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Memo to McCain

And the snarking classes. Hamas Iraq accuses al-Qaeda in Iraq of ties to Iran, and gets specific. “The U.S. is our main enemy but a more dangerous enemy is Iran.” MEMRI: 

Salah Al-Din accused Al-Qaeda of being subservient to Iran, [claiming] that they had [extensive] evidence to that effect. He said: ‘We found Iranian [currency], toman, at an Al-Qaeda headquarters that we uncovered. We have also captured Iranian weapons, not to mention audio and video recordings containing announcements by Al-Qaeda fighters that they had received training in Iranian military camps and that Al-Qaeda wounded were being transported to Iran for medical treatment.’

Salah Al-Din claimed that Al-Qaeda’s real commander [in Iraq] was Abu Ayub Al-Masri, and that [Abu 'Omar] Al-Baghdadi [2] was an Iraqi figure to whom many [words and deeds] are attributed solely to create the impression that [Al-Qaeda is a genuinely] Iraqi organization. He said that [Abu Ayub] Al-Masri had been rescued from arrest by an Arab intelligence apparatus using a diplomatic vehicle belonging to the Iranian Embassy… Salah Al-Din explained that as of late, Al-Qaeda in Iraq had considerably diminished in size - so much so that today it can be said to constitute 15 percent of what it was a year ago, [and that therefore, even] if Al-Qaeda has begun launching suicide operations, these [operations] are not proof of its strength…’

[In conclusion,] Salah Al-Din stated, in the name of Hamas-Iraq: ‘The U.S. is our main enemy, but a more dangerous enemy is Iran. The U.S. wants [our] oil, and possibly it wants to establish military bases [on our soil], or to remain [in Iraq] for many years to come - while Iran wants to rule, [and] to eradicate and change [our] beliefs and ideas, [and] aspires to alter the demography of the Sunni regions, particularly Baghdad.

That’s very interesting about an Iran-AQ link.  McCain was getting razzed about that the other day. While al-Din’s thinking re Iran seems to be quite advanced, he’s a little behind the curve on the U.S. part.  The rest of the Sunnis have figured out that the best way to make the United States go away is to cool it.  If al-Din ever gets his head out of his hummus, he may figure out the U.S. could be helpful on that Iran issue, too. It doesn’t say so here, but I’m guessing al-Din isn’t crazy about Shiite Iraqis, either, and as long as Iran continues to be allowed to manipulate Shiites and arm Shiite militias, who could blame him?

Hamas Iraq is apparently a surge-generated splinter group off the 1920 Brigades that didn’t much like al Qaeda but didn’t like the hated Crusaders, either. More from Abu Aardvark and Arab links.  A quick read suggests that while Hamas Iraq and Hamas Gaza may share some ideology and strategy, the relationship is in name only. And given the liberal use Hamas Gaza makes of Iranian consulting and supply services, it’s a fair guess they’re not on the same page as Hamas Iraq re Shiite mullahs.

Whatever the relationship between Hamas franchises may be, as Reynolds notes, this could be a topic of discussion for Jimmy and the Hamas Gaza franchise when they meet in that freedom fighter haven, Syria.

About McCain, al-Qaeda in Iraq, and Iran, here’s NY Sun.

Hotair suggests flubs could be a problem. But maybe the old geezer’s onto something. Hotair dives into this latest development here.

There are flubs. About which, it appears, reasonable people can disagree. Then there’s policy. Obama: “Diplomatic surge” to Iran to help stabilize Iraq. Great idea. Let’s speak softly and whack them with a big stick.   

Welcome Instapundit, Hotair, etal.  Always good to see you. Come on in. Also playing in Damascus, it’s Ghaddafi and the Arab League: From the Mouths of Despots. Related, not so different, Stupid Question, Stupid Answer prompt Stupid Blog Posts. On the subject of Shiites and Iran, I wish Sadr would make up his mind. If not, maybe the U.S. and Iraq can make it up for him: Now You Sadr, Now You Don’t.

Topics: Iran, Iraq, al qaeda

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 7:54 am on Wednesday, April 9, 2008

9 Responses to “Memo to McCain”

1. Hot Air » Blog Archive » Hamas in Iraq: Iran funds al-Qaeda Says:
   April 9th, 2008 at 8:45 am

   [...] a connection between Iran and AQI, perhaps people will take better care not to roll their eyes. Jules Crittenden has [...]

2. Stubborn Facts Says:
   April 9th, 2008 at 9:53 am

   Thanks For That Reminder, Jimmy!

   Because we really do need to be reminded occasionally. Maybe Jimmeh is hoping that a Democratic administration will empower him to relive his earlier victories as an effective elder statesman, now that his military leadership is no longer in effect.

   …

3. Neocon News » More Petraeus Analysis and Al Qaeda/Iran Says:
   April 9th, 2008 at 10:27 am

   [...] Crittenden at Forward Movement passes along some info on Iran’s connections to Al Qaeda and the southern [...]

4. The Thunder Run Says:
   April 9th, 2008 at 11:24 am

   Web Reconnaissance for 04/09/2008

   A short recon of what�s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.

5. The enemy of my enemy is also my enemy « Internet Scofflaw Says:
   April 9th, 2008 at 12:56 pm

   [...] enemy of my enemy is also my enemy Hamas accuses al Qaeda of being too closely tied to Iran: We found Iranian [currency], toman, at an Al-Qaeda headquarters [...]

6. JM Hanes Says:
   April 9th, 2008 at 1:14 pm

   While the idea that Sunni & Shiite won’t cooperate on terrorism is an intellectual bubble that should have burst long ago, I wouldn’t necessarily take Hamas Iraq’s accusations at face value either. Every militant group needs a Great Satan; what’s really interesting here is that Iraqi eyes are apparently turning toward Iran in that regard. Unfortunately, the idea that the Shia in Iraq are all Persian proxies is another remarkably resilient bubble — the fact that Iraq could become a pivotal ally with a long reach inside Iran has apparently never occurred to the Dems on the Hill. Indeed, I can’t think of anything that could more effectively alter the current international stalemate on Iran than reversing that particular flow, can you?

7. ast Says:
   April 9th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

   I like that “Diplomatic Surge” to Iran idea, but do we HAVE 150,000

8. ast Says:
   April 9th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

   Ooops, that’s what happens when I type in the dark.

   I meant to say: Do we HAVE 150,000 diplomats to send to Iran? I’d settle for the whole State Department, but it probably won’t be enough.

9. The European News Network » Hamas Afraid Of al-Qaeda? Says:
   April 11th, 2008 at 12:51 am

   [...] And the snarking classes. Hamas-Iraq accuses al-Qaeda in Iraq of ties to Iran, and gets specific. “The U.S. is our main enemy but a more dangerous enemy is Iran.” Read More [...]

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