Al-Qaeda Sees Opportunity In Gaza Conflict

KARACHI - The ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza against Hamas, which has aroused the Arab street, although Egypt and Saudi Arabia support the action, opens the possibility of al-Qaeda capitalizing on the widespread discord in the region.

Asia Times Online investigations, including interviews with people associated with al-Qaeda, reveal that the central leadership of al-Qaeda, sitting somewhere in the tribal areas straddling Pakistan and Afghanistan, sees the Gaza conflict as a major opportunity to inflame the war theater in Gaza and make it a permanent trouble spot for Israel and Egypt, just as al-Qaeda-led areas of conflict have created seemingly intractable difficulties for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[outnow]

Terrorism has become a self-fulfilling prophesy. The British accused the American colonists of using that "tactic." But that tactic has been used against "free trade" and globalization for over two hundred years. My fear is that the neoliberal powers will be "forced" to place the Palestinians on reservations. Or, massive "forts" can be installed as in Iraq. Cooking the books on Wall Street with the pump-and-dump schemes dovetails nicely with the neocolonial crowd who want the resources of other countries. let's face it; freedom and the free market are not the same thing. Spreading free market toxins and boasting of how free exploited native peoples are is hypocrisy.

Just as surgeons used to try to "cut out the cancer" and only caused the cancer to metastasize, a foreign policy that recruits more converts to the "other side" will only ultimately fair. "Shock and awe" will never win the "hearts and minds." The homeless Palestinian child of today, burned over his body with phosphorus will be the bomb-thrower of tomorrow. Karma is karma. The solution to the problem requires a greater degree of intelligence than that which caused the problem, according to Einstein.

[eremite]

It's funny how the media fawns over terrorists. They make extravagant claims and the journalists fall over themselves to broadcast it out. But making plans are not the same as carrying them out. The real strategy of Al-Qaeda is to hit America and see if obama flinches. He will have his knickers in a twist trying to figure out how to respond.

[hortonhearsawho2]

Yeah yeah...and the North Koreans and the Vietcong are gonna invade the U.S....fear mongering in the morn huh.

[outnow]

Didn't Rambo and the Mujahideen "free" Afghanistan? What about Charlie Wilson's war? When terror is on "our side" it is called "freedom-fighting." When it gets out of control and bites the hands of the handlers, it is just "terror." The media is government­-controlle­d to a very large degree. Letting the Genie out of the bottle was a mistake in fighting the "godless Commies." Shadow-boxing with men in caves will only spread the influence of jihadists. Didn't bin Laden launch attacks to "bankrupt" the US? Maybe he already "hit us" financially and it is all over but the shouting.

[JZ735]

If Al Queda decide to move into the Gaza area, it will not be a pretty picture for Israel...I fear this action will mean many Israelis murdered in temples and in the streets.

[SERGIOUK]

War Crimes are not new to I........Robert Fisk

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-why-do-they-hate-the-west-so-much-we-will-ask-1230046.html

[Zonie]

I must ask this question....just this one.......­..again...­....

Just one question..­.......bec­ause......­..

I just really want to know..........tell me.......

WHY does Israel have a right to exist and why does that right trump the Palestinian right to exist?

Just asking........

[eremite]

Since you're an obvious uninformed voter who help elect obama, i'd be glad to explain it to you. Israel's right to exist is guaranteed in the UN Charter. It not only has the right to exist, but also the absolute right to defend itself. It has been recognized by all non-Muslim Countries in the World. The Palestinians also have the right to a Country, but their terrorists leadership along with other Arab Countries refuse to renounce violence or recognize israel. Hamas is more committed to killing Jews than they are to help their own people. Iran uses Hamas to extend its influence throughout the Arab World.

Now maybe you can explain something to me. I would really like to know. Why does Hamas lob rockets into Israel to purposely provoke an Israeli reaction? Why does Hamas use its women and childen as human shields?

[hapiday]

600 in Gaza have died since December 27, 2008 (10 days). The Iraq war is approx. 4,200 deaths since 2003. How is this a fair conflict? Israel is shameful.

[evilzed]

UN house to house calculations that have always been used in disaster and war death calculations were used to calculate the death toll in Iraq, and that hit 1.5 million dead recently.
Even the Department of Defense on their very own website displayed over 10,000 dead US citizens before Bush had the figures taken down and a no phots of the returning dead order put in place.
4,200 dead, it think not.

