and the quest for martyrs continues

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2003-03-11 08:04pm

DOHA, Qatar (March 11) - Saddam Hussein has opened a training camp for Arab volunteers willing to carry out suicide bombings against U.S. forces in case they invade Iraq, Arab media and Iraqi dissidents said Tuesday.

The dissidents, speaking by telephone from Jordan, said scores of Arab volunteers have gone to a special camp run by the Iraqi intelligence service near the town of al-Khalis, 40 miles northeast of Baghdad.

Most of the volunteers are Islamic activists who belong to pan-Arab groups that maintain close ties with Saddam's regime, the dissidents said on condition of anonymity.

The Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite television station reported Saturday that a group of Arab volunteers was being trained in urban warfare in a camp near Baghdad.

The station said its Baghdad-based reporter had visited a camp, some 15 miles northeast of the Iraqi capital, and interviewed several Arab trainees, who said they were ready for ``martyrdom,'' a euphemism for suicide attacks.

Many Muslims believe that participating with Iraqis in a possible war against invading U.S. forces is a religious duty, but such a camp is believed to be unprecedented in Iraq.

An Egyptian volunteer who identified himself only as Abu Abd al-Rahman said he traveled to Iraq secretly, leaving behind his wife and children, to join the camp. He told Al-Jazeera his venture was a ``God-blessed martyrdom-seeking mission.''

``We seek God's satisfaction. We seek victory first, and martyrdom in the cause of God second. You are well aware of what is happening against Iraq. This is clearly an injustice against an Arab, Muslim country,'' he said.

Asked about his three children, Abu Abd al-Rahman said: ``God will take care of them, and anyone who is taken care of by God will not be forgotten.''

Another volunteer identified as a Libyan called al-Sunusi told Al-Jazeera the volunteers hate the Bush administration, which he says, represents evil.

``I am not afraid. I am not afraid. I came here to carry out jihad (holy war) against the U.S. arrogance,'' he said.

A Syrian mosque preacher who gave his name as Abu Izz al-Din said he came to Iraq to attain his ``goal of martyrdom.''

``No nation can attain the weapon of martyrdom seekers, regardless of the technological and scientific advancement they might have,'' he said. ``The weapon of martyrdom-seekers is special to the Muslim nation. We will be able to confront them with this weapon, God willing.''

Diyar al-Umari, an Al-Jazeera reporter who said he visited the camp on a tour organized by the Iraqi government, described the volunteers as coming from a number of countries and political movements.

``The fighters here say that the weapons of the United States and Britain may be lethal, but they are martyrdom-seekers. In this case, they say, the U.S. forces may confront a case that is very unusual to them,'' al-Umari reported. ``Those martyrdom-seekers aspire to change the shape of the looming war.''

U.S. officials accuse Saddam of harboring weapons of mass destruction and have threatened to forcefully disarm him. The Bush administration also claims that Iraq maintains ties with radical organizations including groups with links to Osama bin Laden's terrorist network al-Qaida.

Saddam rejects the accusations and any link with bin Laden, al-Qaida or a Kurdish extremist group believed connected to the terror network.

On Monday, the highest authority in the Sunni Islamic world, the Islamic Research Center at Cairo's Al-Azhar University, declared that war against Iraq will be a ``new crusade'' compelling every Muslim to perform ``jihad.''

While opposition to a war against Iraq is strong in the Arab world, many Muslim scholars say suicide is against Islamic teachings.

03/11/03 14:10 EST

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

hell, it worked for 1945 japan, right?

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-03-11 08:05pm

Whoop de fucking doo. That camp certainly isn't going to garner Iraq any more support in the international community...

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-03-11 08:06pm

Enforcer Talen wrote:hell, it worked for 1945 japan, right?

Actually, more kamikaze pilots died trying to ditch their planes in the ocean than actually hit American ships. The likelihood of losing their nerve was why they trained them in how to take off and fly, but NOT how to land.

Sokar · Post by **Sokar** » 2003-03-11 08:08pm

Oh thoes crazy towlies! What will they think of next.......

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2003-03-11 08:08pm

kinda my point. . . lol.

Darth Yoshi · Post by **Darth Yoshi** » 2003-03-11 10:11pm

No nation can attain the weapon of martyrdom seekers, regardless of the technological and scientific advancement they might have,'' he said. ``The weapon of martyrdom-seekers is special to the Muslim nation. We will be able to confront them with this weapon, God willing.

The ultimate weapon? How is some dude with a bomb strapped to his chest going to beat a missile that'll reduce your city to a crater? Fools.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-03-11 10:54pm

Well, add one more target to some B-52's itenerary, I guess.

The Dark · Post by **The Dark** » 2003-03-12 01:06am

I was all ready to say it was propaganda until Is aw it came out of Qatar and al-Jazeera. They're the only balanced Arab nation I can think of, where the young women are the most conservative part of the population

. If they're reporting it, it's probably true. Maybe we oughta drop that on some desks at the UN...then again, it might just get them placed to head another committee

.

Sriad · Post by **Sriad** » 2003-03-12 01:15am

Oh wow, "scores." So what, sixty or so? As mentioned earlier, just another target...

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2003-03-12 01:41am

I wouldn't laugh this off so easily.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-03-12 01:48am

I think people are envisioning suicide bombers charging after tanks on open fields, when we're probably looking at suicide bombers sneaking around and blowing up US troops as they attempt to garrison Baghdad. They could be quite effective.

Sriad · Post by **Sriad** » 2003-03-12 02:16am

I'm not saying suicide bombing is ineffective, I'm saying it's irrelevant.

If Saddam thinks that Bush is going to not invade Iraq because a couple hundred more Americans could die he's kidding himself. The camp is probably very real, but it will only be effective as propaganda, and when half of Iraq's millitary is blown to bits in fifteen minutes I don't think Iraq's remaining forces will take much comfort in the existence of a few score suicide bombers.

(Note, I'm still personally opposed to the war, but its obvious, even to me, that its going to happen.)

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and the quest for martyrs continues

and the quest for martyrs continues

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