 On September 28, 2006, the alleged new leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Hamza Al-Muhajir, called on scientists to join the struggle in Iraq and produce unconventional weapons to be used against American forces in that country. [1]
What was said to be Al-Muhajir’s message was made through an audio recording posted on Islamic websites. The twenty minute audio message discussed a number of issues. In the message, the speaker described the casualties that al-Qaeda in Iraq has faced and stated that 4,000 foreign fighters have been “martyred.” The message also called upon al-Qaeda in Iraq supporters to kidnap “Byzantine Dogs” (thought to be a reference to Christians) for use as bargaining chips to secure the release of Sheikh Omar Abd al-Rahman, who is currently held in the United States for his involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. [2]
The final remarks of the speech called upon scientists, presumably Iraqi, to join the struggle in Iraq and develop unconventional weapons to be used on the battlefield. [3] The voice stated:
To people of distinguished skills and high levels of expertise of the sciences of
chemistry, physics, management, electronics, media, and all other specializations that require depth of knowledge, and particularly the nuclear scientists and explosives engineers, we call on you to tell you that we are in need of you…. The battlefield will accommodate your scientific aspirations…. The vast areas in the American camps will be the best test site for your unconventional bombs, of the so-called germ or dirty
variety. [4]
The leader called for a military campaign entitled “The Evident Victory” to “uproot the nonbelievers
and apostates and eliminate the remaining fortresses of the hypocrites.” [5]
This recent message regarding unconventional warfare demonstrates al-Qaeda’s continued interest in obtaining and using chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) weapons in its fight against the United States.
In a seemingly unrelated
development, on October 8, 2006, ten days after Al-Muhajir’s message, hundreds of Iraqi soldiers and police officers suddenly fell ill, while eating their evening meal at a base in the town of Numaniya, in central Iraq. [6] The victims, who were immediately hospitalized, complained of severe stomach cramps, difficulty breathing, and vomiting. [7] Initial reports speculated that the soldiers’ and police officers’ food had been poisoned with cyanide. [8] Other sources alleged that meat served to the victims, which was imported from Iran, might have been rotten. [9] Initially, ten people were reported to have died from the incident while 1,200 were reported
ill. [10] Follow-up reports, however, cited U.S. and Iraqi officials as denying the allegation that the incident had led to deaths and reporting that only 200 to 300 people had fallen ill. [11] The Iraqi Health Ministry commented that it believed the illnesses could have been caused by contaminated water. [12]
Although the source of the contamination remains unknown, what is known is that the
violent and almost immediate effect on the victims after eating has caused speculation that the incident was a deliberate act of poisoning. [13] Studies are underway to determine the cause of the contamination and if a criminal investigation is warranted. Several employees working in the kitchen of the military base were arrested in connection to
the incident. [14] Although this incident has no known ties with the recent threats of al-Qaeda in Iraq, a large scale poisoning of this nature would be consistent with al-Qaeda in Iraq’s goals.
Sammy Salama, Gina Cabrera-Farraj - Monterey Institute Center for Nonproliferation Studies
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 SOURCES AND NOTES
[1] “Abu-Hamzah al-Muhajir Statement Calls for Creation of ‘Dirty Bomb’ for Use against US Bases in Iraq,” Jihadist Websites, September 28, 2006, OSC document GMP20060928298001.
[2] “Mujahidin Shura Council Issues Abu-Hamzah al-Muhajir Audio Calling for Use of Dirty Bombs against US Bases in Iraq,” Jihadist Websites, September 28, 2006, OSC document GMP20060929637002.
[3] “Al-Qaeda in Iraq Calls for Biological Warfare Against US,” Times of Oman, September 29, 2006; “Za-eem qa’ida al-iraq yeda-u la-istikhdam qanabil qathra” [Leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq calls for the use of dirty bombs], al-Quds, October 4, 2006.
[4] See source in [2].
[5] See source in [2].
[6] Amit R. Paley, “Poisoning Suspected After Hundreds Fall Ill at Iraqi Post,” Washington Post, October 9, 2006, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100900078.html. [View Article]
[7] Ali al-Alaq, “Lehem min ma’ber Iran yusemem mi’at al-janud al-iraqi’een” [Meat brought over from Iran poisons hundreds of Iraqi soldiers], Azzaman, October 10, 2006.
[8] “UK-Based Arab Paper Editorial Views Al-Qaeda Leader Al-Muhajir’s Audiotape,” al-Quds al-Arabi, September 29, 2006, OSC document GMP20060929827003.
[9] See source in [7].
[10] “UK-Based Arab Paper Editorial Views Al-Qaeda Leader Al-Muhajir’s Audiotape,” al-Quds al-Arabi, September 29, 2006, OSC document GMP20060929827003.
[11] “Police Fall Ill in Central Iraq,” BBC News, October 9, 2006.
[12] Amit R. Paley, “Poisoning Suspected After Hundreds Fall Ill at Iraqi Post,” Washington Post, October 9, 2006.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Ibid.
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