[antiwar-van] Al-Aqsa Martyrs going to Iraq

[Macdonald Stainsby]

[From the Arabic-language daily "Al-Majallah" (London) 27 February
2003, page 11]. English translation via "Eurasia-geopolitics"
http://www.egroups.com/group/eurasia-geopolitics  ]

Al-Aqsa Brigades Commander Says 'Hundreds' of Volunteers Heading for
Iraq

[Report by Mahmud Khalil: "Hundreds of Volunteers Head for Iraq" --
All quote marks as published]

Dubai -- It seems that the warnings issued two weeks ago by Iraqi
Vice President Taha Yasin Ramadan to the United States that its
interests will be the target of a series of suicide
operations "inside the Arab region and throughout the world, should
it attack Iraq" have found an echo among some Palestinian forces.

HAMAS leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin advised the Iraqis to resort
to "martyrdom" operations, while Brigadier Al-Haj Abu Ahmad,
commander in chief of the Al-Aqsa Brigades -- the military wing of
the Fatah movement, said that hundreds of Palestinian, Arab, and
Muslim "martyrdom-seeking" volunteers are awaiting -- in a location
which he refused to disclose -- the permission of Iraqi authorities
to head for Iraq.  He refused to reveal whether the operations that
these volunteers will carry out will target US interests abroad.

Al-Majallah contacted Brig. Gen. Abu-Ahmad and asked him:  Will the
volunteers target the US troops in Iraq?

   [Abu-Ahmad]  Yes, this will be the case should the US troops
attack Iraq and occupy Iraqi territory.  The "invading" troops will
be the target of "martyrdom" operations carried out by these
volunteers, and will be accompanied by an escalation in our
own "martyrdom" operations in the heart of the Israeli cities.

   [Al-Majallah]  What is the number of these volunteers, what are
their nationalities, and when will they go to Iraq?

   [Abu-Ahmad]  They number hundreds.  We have formed a special
brigade for them.  They are Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims from
various parts of the world and they are now awaiting the approval of
the Iraqi authorities to head for Iraq and stand by the side of their
Iraqi brothers.

   [Al-Majallah]  Where were these gathered and from where are they
being financed

   [Abu-Ahmad]  We have our plans which cannot be discussed in the
media.  The financing of these numbers is done through our own
sources, and does not require huge amounts, particularly in view of
the fact that the training that they are getting focuses on preparing
them to carry out acts of "martyrdom" whenever the orders are given.

   [Al-Majallah]  Have you held any official contacts wit the Iraqi
authorities about the volunteers?

   [Abu-Ahmad]  Thus far we have not held any contacts with the
Iraqis in this regard, and we are working toward being in the first
line to defend Iraq.

   [Al-Majallah]  Who will arm these volunteers?

   [Abu-Ahmad]  The same way this happens in Palestine.  We arm
ourselves through our own efforts and provide all the prerequisites
for the martyrdom operations.

   [Al-Majallah]  Will the suicide operations target US interests
abroad?

   [Abu-Ahmad]  This depends on the nature of the aggression and the
fighting.

   [Al-Majallah]  Some might say that Palestine has a greater need
than Iraq for these volunteers?

   [Abu-Ahmad]  Any war against Iraq is tantamount to a campaign
against our nation and is aimed at plundering its wealth and usurping
its rights.  With our volunteer "martyrdom" action we want to repel
the aggression on our nation and our Palestinian people after it
became evident that the United States wants the Israeli occupation of
our land to continue for the longest possible amount of time, and is
providing full political, military, and financial support for it.
Hence we are convinced that any new aggression on Iraq will be a
joint aggression between the Americans and the Israelis.

KOMINFORM
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-------------------------------------------
Macdonald Stainsby
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
--
In the contradiction lies the hope.
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