Iraq and Al Qaeda

I wanted to address something from another thread. Al Qaeda in Iraq is not the Al Qaeda that predicated 9/11. Even the president has had to concede this.

In the time that I spent in Iraq I never ran into anyone who was real Al Qaeda. The people calling themselves Al Qaeda have no real connections to the infamous terrorist network.

There are groups in Iraq that call themselves Mujah Hadin yet none of them speak Persian or have ever fought against Soviet invaders in Afghanistan.

The difference is that the real Al Qaeda is capable of projecting terror around the globe through a well funded and organized network. They are a very serious threat to the United States and our allies. Al Qaeda in Iraq, is not capable of doing these things. They are tethered to Iraq by a lack of funding and sophistication. Furthermore, they are entirely a product of the invasion and occupation.

Our presence there justifies their existence to the Iraqi people and inflames tensions there. If we were to leave, the moderate majority of Iraq would have the moral high ground if they turned against them. Right now if they were to do that they would be labeled traitors.

We need to concentrate on our real enemies like the real Al Qaeda.

Black Ops!

Not that many members of Alqaeda knew of the actual 9/11 plans either, it is even speculated that some of the hijackers didn't even know what the outcome of their mission was going to be, just in case they were arrested prior, they wouldn't be able to devuldge the actual operation (don't know how true that is). Just a select few knew of the entire operation. That doesn't mean that the ones that didn't know are not Alqeada.
True that most are limited to their ao but the ones that get noticed are the ones most likely to get funding from Bin Laden.

Zarqawi was linked to Bin Laden...he had no play in 9/11. He trained at their camps in Afghanistan and left when the US invaded. He stayed in Iran for awhile and I believe he set up his own training camp as well. I think he was wanting to start his own group. I know he had plotted against US and Isreali tourists in the mid east.
He took his group and went to Iraq when the US invaded Iraq. This was his opportunity to be noticed by Bin Laden and hopefully get funding for his new organization.

Just to be clear on certain aspects. Alqeada does not just target the the continental US. They are opportunists and if they see a chance to succeed anywhere globally they take it. They have affiliations globally and work hand in hand with other groups. They will send reps to other countries to set up operations to carry out attacks. Embassies are a big target and are ofetn selected for attacks. The middle East, Africa, Europe, SE Asia and of course the US. Money although they seem to have plenty is indeed tight. they have to be careful how it is transfered at the risk of being caught or traced.

This line of thinking, Alqeada is not in Afghanistan any longer either (they do cross the border to fight)....they are in Pakistan now. Should we invade pakistan instead?

Like I said in the very beginning, Our commander in chief vowed to fight terrorism. Since 9/11 terrorist organizations have taken a beating world wide with governments clamping down on them. plots have been unvailed to include a possible attack in L.A.

Although Bin Laden was not in Iraq elements of the organization were, even though some were local (insurgents) some from surrounding countries. most were indeed just Jihadi's but there were organizations that swore alligiance to and had the training in Afghanistan camps prior to the Afghan invasion.

Here is an interesting fact you may or may not be aware of:

"Abu Abbas was taken by American special operations forces during a raid Monday night on the southern outskirts of the capital city, U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

Several of his associates were also detained during raids at several sites around Baghdad, defense officials said. Commandos, tipped off by U.S. intelligence to Abbas' whereabouts, also seized documents -- including Yemeni and Lebanese passports -- and weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades, officials said"

Abu Abbas was responsible for hijacking the Achille Lauro Cruise liner back in 1985 and killing American citizen Klinghoffer (sp) who was handicapped and dumping his body overboard. He did a little time in jail but was released. He was tried in absentia and wanted by the US. Seems he was living his life in Iraq without worries.