Zarqawi: New terror attack, "bigger than 9/11"

According to Berlin (Germany) based newspaper Tagesspiegel, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, who allegedly subordinated his network under Al Qaeda's aegis, announced a terror attack which would surpass 9/11 by its dimension and impact.

According to the newspaper, al Zarqawi told one of his companions, before the US attack in Fallujah that there will be  "a huge event", about which the whole world would talk more "than september 11th" .

After his arrestment, al Zarqawi's Companion, a Kurdish member of the terror group Ansar al Sunni, reported about the meeting he had had with al Zarqawi in Fallujah. The US obviously offered Fathala F. a "king's witness deal' and he is being interrogated at a secret location in Iraq. According to the Tagesspiegel, the intelligence authorities believe in Fathala's statements' authenticity.

Read the article in German here

Read the 'strange' Google Translation here

Edit: Thanks to ChicagoDem and ECH for putting this into perspective:

The Weekend Australian: Zarqawi targets Europe for terror

THE most wanted terrorist in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is recruiting cell members in Britain and Europe.

Terrorism experts believe his is preparing his new recruits for attacks somewhere in Europe.

Zarqawi, who has a reward of $US25million ($33 million) on his head, is also thought to be using Europeans for his terror campaign against the US forces in Iraq.

Rohan Gunaratna, one of the world's leading al-Qa'ida experts with access to official intelligence, said the Jordanian terrorist was an increasing threat.

"He is the biggest recruiter in Europe," Dr Gunaratna, head of the terror unit at Singapore's Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, said last week. "He has become better known among extremists in Britain and Europe, and his group is becoming very multinational."

Slate: Why Bush let Iraq's top terrorist walk.

In recent months, the mystery of the administration's inaction has only grown. News reports--including, most recently, one in the Wall Street Journal this week--make it clear that military leaders and the CIA felt Zarqawi was a threat that could and should be removed. On at least three occasions between mid-2002 and the invasion of Iraq, the Pentagon presented plans to the White House to destroy the Khurmal camp. Each time the White House declined to act or did not respond at all.

It is impossible to see that refusal as anything other than an enormous blunder. This week Zarqawi claimed responsibility for executing 49 Iraqi army recruits. Since shortly after Saddam was toppled, Zarqawi's Tawhid wal Jihad group has been astonishingly effective at undermining the U.S. occupation. These operatives have killed wholesale, with a long string of car and truck bombs to their credit, and they have killed retail, with the videotaped executions of hostages, which have become must-see TV in the Muslim world and are driving contractors and NGOs out of the country. There is no reliable tally of Zarqawi's victims, but it would not be surprising if it was over 1,000. The issue of why no attempt to get him was made has become even more pungent since President Bush began pointing to Zarqawi in response to Sen. John Kerry's contention that Iraq was a diversion from the war on terror.

•  strange is an understatement!

  aluminium Queda??!!

  by chantedor on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 10:26:14 AM PDT

•  Duh! Bushco having been saying the

  saying this EVERY day.  While it may be true, it's no excuse to throw our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

  NewsFlash:  Other countries HATE us.

  NewsFlash: Nukes are easier to get than ever.

  NewsFlash:  Bushco stole the election and democracy with it.

  What is it that you propose we do?

  by Einsteinia on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 10:28:06 AM PDT

  •  Well

    Well it's obvious that Bushs' policy didn't prevent Al Zarqawi from planning new attacks...

    I just pray they're not succesfull in translating plans into reality

    by rukkus on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 10:30:08 AM PDT

    •  I'm sure they will succeed, BUT we must

      get at the root of the evil:  BUSH!

      The sooner we get his fraudulent presidency out of here, the sooner we can mend our foreign relations.

      by Einsteinia on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 11:53:10 AM PDT

•  Heh...

  Well i guess Al is translated using the abbreviations for chemical elements :)

  by rukkus on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 10:29:00 AM PDT

•  Hey George

  My PROFOUND thanks, Mr. President, for not killing this terrorist murderer when you had the chance.  But hey, at least you got your fucking unjustified war right?

  Y'know, the fact that Bush hasn't been impeached for just letting Zarqawi walk out from under our noses after both the CIA and DoD offered to take him out with missile strikes just makes me want to laugh or cry.  It's a sign of true political incompetence on the part of the Democrats that that fact isn't sprayed over every news show every DAY, given that Zarqawi is still threatening us.  I mean if Clinton had let bin Laden go b/c it undermined the rationale behind a policy he wanted to enact, you can bet every fucking person in American would know about it.

  Bush Let Zarqawi Go

  In recent months, the mystery of the administration's inaction has only grown. News reports--including, most recently, one in the Wall Street Journal this week--make it clear that military leaders and the CIA felt Zarqawi was a threat that could and should be removed. On at least three occasions between mid-2002 and the invasion of Iraq, the Pentagon presented plans to the White House to destroy the Khurmal camp. Each time the White House declined to act or did not respond at all.

