Before determining 'links' let's define al Quaeda
 

One of the names often used as 'proof' of a 'link' between Saddam and OBL is a guy named al-Zarqawi.

Information has appeared recently that our friend al-Zarqawi is not al Quaeda. That he knows and may from time to time cooperate with OBL, but is not under OBL's 'leadership.'

Further, it has been pointed out that al Quaeda is not an organization that gives out memberhip cards. It is more of a grab-bag descriptor of affiliated terrorist cells. A wesern parallel would be the mafia of 'la cosa nostra.'

So the terrorists we are newly refocused on, "al Quaeda" are actually many different groups with many different structures.

So we hear one day that al-Zarqawi is a 'top lieutenant' of OBL and another day, that he is independent.

So the only ones not confused about "links" just aren't paying attention.

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Here is an excerpt from Edward Teague, a contributor to Counterpunch:

Zarqawi, a 38-year old Jordanian radical, said by some to be Afghan and by others a Jordanian Bedouin, lost a leg in a US missile strike on his Afghan base and hopped it to Iraq. He is also accused on the basis of an alleged letter, which surfaced in Amman from Zarqawi to have masterminded the recent string of spectacular anti-Shia suicide bombings in Iraq. In 2003, he was named as the brains behind a series of suicide bombings – from Casablanca in Morocco to Istanbul in Turkey.

The "facts" keep changing. According to the US, Zarqawi was first a "close associate of [Osama] bin Laden", then his relationship to bin Laden became "uncertain", before he was back to being a "close associate".

One official US statement said Ansar claimed that Zarqawi was a "senior al-Qa'eda operative", then later only "suspected" of being some kind of affiliate. Until two weeks ago, he was considered the leader of Ansar al-Islam. Now they say he heads a Jordanian extremist group called al-Tawhid, and only linked to al-Qaeda and other groups.

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Lets say that "al Quaeda " is anyone (person or persons) who desire to KILL us because we have indoor plumbing, teach our women to read and believe in a "GOD" other than thiers.
Let's say "al Quaeda " is anyone (person or persons) who kidnap well intentioned civilians and behead them in an effort to achieve thier extremist goals.
Let's say "al Quaeda " is anyone (person or persons) who hijack airliners and fly them into buildings filled with unsuspecting US citizens.
Does that help you identify "al Quaeda "?

second that!

I think a good definition of Bin Laden, Sadaam, and al Quaeda would be "Goldberg" in a certain book that seems more realistic every day.

Alan Poh
'77 Carrera 3.0

"Goldberg" :D . . .yeah, State sponsered terrorism is that way, BY DESIGN!

Guys like Saddam go to great lengths to hide, obfuscate, their offence.

Works for me!

The only problem with that is that hundreds of groups around the world would jump at the chance to do any or all of those things, and we really can't wait for them to commit those acts to slap a name on them.

And part of your definition is the 'desire to kill us'...

I'm not sure how we test for thought crimes...

So just to be sure, we could just go ahead and pre-emptively nuke all Islamic countries in the Middle East, plus the others with large Moslem populations:Albania, the Philippines, New Caledonia, Fiji, Macao, Indonesia, Somalia, Niger, Mozambique, etc. etc.

I think some of you are missing the point. If al Quaeda is not something specific, but a kind of 'fuzzy definition' then we can just be in a constant state of war for the next 3, 4, 5 generations -- maybe perpetually.

Does that really make sense?

Winston, the sooner you come to love Big Brother, the sooner you will be free.

It hard to get our heads around the concept that we may be at war with a religion. Maybe an entire culture. When you realize the enormity of the conflict, we may very well be under attack for a long, long time.

Yep..untill you figure out a way to identify those who seek to harm US before they accomplish thier goal I'm good with that.

Island,
Could the same be said for Big Brother?

Alan Poh
'77 Carrera 3.0