Web Denies Death of al-Qaida Leader

[Bluebear]

CAIRO, Egypt - A message posted on an Islamic militant Web site Saturday denied that the leader of the al-Qaida cell in Saudi Arabia had been killed.

Abdulaziz al-Moqrin had purportedly overseen the kinapping of Paul M. Johnson, the American whose decapitated body was found on Friday in Riyadh. Saudi officials claimed al-Moqrin, the reputed leader of the group calling itself al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, was killed in a shootout after Johnson's body was found.

"Some satellite networks and news agencies have been propagating the false news that Abdel Aziz al-Moqrin, God preserve him, has been killed," the statement said. "We would like to say that such claims, unleashed by the tyrants of Saudi Arabia, are aimed at dissuading the holy warriors and crushing their spirits."
<>

A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity Friday had confirmed that 31-year-old al-Moqrin was dead. A Saudi official said forensic tests would be conducted on the body to confirm his identity.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040619/ap_on_re_mi_ea/saudi_qaida_leader&cid=540&ncid=716

[jobycom]

1. Wouldn't trust either side much here

Obviously, BushCo routinely declares people dead months before he captures them, or before the appear on TV.

But there is a long Muslim/Arabic tradition of disguising the death of Muslim leaders, especially in battle. The Mamluk dynasty in Egypt was founded when the previous caliph died during a battle, and his wife pulled a "weekend at Bernie's" so his troops would believe he was alive. His household slaves, the Mamluks, commanded the troops in the dead caliph's name, defeating the enemy, then finally revealing the ruse.

It's part of Islamic warrior lore, kind of like gunfights in our cowboy lore. More recently, the same stunt was pulled in Afghanistan around 9-11, when the Northern Alliance denied that al-Quieda had killed their leader.

So there is reason and precedent for either side to lie, here.

[pinniped]

2. Local news channel reported this and said they offered no evidence...

to back up their claim that he was still alive.

I say let's see the fcuking evidence that he is dead.

These so-called Al Qaeda cell leaders have more lives than a cat.

And some have even been known to regenerate legs!

[leftchick]

6. The Saudis will never offer up the proof he is really dead...

I remember how they "killed" four suspects in the Cole bombing before the US could interrogate them. Seems to me the Saudis and these Al-Q guys may have a relationship the US doesn't want to talk about.

[Dover]

9. Well, whose to say the U.S. or Saudi's have evidence? We take their

word for it, but never really see any evidence.

[daleo]

3. This could be interesting

Of course, even if he is dead, the CIA and media will resurrect him when it becomes necessary, like they did with that Zacouri (spelling?) character.

[oblivious]

4. Another "U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity"

And then we have "A Saudi official". Why are these people so afraid of giving their names?

[0rganism]

5. Which begs the question... If that isn't al-Moqrin on the slab, who is it?

Was he with Al Qaeda?
Was he really killed in a gunfight?
Does he have neighbors who saw it go down?
Does he have children now orphaned?

Things that make me go hmmm.

[Junkdrawer]

7. Harry Buttle. n/t

[pinniped]

8. yahoo! news now showing pics of the "alleged" Al Qaeda...

cell leader in Saudi Arabia.

Well, looks like someone got killed but who he really is we may never know.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20040619/ap_on_re_mi_ea/saudi_kidnapped_american

[leftchick]

11. here is a photo of a dead body from al-jazeera....

whoever it may be....http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/093D5749-FBF1-485B-8B73-039F86F3ECFE.htm

the server is awful busy right now so I can't post the pic directly. His photo is on their homepage though.

[Spazito]

10. Givien the amazing coincidence that he was supposedly shot...

just after the death of the American and they couldn't catch him BEFORE the death, I don't believe the Saudis. They could serve up any body and say it is this guy and who the hell would know the difference. No one is speaking on the record on this one which is interesting, why the secrecy?

[ElectroPrincess]

12. this is too weird ...

Agreed, seemingly *moments* after poor Mr. Johnson is decapitated, Saudi Arabia knows exactly who is at fault, and serves the killer up on a silver platter. "See see! We watch out for our American friends, we almost stopped them. Please dear Contractors do not leave our country?"

This is pathetic ... we really do need a Bagdad Bob to starkly remind the American people that we're constantly being lied to. :(