  It is impossible to see that refusal as anything other than an enormous blunder. This week Zarqawi claimed responsibility for executing 49 Iraqi army recruits. Since shortly after Saddam was toppled, Zarqawi's Tawhid wal Jihad group has been astonishingly effective at undermining the U.S. occupation. These operatives have killed wholesale, with a long string of car and truck bombs to their credit, and they have killed retail, with the videotaped executions of hostages, which have become must-see TV in the Muslim world and are driving contractors and NGOs out of the country. There is no reliable tally of Zarqawi's victims, but it would not be surprising if it was over 1,000. The issue of why no attempt to get him was made has become even more pungent since President Bush began pointing to Zarqawi in response to Sen. John Kerry's contention that Iraq was a diversion from the war on terror.

  I've been screaming about this since I first read about it.  I don't understand why liberals refuse to make this a bigger issue.  THE PRESIDENT LET THE MOST IMPORTANT TERRORIST IN IRAQ ESCAPE!  Where's the fucking outrage...

  by ChicagoDem on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 10:39:00 AM PDT

  •  US invasion of Iraq worsened terror threat

    .
    WASHINGTON, July 9 (UPI) -- One of the world's leading terrorism experts Wednesday told the panel investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that the U.S. invasion of Iraq may have worsened the threat of terrorism.

    Prof. Rohan Gunaratna gives evidence

    Born a Liberal, voting Liberal, dying as a Liberal: á la Vie á la Mort

    by creve coeur on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 03:15:09 PM PDT

•  Is there any chance . . .

  that another terrorist attack will wake up the 51% (and declining) of the country that voted for Bush that he's imcompetant?

  by dannynyc on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 10:45:45 AM PDT

  •  No

    They'll just pray to their god, George W. Bush.

    Seriously, it'll strengthen their support for him.  They don't think the way we do.  The believe everything he says.

    His successor will just invoke the new date of the next terror attack the way Bush said "9/11" over and over again.

    Sorry to be so cynical :-(

    by Plutonium Page on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 10:58:48 AM PDT

    •  re

      Bingo^TM

      (sadly)

      by cookiesandmilk on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 11:00:41 AM PDT

•  Zarqawi will probably try to hit Europe hard

  Zarqawi targets Europe for terror

  December 13, 2004

  THE most wanted terrorist in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is recruiting cell members in Britain and Europe.

  Terrorism experts believe his is preparing his new recruits for attacks somewhere in Europe.

  Zarqawi, who has a reward of $US25million ($33 million) on his head, is also thought to be using Europeans for his terror campaign against the US forces in Iraq.

  Rohan Gunaratna, one of the world's leading al-Qa'ida experts with access to official intelligence, said the Jordanian terrorist was an increasing threat.

  "He is the biggest recruiter in Europe," Dr Gunaratna, head of the terror unit at Singapore's Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, said last week. "He has become better known among extremists in Britain and Europe, and his group is becoming very multinational."

  http://tinylink.com/?UC9o81bjKw
  --------------------------------------------

  Most of his support internationally is in Europe, so I think an attack on the UK or another European nation would probably be more likely then him trying to attack the US for now.

  by ECH on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 10:47:42 AM PDT

  •  Zarqawi is proof Iraq invasion creates terrorists!

    A very respected and renowned terror expert, I have listened to his views many years: Dr Gunaratna, head of the terror unit at Singapore's Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies.

    True statement:
    Zarqawi's Tawhid wal Jihad group has been astonishingly effective at undermining the U.S. occupation.

    Zarqawi was a no-body before Iraq invasion. I have found no proof of Zarqawi tied to Ansar al-Islam in northern Iraq. Perhaps passing through because they are jihadists trained in Afghan War. Could only travel to region through Iran because Saddam and Al-Qaeda were not on speaking terms, sworn enemies.

    German interview or intelligence source close to CIA or torture evidence from Iraqi does not constitute sound evidence.

    US is spinning facts to make Zarqawi someone bigger than life. His sole cause in life is to undermine US occupation, a gift from heaven.
    Similar to 9/11 event being a turning point to GWB's presidency. Iraq is their crossing point.

    I need facts.

    The horror of war does not end when peace has been achieved

    by creve coeur on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 02:08:03 PM PDT

    •  Australian link:

      False statement:
      German authorities this month arrested three Iraqis with links to Zarqawi on suspicion of planning an attack on US-appointed Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi during his visit to the country.

      Three Iraqis had links with Ansar al-Islam!  Cannot equate with Zarqawi. Is US misinformation, read article carefully.

      Born a Liberal, voting Liberal, dying as a Liberal: á la Vie á la Mort

      by creve coeur on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 02:20:06 PM PDT

•  After 2000 election

  Bush was a universal laughing stock.

  Then 9/11 happened and the entire civilised world united in anger at the terrorists...everyone stopped focussing on what an ignorant buffoon Bush is, and the whole of America and the international community suddenly supported him.

  It may not have been planned, as the conspiracy theorists whisper, but it certainly worked out well for Mr Bush.

  Since then, America has been in a state of perpetual war.

  It is not in the least bit surprising to me that certain terrorists continue to remain at large under this administration.

  It would be extremely interesting to speculate on where America and Mr Bush himself would be if instead of war, there had been peace during these last four years.

  by SeeingStars on Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 11:39:21 AM PDT