In an internet statement released today, Zarqawi"s Tawhid and Jihad group has stated that communications between themselves and Al Qaida have resumed
after an eight month halt. Upon resumption of communications, they have announced an agreement in philosophy and an alliance between the two groups,
stating that they would follow his orders. Zarqawi"s group had previously stated that they were not linked.
apnews.myway.com
The question of al-Zarqawi"s relationship to bin Laden and the al-Qaida leadership has been the subject of considerable speculation. Some experts
believed al-Zarqawi - who has claimed to be leading a bloody campaign of bombings against U.S. and Iraqi forces and beheadings of American hostages -
considered himself a rival to bin Laden.
The authenticity of the statement, found Sunday on an Islamic Web site, could not be independently confirmed.
The statement, which began with a Quranic verse encouraging Muslim unity, said the Jordanian al-Zarqawi, leader of the Tawhid and Jihad group, had
been in contact with bin Laden eight months ago and "viewpoints were exchanged" before the dialogue was interrupted.
"God has soon blessed us with a resumption in communication, and the dignified brothers in al-Qaida understood the strategy of Tawhid and Jihad,"
the statement said.
It announced the "allegiance of Tawhid and Jihad"s leadership and soldiers to the chief of all fighters, Osama bin Laden," declaring that it would
follow his orders without question.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Interestingly, in a statement made by a Zarqawi associate to the Arabic-language daily Al-Hayat, he claimed the Abu Musab Al Zarqawi's Tawhid and
Jihad group was not linked to Al Qaida. In the interview he stated that Zarqawi had his own plans for a larger conflict in the region.
Middle East Media Research Institute
With regard to the claims that Al-Zarqawi is affiliated with Al-Qa'ida, the source said: "I wish that he was an Al-Qa'ida representative in Iraq.
But the truth is that Al-Zarqawi has his own organization. He is not an Al-Qa'ida member and has no connection to Sheikh Osama [bin Laden]. They only
employ the same method.
"There is no organizational connection between them � on the contrary, many Arab youth have said that they will swear allegiance to Al-Zarqawi
provided that he swear allegiance to Sheikh Osama. They say that so far he has not sworn allegiance, and that he used to say: 'to this day I have not
sworn allegiance to Sheikh Osama and I am not acting in the framework of his organization�'"
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
The new alliance of Zarqawi"s Tawhid and Jihad group and Osama bin Laden"s Al Qaida may mark the beginning of a new and more dangerous phase in the
war on terrorism. Since the statement alludes to the agreement on strategy in their conduct of attacks on the coalition in Iraq, we may see an even
bloodier phase in the War on Terror as fought in Iraq.
Related News Links:
www.reuters.com
www.trackingterrorism.com
Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
www.abovetopsecret.com...
[edit on 10/17/2004 by phreak_of_nature]