Hatrack River Forum: The Spanish attack may be al-Qaida

This is topic The Spanish attack may be al-Qaida in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

I wouldn't normally start a new thread on a topic that already has one, but that one is now discussing Nazis, and therfore by Godwin's law must be abandoned.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4502950/

quote:
Factors pointing toward some kind of al-Qaida link include: the scale of the attack; the lack of anyone taking credit; the simultaneity of the multiple attacks; and the fact that Ayman al-Zawahiri, a senior al-Qaida figure, on his last tape said Spain and other Iraq coalition members would be targeted.

quote:
the leader of an outlawed Basque party linked to the separatist group denied the deadly explosions were the work of ETA and he suggested "Arab resistance" elements were responsible.

Arnold Otegi told Radio Popular that ETA always phones in warnings before it attacks. Spanish officials said earlier there was no warning before Thursday's attack.

"The modus operandi, the high number of victims and the way it was carried out make me think, and I have a hypothesis in mind, that yes it may have been an operative cell from the Arab resistance," Otegi said.

No matter who did what, this is such a terrible tragedy. 190 dead, 900 injured. My prayers are with the families of the victims. [Frown]

Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :

And there is still a chance that those who did this weren't a part of any set group.

I hope and pray for the victims of these bombings.

Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :

The fact that it took place two years, six months after 9-11 means somebody was trying to INVOKE al-Quaida, at the very least.

Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :

wow, today is the llth.

I'm dense

AJ

Posted by graywolfe (Member # 3852) on :

No you're not, I didn't notice that either until now, thanks for the heads up docmagik. It smelled fishy from the start, didn't fit with the ETA's M.O. in terms of "terrorist actions", was on far too huge a scale, generally targeted everyday working class civilians, and it's Spain, which of course is one of the two most loyal Western European partners in our war against Terror. Additionally (and other's would know far better on this subject than I)Spain houses a prodigious supply of Islamic Cultural artificats and architectural accomplishments.

Just smelled a bit fishy, we'll have to wait and see, but isn't the latest, the email acknowledging responsibility, and supposedly some van w/detonators and a cassette w/arabic speakers/language on it? Anyone have any information? I heard something about a supposed attack on the US being 90% operational.

[ March 11, 2004, 08:11 PM: Message edited by: graywolfe ]

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :

I just posted in the other (non-Nazi) thread: Al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility.

Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :

You have to ask: is this real tactics, trying to achieve a goal or just revenge?

Isn't this a way to unite the world against them than to get anyone to capitulate? It is stupid. They do not have enough strength to fight everyone but muslim extremists, yet their actions will mobilize everyone against their cause.

Posted by Xaposert (Member # 1612) on :

Well, if this does end up being Al Qaeda, I would suspect they are intended to make nations think twice before supporting American military efforts in the Middle East.

I doubt this is an effective way to achieve that, but I do suspect it wasn't random that they chose a major American ally in the War in Iraq for this.