Allah alone and then on your sacrifices, resistance, and steadfastness."
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He urged Syrians to oppose help from the Arab League and "its corrupt agent governments." The League has put forth a plan to try to end violence in Syria but it suspended an observers mission to the country after the regime flouted its agreement to the terms of the plan.
Egyptian-born al-Zawahri took over al Qaeda after Osama bin Laden was killed last May by a U.S. special forces raid on his hideout in Pakistan.
The Iraqi official said at least two Syrian suicide bombers who trained in Mosul have crossed the border to join the fight in Syria.
Fighters armed with guns and explosives also have headed from Iraq to Syria, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss intelligence.
A U.S. official in Washington, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said it would not be surprising if Iraqi al Qaeda fighters are aiding Syrian rebels, but would not discuss or confirm specific intelligence. However, the official noted that al Qaeda in Iraq long has had an operational network in Syria.
Al-Zawahri in the past clashed with al Qaeda in Iraq. Both he and bin Laden urged followers to focus attacks against U.S. and Israeli interests, and sharply condemned the network's Iraqi wing for targeting Shiite Muslims during the years that Iraq teetered on the brink of civil war.
Al Qaeda fighters in Iraq generally have confined attacks to their home country.
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And, by the way, Israel PAYS for its weaponry. Why don't you suggest that Saudi Arabia stops getting help from the USA? Because it gets more assistance and arms from you than any other place does. And they are the people who are at the bottom of all terrorism with their Wahabist programme. Wake up.
The age old strategy of divide and conquer is taking place in Syria.
Assad belongs to the Alawite sect which is aligned with the Shiites. The rebel forces( so called protestors) are Sunni. America and Israel are backing the rebel forces because they want regime change in Syria, America wants a Sunni government installed in Syria.
Assad's Alawites Syria has a defense pact with Iran, when one country is attacked by foreign forces the other country will assist. The defense pact was signed in 2006, and Iran and Syria say they are commited to the pact. If Assad is toppled and a Sunni government installed, a Sunni Syria would be hostile towards Iran. Iran is a Shiite nation which has close ties with the Assad regime.
I hope I do not have to explain that military tensions is bluiding between Iran and America/Israel. America will soon have 3 carrier groups in the vacinity of Iran, with a fourth(USS George Bush) one day sail away. Israel is pushing America to consider the military option against Iran, Israel believes sanctions will not stop Iran's nuclear program.
The road to Tehran is through Damascus, toppling Assad is a stepping stone towards preparing the theatre for a strike on Iran. America is voicing concern over the humanitarian conditions in Syria, but America's true adgenda is regime change. Toppling Assad makes a strike on Iran much more easy.
Assad's Syria also supports Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah, a Sunni Syria would cut its support to Hezbollah. Toppling Assad,therefore, kills two security concerns of Israel. America's foreign policy doesn't revolve around humanitarian concerns, America foreign policy revolves around Israel.
"The Arab League will call Sunday for the U.N. Security Council to create a joint peacekeeping force for Syria" LOL, correction -
- The Arab League will call Sunday for the U.N. Security Council to create a joint REGIME CHANGING force for Syria" .
The AL calls for a force that will have no contact with the Assad regime, but will have contact with the rebels. The force will assist in political transition. This is no peacekeeping force, but another tactic for regime change, expect vetoes from Russia and China( If it even reaches the UN Security Council, good luck).
"Al Qaeda urges Muslims to help Syria rebels(Sunni rebels)" My God, I do not even know where to start, but is America going on the same side as Al Qaeda just to topple Assad to make a strike on Iran less complicated. I will say 2 words, "EXPECT BLOWBACK".
Kind of complicated, isn't it?
Maybe, all the Syrian dissidents can go hide now as fugitives. This man is a study in failure 101. If you where an odds maker in Las Vegas, what are the dissidents chances of winning now in the near future? Better yet, what is Mr Obama's administration's chance at selling Syrian intervention to even congress, let alone the American public? Mr Obama does not anyway he just uses the military reguardless of what much of congress thinks, he did it in Libya. But this is a 'Jumbo' kick in the butt to the Syrian dissidents diplomatically, You have "foreign enemy number 1" seal of approval, a c ranked player at best in real military power.
Republican interventionist John McCain, how you going to 'spin' this one now? You got lots of egg on your face now.
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The veto to halt the resolution came from eastern countries of Russia and China. Last time I checked, they were east of Iraq, not west.
Maybe he gets east and west mixed up and makes the wrong calls to the heavens.
They'll be around for 4 more years.
The egyptian military are the buffer betten extremists and secular egyptians today. In many ways nothing has changed because the military wants dust to settle but are using american NGO's to maintain their legitimacy as temporary emgergency powers continue to keep the people there from freedom.
As I see it, it is a strategic advantage to let it settle down, but it has been a year and the people want their civilian government, damn the infidels and democracy.
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that green backdrop looks good in 'cave light'.