« Burqa Weird: A Perspective For The Rest Of Us. | Main | Interpol: UK's Anti-Terrorist Effort 'In The Wrong Century' »

July 9, 2007

Red On Red: 'Leader of al-Qaida front group in Iraq threatens war against Iran'

Topics: Iraq

In a "not sure whether to laugh or cry" scenario for the West, the leader of an al-Qaida umbrella group in Iraq is threatening to wage war against Iran unless it stops supporting Shi'ites in Iraq within two months.

Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, who leads the group Islamic State in Iraq, said his Sunni fighters have been preparing for four years to wage a battle against Shi'ite-dominated Iran.

"We are giving the Persians, and especially the rulers of Iran, a two-month period to end all kinds of support for the Iraqi Shi'ite government and to stop direct and indirect intervention ... otherwise a severe war is waiting for you," he said in the 50-minute audiotape released Sunday. The tape, which could not be independently verified, was posted on a Web site commonly used by insurgent groups.

Iraq's Shi'ite-led government is backed by the US but closely allied to Iran. The United States accuses Iran of arming and financing Shi'ite militias in Iraq - charges Teheran denies.

In the recording, al-Baghdadi also gave Sunnis and Arab countries doing business in Iran or with Iranians a two-month deadline to cease their ties.

You gotta love it when our enemies go after each other; regardless of who wins, it's a win-win for the U.S. Just pull our guys back and let the Islamists go after each other for a while. Maybe in the end, the Iraqis will figure out that the U.S. is their best chance to live in peace. On the more serious side, however, the threat emphasizes how close the Middle East is to all out conflict with multiple players, all very radical and a great threat to world peace.

Posted by Richard at July 9, 2007 9:08 AM

Articles Related to Iraq:

• Costs Of Illegal Aliens Approaching Cost Of War In Iraq - Apr 22, 2008
• Iraq Today: By The Numbers - Apr 08, 2008
• WSJ: 'The Petraeus Effect' - Apr 08, 2008
• Report: 'Saddam Transferred WMDs To Syria' - Apr 07, 2008
• Iraqi Christians: Exodus, Ethnic Cleansing and Identity Annihilation - Apr 07, 2008
• Defeatacrats And Surrender-Media Screwed Again - This Time By Sadr Surrender - Apr 07, 2008
• Al-Qaeda Terrorist Leader Arrested SW of Mosul By Iraqi Police; Name Witheld - Mar 29, 2008
• More WaPo Shameful Shrills For The Enemy - Mar 29, 2008
• Michael Yon On Iraq - Mar 28, 2008
• Obama Wrong On Al-Qaeda In Iraq And Iran Connection - Mar 19, 2008