The risks of the al-Zarqawi myth-By Scott Ritter

[CHIMO]

For months now, the Bush administration had been building up the image of a massive network of foreign terrorists using Falluja as a base for their terror attacks against targets associated with the interim government of Iyad Allawi and the US military which backs him.

One name appeared in western media accounts, over and over again: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a wanted Jordanian turned alleged "terror" mastermind. Almost overnight, Zarqawi's terrorist group, al-Qaida Holy War for Iraq, expanded its operations across the width and breadth of Iraq.

Al-Zarqawi was everywhere, his bombers striking in Mosul, Baghdad, Samarra, Najaf, Baquba, Ramadi and Falluja. Islamist websites published accounts of al-Zarqawi's actions, and the western media, together with western intelligence services, ran with these stories, giving them credibility. The al-Zarqawi legend, if one can call it that, was born.

But the tragedy that is the war in Iraq is far from over, and it may very well be that it is al-Zarqawi and his followers, and not the Baathist Mukhabarat, who will have the last laugh. And, as always, it will be the people of Iraq who will pay the price.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9FA18AFB-F2C9-4678-8E6A-3595D91B83A1.htm

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

1. Yet again, we go to a foreign source

to hear opinions from credible sources that run contrary to the BFEE credo...Where is the U.S. media on this one?

Maybe Keith will pick up on it...

[clem_c_rock]

2. Sorry to say - I'm finding foreign sources far more accurate these days

Simple formula - whichever country who starts the war is also telling the most lies.

Compare the daily visit to CNN vs Al Jazeera.

Why do you think the Americans booted Al Jazeera out of Iraq?

Also, are you really going to sit hear and stick up for US media which, currently, is the worst sack of shit?

[Karenina]

3. Another bit...

"The problem is, there is simply no substance to this legend, as US marines are now finding out. Rather than extremist foreign fighters battling to the death, the marines are mostly finding local men from Falluja who are fighting to defend their city from what they view as an illegitimate occupier. The motivations of these fighters may well be anti-American, but they are Iraqi, not foreign, in origin.

There is, indeed, evidence of a foreign presence. But they were not the ones running the show in Falluja, or elsewhere for that matter. As a result, the US-led assault on Falluja may go down in history as the tipping point for the defeat of the US occupation of Iraq. The January 2005 elections are now very much in doubt, and anti-coalition violence has erupted throughout Iraq (including from sources claiming to be aligned with - no surprise - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi)."

[rodeodance]

4. Scott Rider is a good investigative journalist--the question is why would

aljazeera pick up his story.

[clem_c_rock]

7. Uh - because he's probably closer to the truth

And guess what country doesn't want you to know the truth?

I love the first target of this last Falluja excursion: A Hospital

Why? So the outside world won't know how many civilians are killed.

I'm sorry but, anyone who believes this Zarqawi shit needs to be sent to the front lines immediately and relieve a few our troops w/ their stupid presence.

[rodeodance]

5. "The risks of the al-Zarqawi myth" The question of whether or not

al-Zarqawi is as potent as the press seems to think--and write about has been a question for a long time.

The WH/military does not want to admit that, as the quote above claims--it is the local men fighting to defend their homes that are the critical mass--not foreign fighters coming into Iraq!!!!!

[rodeodance]

6. "Mukhabarat's disinformation effort."--right on!!

"According to these sources, the selection of al-Zarqawi as a front for these actions was almost too easy. The Bush administration's singling out of al-Zarqawi prior to the war, highlighted by Colin Powell's presentation to the Security Council in February 2003, made the Jordanian an ideal candidate to head the Mukhabarat's disinformation effort."

[Karenina]

8. Wasn't Al-Z ID'ed as

Nick Berg's beheader? Anyone remember how fast Christine Amapour's behind was whisked off the air for her comment that she didn't hear no Jordanian accent? How bout the various reports of his leg amputation and/or demise? Anybody EVER SEE A PICTURE OF THIS GUY??? Got links?

[tngledwebb]

9. Yes, supposedly he was Bergs beheader.

If you can download and bear watching the video, which isn't too difficult, up to a point, you will blurrily see a firm-footed A-Z, some very large, pale-skinned, well fed, and fidgety, as in AADD, terrorists, and a very lifeless Berg, BEFORE the bloodletting begans.

Al-Z is OBL is Emmanuel Goldstein is ...

[Karenina]

10. America is being subjected

to an outlandish Psy-Op...