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Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Ten thousand bin Ladens? 

It is virtually impossible to evaluate claims that the Iraq war has caused thousands of people to volunteer to fight for al Qaeda in excess of those we have killed or captured. It does appear, though, that whatever its lavish manpower resources, al Qaeda still finds it necessary to coerce people into blowing themselves up:
A suicidal attacker, who was arrested before detonating himself at a Shiite mosque by the end of last week, said that he was forced to execute this mission after being kidnapped, beaten and drugged at the hands of insurgents.

The American military officials said that the examinations that he had undergone showed the validity of his claims.
Last Friday, in a confession televised on Al Iraqia TV station, Mohamed Ali, who stated that he was a Saudi national and appeared to be in his twenties, said that he was kidnapped and forced to accept the execution of this mission. He added that he managed to escape after a suicidal attacker exploded himself, murdering 12 worshippers on their way out of the mosque in Tuz Khormatu town last Friday. In his televised confession, Ali said that he did not want to explode himself in the mosque and was hoping to return to his country.

Ten thousand bin Ladens, or just a few bin Ladens and countless thousands of poor, ineffective bastards? It even makes you wonder which side is fighting this war with a "coalition of the bribed, the coerced, the bought and the extorted."

5 Comments:

By Blogger Catchy Pseudonym, at Wed Sep 21, 09:46:00 AM:

I think it's more realistic to think that Al Qaeda can find its share of more-than-willing "homicide" bombers as Fox News so retardedly puts it. The man's story might be true, but most seem to be nimrods who volunteer to wear the exploding sweater vests.  

By Anonymous Anonymous, at Wed Sep 21, 03:59:00 PM:

How would one know if they were mostly volunteers or not, CP? Why do you think it is more relaistic to think 'most' are volunteers?

It seems like a fair number of cases have been documented with the handcuffs to the steering wheel, the taped foot to the pedel, the remote detonation of the bomber's bombs.

Would you blow yourself up to save your spouse, your kids, your parents, your in-laws, your cousins, from being killed by madmen? Tough question.  

By Blogger Catchy Pseudonym, at Wed Sep 21, 04:12:00 PM:

It's mainly cases like the London bombings, 9/11, the Cole bombing that make me think that. Those guys all volunteered. I can't say the same about the daily car bombings in Iraq because those aren't as heavily investigated.

I admit, the fact that just one guy was forced to do it makes you wonder why did Al Qeada force him if they have a group of willing people (unless he was lying). But regardless, the big attacks seem to be done by volunteers.  

By Blogger honestpartisan, at Wed Sep 21, 08:15:00 PM:

This is an empirical question, to some extent, but the evidence I've seen does show that the invasion of Iraq has motivated a lot of people who wouldn't have done so previously to wreak damage on themselves or others in the name of jihad: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_07/006745.php  

By Anonymous Anonymous, at Thu Sep 22, 06:12:00 PM:

honestpartisan,

Are these the same motivated individuals who danced in the streets on 9/11? Never the less, 9-11 made '10,000 Todd Beamers'.

Lets Roll  

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