The Warning From Mourning Iraqi Al-Qaida

It has taken a few days now, but the warnings of reprisal attacks are just now being issued.

Unlike the day after the F-16 attack and subsequent death of al-Zarqawi, when NBC reporter, Mike Boettcher, claimed that a car bombing in central Baghdad was the first of the "reaction bombings", this warning came from Iraqi Al-Qaida posted at an Islamic militant Web forum where the group has posted statements before.

I am sure that the MSM was just getting out in front of the story ... let's give 'em a pass, after all, al-Zarqawi was just your average "Freedom Fighter", right?

Excerpts from AP via Yahoo! News -

Al-Zarqawi death prompts attack warning
By LEE KEATH, Associated Press Writer - 15 minutes ago

CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida in Iraq vowed Sunday to carry out "major attacks," insisting in a Web statement that it was still powerful after the death of leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

The statement did not name a successor to al-Zarqawi, who was killed by a U.S. airstrike Wednesday. But it said the group's leadership "renews its allegiance" to Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden "will see things that will bring joy to his heart," it said, vowing "to prepare major attacks that will shake the enemy like an earthquake and rattle them out of sleep."

The authenticity of the statement could not be independently confirmed. It was posted on an Islamic militant Web forum where the group has posted statements in the past.

The statement was issued in the name of al-Qaida in Iraq but was put out by the Mujahedeen Shura Council, an umbrella organization of five insurgent groups that al-Zarqawi helped create.
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The message left unknown the issue of who will succeed al-Zarqawi as the group's "emir," or leader.

Thursday's al-Qaida statement was signed by al-Zarqawi's deputy emir, Abu Abdul-Rahman al-Iraqi, and sympathizers quickly flooded Web forums with vows of allegiance to him.

But Sunday's message did not mention his name. There is confusion over whether he is still alive, after the U.S. military said a man named "Abdul-Rahman," whom it identified as al-Zarqawi's spiritual adviser, died in the airstrike alongside his leader.

The U.S. military has said the mostly likely successor is an Egyptian associate of al-Zarqawi named Abu Ayyub al-Masri, who has a $50,000 reward on his head.
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Hail Abu Ayyub al-Masri, may his rule and days be short in number!

What a slight though, a reward of $50,000 vs. $25,000,000 ... couldn't we just add a couple of more zeros for this ZERO? Oh, the shame of it all.

Soon, Abu Ayyub al-Masri go BOOM!

UPDATE June 12, 2006:

Excerpts from AP via Yahoo! News -

Militant chosen to succeed al-Zarqawi
By NADIA ABOU EL-MAGD, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 28 minutes ago

CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida in Iraq said in a Web statement posted Monday that a militant named Abu Hamza al-Muhajer was the group's new leader.
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"Al-Qaida in Iraq's council has agreed on Sheik Abu Hamza al-Muhajer to be the successor for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the leadership of the organization," said a statement signed by the group on an Islamic militant Web forum where it often posts messages.

It said al-Muhajer was "a beloved brother with jihadi (holy war) experience and a strong footing in knowledge."
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Okay then! Soon, Sheik Abu Hamza al-Muhajer go BOOM - too!