Al-Qaeda active in Iraq: Rumsfeld

[Barrett808]

SHANNON, Ireland (AFP) - The Islamic extremist group Al-Qaeda is "involved and active" in Iraq (news - web sites), where terrorist groups are trying to stir up trouble between ethnic and religious group, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said during a stopover in Ireland at the start of a foreign trip.

Rumsfeld, who told reporters on Sunday that he was headed for "Kuwait and a few other places," also greeted a group of US soldiers headed for Iraq, who were passing through Ireland's Shannon airport at the same time.

After warning that terrorist groups were trying to spark factional warfare between Iraq's ethnic and religious groups, Rumsfeld told reporters: "There is also no doubt in my mind that several things are happening.

"One is a coincidence of interests between terrorist networks plus former regime members plus some criminals. Second, some among them are clearly attempting to foment strife between various religious and ethnic groups. hoping that they will advantage themselves and disadvantage coalition forces."

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1503&ncid=1503&e=9&u=/afp/20040222/ts_afp/iraq_us_rumsfeld_040222112739

[Taeger]

1. Thanks to the war

It is clear and obvious that Saddam Hussein was actively hostile toward Osama Bin Laden. Saddam is not what we would call a "team player".

Bin Laden was a threat to Hussein's notion that HE ALONE led the Arab world.

Truly, Israel is the greatest force of peace in the Middle East. If it wasn't for Israel, these people would be killing each other in staggering numbers. Israel forces national cohesion for the sake of destroying Israel. Without that force, there would be nothing but tribalism in the middle east. If it wasn't for the fractional tribalism, and the regions general LOATHING for the Palestinian people, Israel would NEVER have gained a foothold there.

[Fridays Child]

2. The fact that AQ may be in Iraq, only because we've destroyed the...

... infrastructure of Iraqi society, is a critical point which the author failed to make. I gave the story a 1.

[bluedeminredstate]

3. Take a bow Rummy

You and your posse of fuckwits in the Pentagon did this.

[callous taoboy]

4. What is it, ASSHOLE:

Just a while back these folks weren't Al-Qaeda but "Dead-enders."

[truthisfreedom]

5. when you weaken any being, infection will take place quickly.

[xxqqqzme]

6. well no, rummy

# one on a list would B the wondeful job U & the rest of the rat bastards did in removing the obstacles wht they weren't therein the forst place. What an ass.

They really think we R all as stupid as the 'journalists' they're feeding points 2.

[Cocoa]

7. people are still listening to Rummy?

I'm surprised anyone even shows up at his press conferences anymore.

[Kool Kitty]

8. And as far as press conferences go, why

don't the reporters ask him about HIS Pentagon's report about climate change, instead of laughing at his attempts at humor.

[Malva Zebrina]

9. ya gotta keep up the propaganda

in order to make sure that the stupid people believe that this slaughter was justified.

I am sure Al Quaida is in Iraq now. They arrived when the bombing began by George Bush and it was easy to infiltrate over the borders then. There must be at least ten secret intelligence agencies by now in Iraq. It must be teeming with em.

[JoFerret]

10. Duh! Bring em on