AP: Angered By Iraq War, Bombers Driven to Suicide Attacks Say Friends

[Hissyspit]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBS05H56BE.html

Angered by Iraq War, Bombers Driven to Suicide Attacks, Say Friends
By Scheherezade Faramarzi
Associated Press Writer

LEEDS, England (AP) - Shahzad Tanweer, the 22-year-old son of a Pakistani-born affluent businessman, turned to Islam, the religion of his birth, a few years ago.

The transformation was gradual, but then his relentless reading of the Quran and daily prayers became almost an obsession, his friends told The Associated Press. He became withdrawn and increasingly angry over the war in Iraq, according to those who knew him best.

The U.S.-led war was what likely drove him to blow himself up on a subway train last week, said his friends.

- snip -

Maroof Latif, an unemployed Beeston resident, said he knew Khan since he was a child and believes if he took part in the terrorist bombings of the subways it was because of his anger over the war in Iraq and the U.S.-British occupation.

MORE AT LINK

[President Jesus]

1. What retards.

[truthisfreedom]

2. taking the fight over there so we don't have to fight them here.

right. like that would ever work.

hey bush, is someone typing up a shorthand version of this article with simple, gentle, soothing colored pictures so you can understand?

[Judi Lynn]

3. Britons linked to attacks pious as end neared

July 14, 2005, 12:56AM

Britons linked to attacks pious as end neared
People in Leeds say tensions are based on culture and economics, not religion
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
New York Times

LEEDS, ENGLAND - In the gritty, working-class suburbs of Leeds, Shahzad Tanweer, 22, was the fun-loving, rich kid of the neighborhood, the son of a savvy, Mercedes-driving shop owner.

Hasib Hussain, 18, who lived nearby, was the impressionable one, a charming young man who had been drifting into a reckless teenage life until religion set him straight.

And Mohamed Sadique Khan, 30, was the grown-up one, with a wife and a baby daughter at home. The three men used to work out together at the Hardy Street mosque in Beeston, the Leeds neighborhood that two of the suspects called home.
(snip)

In many ways, the two youngest suicide bombing suspects, Tanweer, 22, and Hussain, 18, were British to the core, shaped by their diverse, rough neighborhoods, where flashy cars, petty teenage battles and designer clothes jostle with the Muslim values of work, family and religion. But in the last year or two, friends said, they had noted a turn toward Muslim piety in each man.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3265552
(Free registration required)

[Pachamama]

4. But, but, but....I thought the War on Iraq was to make us safer?

:shrug:

Didn't Bush say we have to fight them "there" so we don't have to fight them here? :eyes:

Didn't Bush say we were safer under him? :eyes:

Haven't the Bush Supporters and GOP pundits said immediately after the bombings in London that those who try to connect the War in Iraq with these bombings is wrong? :eyes:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Who here in DU didn't know this?? Raise your hands... if you

didn't know that this was going to be the result of shrubby turning the defense of this country into a political tool.... raise your hands high....

[Barrett808]

6. London Bombers Were Angered by War in Iraq

London Bombers Were Angered by War in Iraq
By SCHEHEREZADE FARAMARZI, Associated Press Writer
Fri Jul 15, 5:32 AM ET

LEEDS, England - Shahzad Tanweer, the 22-year-old son of a Pakistani-born affluent businessman, turned to Islam, the religion of his birth, a few years ago. The transformation was gradual, but then his relentless reading of the Quran and daily prayers became almost an obsession, his friends told The Associated Press. He became withdrawn and increasingly angry over the war in Iraq, according to those who knew him best.

The U.S.-led war was what likely drove him to blow himself up on a subway train last week, said his friends.

"He was a Muslim and he had to fight for Islam. This is called jihad," or holy war, said Asif Iqbal, 20, who said he was Tanweer's childhood friend.

Another friend, Adnan Samir, 21, nodded in agreement.

"They're crying over 50 people while 100 people are dying every day in Iraq and Palestine," said Iqbal. "If they are indeed the ones who did it, it's because they believed it was right. They're in Heaven.

"Have you ever been inspired in life?" he asked.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050715/ap_on_re_eu/britain_suicide_bombers

[wtmusic]

7. No they weren't

They were crazy Muslims bent on turning the world into a caliphate.

[TahitiNut]

8. Well, that's a penetrating analysis.

:sarcasm:

[wtmusic]

10. Think I could get a job at CNN?

:P

[1932]

9. Where were these friends the first week of the story?

Are the "friends" the papers quote projecting their ownopinions?

Over the first few days of this story, the media reported dozens of quotes by "friends" who could't believe these guys did it, since they were so nice (and people interpreted that as the government getting the wrong people).

[Mari333]

11. Bush is Bin Ladens wet dream n/t