I missed this yesterday, because I made myself scarce for the holiday and then after sundown, I had more lox in my belly than can be found on the entire Lower East Side (that's New York).
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's wing in Iraq on Thursday rejected as a fabrication a letter by a top group leader that was issued by U.S. officials and suggested deep internal rifts among militants.
According to the letter, released this week by U.S. intelligence officials, al Qaeda's second in command Ayman al-Zawahri urged the group's leader in Iraq to prepare for an Islamic government to take over when U.S. forces leave.
The letter warns Zarqawi the killing of Shi'ite civilians and hostages risked alienating Sunnis at a time when al Qaeda in Iraq should be seeking support for a religious state.
But Al Qaeda's wing in Iraq said the letter's release showed the "bankruptcy plaguing the infidels' camp."
"We in Al Qaeda Organization announce that there is no truth to these claims, which are only based on the imagination of the politicians of the Black (White) House and their slaves," the group said in a statement posted on an Islamist Web site.
Okay, so we're now clear on the concept, Abu. Get out there and kill more civilians! Pronto! And while we're on the subject, I haven't been noticing so many taped beheadings lately. What's going on over there? The home office is very concerned. Now get back to work.
In related news, more yeoman PR work by AQ in Iraq:
An office belonging to an Iraqi Sunni party which has dropped its opposition to the new constitution has come under attack in the capital, Baghdad.
A roadside bomb exploded outside the office of the Iraqi Islamic Party, causing no injuries, police said.
The attack came a day before Iraqis are due to vote on the charter, which is opposed by many Sunnis.
[...]
Iraqi army Maj Salman Abdul Yahid said the attack on the Islamic Party offices "was expected because of its new stand toward the referendum".
Alaa Makki, a senior party official, condemned the attack, saying the party would "use the political process to fight terrorism and promote stability in Iraq", the Associated Press news agency reported.
It's like the Keystone Kaliphs over there.
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