The real future of al-Qaida, Part II: Gaza showdown?
Today continues my Los Angeles Daily News series into the future of al-Qaida, this time turning attention to the Gaza Strip:
"'Thanks to the support of Hamas, al-Qaida is entering Gaza.'
The statement earlier this month from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas — who has recently seen the light about the true nature of Hamas and been reborn as something resembling a real leader — came as little surprise. Not only has an al-Qaida presence in the lawless Strip been reported for some time, but the conditions are riper than ever for 'The Base' to find a cozy spot in Hamas-controlled Gaza.
...A revelation that Gaza is a terrorist breeding pit blows away Hamas' last comical gasp to convince its few remaining allies that it can be a force for regional leadership. The group quickly tried to distance itself from Ayman al-Zawahri's June 25 call for Muslims around the world to 'provide them (Hamas) with money, do your best to get it there, break the siege imposed on them by crusaders and Arab leader traitors. Facilitate weapons smuggling from neighboring countries.'
'We can support them by targeting the crusader and Zionist interest wherever we can,' added al-Zawahri, who had previously condemned Hamas for taking part in elections and thus supposedly kowtowing to Israelis. '...We must today support the mujahideen of Palestine, including the mujahideen of Hamas, despite all the mistakes of their government.'
Is this the kiss-and-make-up gesture that will launch a whole new front in the War on Terror? ..."
PART I: Extremism in Pakistan flourishes under Musharraf's containment policy
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