[ndnndpendent]

Just a quick question, where in the hell is Osama Bin Laden, isn't he the dude that started this whole thing? How come he hasn't been captured? Is he alive or dead, and how come he hasn't released any weird videos, if he is alive?

[ndnndpendent]

An emboldened Hamas, a refreshed Al-Qaeda---gee thanks Israel. With friends like you, who needs enemies...

[cordillera]

and we pay billions a year for the privledge. of paying for the bombs that are killing children every day. of the dead today, an estimated 25% were kids. it is heart-breaking.

[rosal]

Its not "opportunity" but the natural consequences of some country's actions.

[messy]

Al qaeda doesn't really care about this whole thing. They want to take over the world.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-lurio/unsc-res-250-the-internat_b_155461.html

[Ronju01]

I'm afraid Israel's action may complicate Obama's Afgan plan. Taleban may have easier time to block Mountain Passes between Pakistan and Afganistan for supply trucks making it difficult for NATO troops to operate in Afganistan.

[MBW001]

Well what do you expect?
When 9-11 happened, Hamas and their supporters danced with joy on their rooftops. The unfortunate Palestinians are tragically paying a very high price because of the greater cause of radical Islamic fundamentalism.

This war is about Hamas, al-Qaeda, Hizbollah, Islamic Jihad, and Iran and their will to dominate the world. And when they say they want to obliterate Israel, eradicate the Jews, defeat Western civilization and send freedom to hell, you'd be well advised to take their threats seriously.

90%-95% OF ALL THE CONFLICTS ON THIS PLANET TODAY INVOLVE RADICAL MUSLIMS FIGHTING NON-MUSLIMS OR EACH OTHER!

[MikeDu]

You seem to forget after 9-11 Tehran held candlelight vigils for the victims. And Iran aided the U.S. in ousting the Taliban. Bush has squandered EVERY opportunity in the region to counter the culture of radicalism. The Palestinians know full well the Israeli boot on their neck was bought and payed for by America. The right wing whining (as usual) about U.S. being hated in the region is like the highschool bully wondering why he has so few friends.

[JZ735]

Also forgotten is that Iran has one of the largest populations of Jews outside of Israel

[D-la-G]

"This war is about Hamas, al-Qaeda, Hizbollah, Islamic Jihad, and Iran and their will to dominate the world."
I think you miss typed! You meant to say the USA/Europeans want to dominate the world and that 90-100 percent of the violence in the world since day one has been cuase by white men who are greedy and mad.

get it right son.

Peace and may all whites and all the rest be liberated from the maddddness.

[ObjectiveRealist]

Please stop parroting that disingenuous mistranslation. What Ahmadinejad has said is that he is eager for the current leadership of Israel to be relegated to the historical dustbin. When he makes such dramatic statements, he is generally also careful to describe those he criticizes as Zionist, not just Jewish or Israeli. His quarrel is not with Jews or Judaism, but with a condescending imperialist attitude similar to the neo-conservatives who have been discredited, and hopefully also relegated to the dustbin of history, here in the United States.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-sedaei/ahmadinejad-wants-mccain_b_126558.html?show_comment_id=16739206#comment_16739206

[KarlaElisa]

This war is about Israeli Terrorism.

[TrooAmerican]

I'm still wondering why no one has resorted to yet using Daisy cutters on every valley, mountainside, and hill in the mountains of Afgh and Pakis.

And as well the areas where the tunnels are that hamas uses. Collateral damage happens constantly in standard conventional attacks, and both the US and Israel constantly accidentally, mistakenly, or purposely kill hundreds if not thousands of civilians, innocent or not every year.
Why not just get it over with and Daisy Cutter it all, clean it up and establish new borders and security afterwards.

[Paul]

Israel says that their military action in Gaza will combat terrorism.

But it seems only to create more terrorism.

When will Israel realize this?

[ObjectiveRealist]

When the United States' obsequiousness toward Israel ends.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-dennis-kucinich/israel-may-be-in-violatio_b_155709.html

[lionsforlambs]

Agreed.

[JZ735]

Obama must put a stop to it, and fast...I fear, with Rahm Emanuel around and his clear allegiances to Israel, that this may not happen.

[vinny]

Here's a good overview of the politics involved with the salafist infiltration of gaza...

http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JL25Ak01.html