Al-Qaeda sniffs opportunity in Gaza

[subsuelo]

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.

Capitalizing on the Gaza unrest would be consistent with al-Qaeda's vision of reviving a caliphate to centralize Muslim resistance in its capacity as a non-state actor. The crucial issue is how long Hamas' estimated 25,000 fighters in Gaza can resist the Israelis.

There is a strong discourse on a possible al-Qaeda role in supporting Hamas, but given limited resources there is no likelihood of immediate action. However, there is a consensus that if Hamas succeeds in prolonging the war for at least a few more weeks, al-Qaeda would be able to weigh in.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KA07Ak01.html">Asia Times - read more

[NightWatcher]

1. since we are fighting al-Qaeda (who doesnt really exist, but was made up by the CIA) we should???

send troops to the region?
aid Israel in bombing Gaza?

??????????

[Recursion]

4. The irony is they're not fictional anymore

Bin Ladin commented on this in his 2004 video: they never called themselves "Al Qaeda" until the US handed them that brand. Now they just have to say it and they can get us to invade anywhere.

[Turbineguy]

2. Hamas would win the day.

Many thousands of ordinary Palestinians would die.

Another victory for Hamas.

[Recursion]

3. AQ probably wants to; I'd imagine Hamas will still be skeptical

The Palestinians have never bought into the "far enemy" Jihadism that Al Qaeda represents. There's also a pretty strong feeling of being sick of being poster boys for movements that don't send any aid.

Also, Hamas is thought to have Iranian ties; working with AQ would be the fastest way to see that support cut off.

[StudsT]

5. of course, the AQ boogie man will justify all kinds of carnage

i think that dog won't hunt, anymore...

StudsT

[bemildred]

6. Oh bullshit. nt

[azurnoir]

13. The most sensible answer to a post I've seen in a few hours

but when AQ gets pulled out the magic hat you know the PR situation is getting desperate, I seem to remember that one from Lebanon too.

[hvn_nbr_2]

7. We can look forward of 100s of new AQ Nbr. 2's being killed. nt

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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[madrchsod]

9. someone is supplying the money and materials for those rockets

i`m putting my money on the muslim brotherhood and some saudis.

[AntiFascist]

10. Preparing for the expected holy war....

anticipated by Fundamentalists on all sides.

[Vegasaurus]

11. But Hamas says everyone is starving

always money for weapons and rockets though.

[madrchsod]

12. the brotherhood and the saudis care less if the palestinians died

they`d some other excuse to kill the jews

[azurnoir]

14. So is did Hamas kick Iran to the curb or

was it the other way around?