Is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi a terrorist?

**danzig** · January 23, 2006, 04:57 PM

Curious how many posters irregardless of US action in Iraq believe Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is a terrorist or is he something 'else'. Considering the actions attached to him to me he is nothing more then a terrorist so thats my 'vote'. If you dont believe he is a terrorist then why not?

**Sétanta** · January 23, 2006, 05:00 PM

i agree with you

he is a terrorist

**Erik** · January 23, 2006, 05:04 PM

He is a terrorist.
But he has NOTHING to do with Al-Qaida.

**bigfootedfred** · January 23, 2006, 05:10 PM

He cut off the head of a woman who did nothing but help iraqi's for most of her life.

Hes not a Resistance fighter.
Hes not a Terrorist.

Hes just pure trash, vermin, in need culling.

**danzig** · January 23, 2006, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by Erik

He is a terrorist.
But he has NOTHING to do with Al-Qaida.

Thats why I didnt mention AQ, while he claims he is associated with them whether he is or not is irrevelent to my reasons for posting this thread. What I want to judge here is the actions associated with him and whether they are in people's defination a 'terrorist' act or whether he is something bigger or 'noble'.

**Homi** · January 23, 2006, 05:18 PM

But he has NOTHING to do with Al-Qaida.

Funny how he goes around claiming to be leader of ''Al-Qaida in Iraq''

**danzig** · January 23, 2006, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Homi

Funny how he goes around claiming to be leader of ''Al-Qaida in Iraq''

Shrug I could claim to be the King of Florida too doesnt make me so. I think its clear he has ties to AQ members but his actions do go counter to the stated goals of Bin Laden and AQ so its either AQ is full of crap in their 'beliefs' or Zarwqawi doesnt get or understand the goal. Regardless that isnt the issue here again the focus is specifically on HIS actions and what he is.

**Siblesz** · January 23, 2006, 05:47 PM

Depends on your perspective on reality. To the mainstream of society's reasoning, he is clearly a terrorist. But objectively speaking, he is both a terrorist and a freedom fighter. He is a terrorist, by all sense of the word... but can he not be both a terrorist and a freedom fighter at the same time? I think so... again, it depends on what your individual morality and ideology is.

However, this is not to say that I believe he is both a terrorist and a freedom fighter. I believe he is a terrorist and solely a terrorist, but I'm trying to be a bit objective about the question asked. Touchy subject, and not enough people are willing to cross the line to look at it all from a far distance without resorting to prejudice.

**Erik** · January 23, 2006, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by Homi

Funny how he goes around claiming to be leader of ''Al-Qaida in Iraq''

The label "Al-Qaida in Iraq" was made up by westerners.
He just thinks it good publicity, so he copied the name from the media.
It's funny because this is also how the real Al-Qaida got it's name.

But "Al-Qaida in Iraq" has nothing to do with Bin Ladens "Al-Qaida".
Sorry Danzig, but he has NO ties to Al-Qaida.

**totalwar junkie** · January 23, 2006, 05:56 PM

Woops, accidentally voted for "No", meant to vote "Yes"

**meh_cd** · January 23, 2006, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Erik

The label "Al-Qaida in Iraq" was made up by westerners.
He just thinks it good publicity, so he copied the name from the media.
It's funny because this is also how the real Al-Qaida got it's name.

But "Al-Qaida in Iraq" has nothing to do with Bin Ladens "Al-Qaida".
Sorry Danzig, but he has NO ties to Al-Qaida.

Uh, the real Al-Qaieda got its name from Bin Laden. It is "the base". I thought it was the name for his earliest camp/estate in Afghanistan during the war with the Soviets...

Something like that anyway. According to a show on the History Channel. Yes the History Channel I know, shush.

**Major.Stupidity** · January 23, 2006, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Erik

He is a terrorist.
But he has NOTHING to do with Al-Qaida.

Erik, now you're going to have to explain how he has no connections to Al - Qaeda. Hasnt Zawahiri publicily backed zarqawi in his actions and helped foster his rise in the organization?

**Aristophanes** · January 23, 2006, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by Erik

He is a terrorist.
But he has NOTHING to do with Al-Qaida.

Except the part about him being 'Al-Qaeda in Iraq' and working with bin Laden[and Saddam] BEFORE the invasion.

Originally Posted by Siblesz

Depends on your perspective on reality. To the mainstream of society's reasoning, he is clearly a terrorist. But objectively speaking, he is both a terrorist and a freedom fighter. He is a terrorist, by all sense of the word... but can he not be both a terrorist and a freedom fighter at the same time? I think so... again, it depends on what your individual morality and ideology is.

However, this is not to say that I believe he is both a terrorist and a freedom fighter. I believe he is a terrorist and solely a terrorist, but I'm trying to be a bit objective about the question asked. Touchy subject, and not enough people are willing to cross the line to look at it all from a far distance without resorting to prejudice.

Ummm, it was my understanding that 'freedom fighters' fought for freedom? Which freedom would that be? This guy is fighting, as part of a minority lethal terrorist criminal gang, to impose a Salafi[fundamentalist] Sunnah Islamic Caliphate on the Middle East.[generally NOT interpeted as 'freedom' by anybody] This all ignores the fact that he is Sunnah and a Jordanian, while most Iraqis are NOT JORDANIAN and happen to be SHIA...oh, and the part about him considering Shi'a to be apostates and unbelievers. So yeah, clear-cut case of a freedom fighter.

I have merged your replies Aristophanes, please use the edit button instead of double posting-Valus

**Attalus** · January 23, 2006, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by Erik

He is a terrorist.
But he has NOTHING to do with Al-Qaida.

Except that the name of his network is 'Al-Qaa`idatu fii bilaadi r-raafidayn' or Al Qaeda-in-the-land-of-the-two-rivers' (Iraq) and he has an extensive background with Bin Laden and Zawahiri both.

Terrorists BTW use terrorism as a tactic.

Freedom Fighters (insurgents or resistance) use guerilla warfare. They target the occupying power. They use combat multipliers, like stand-off attacks and ambushes. Yes, collateral damage occurs, but they (civilians) are NEVER the target.

They do not cut the heads from innocents and distribute the videos to any receptive media organisation (who I believe are therefore accomplices and should be tried accordingly).

Al Zarkawi is a criminal. He is an abhorrent abomination in the eyes of his own god.

He will pay for his actions, one way or another, of that I am sure.

There is another old saying 'All soldiers are killers...though not all killers are soldiers'

**Francisco Montana** · January 26, 2006, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by Erik

He is a terrorist.
But he has NOTHING to do with Al-Qaida.

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi fought in Afganistan with Bin Laden during the late 1980s and attended several terror camps after the Soviet Union was driven out.

In addition, there have been documents found in Iraq that would contradict the claim that he has NOTHING to do with al Qaeda. In fact, one document shows he is pleading for alliance and offers his allegence.

Further evidence supports this assertion: "Zarqawi is believed to be a long time ally of Osama bin Laden, is now a high-ranking member of bin Laden's terrorist network Al Qaeda..."

As to avoid being accused of biased sources, that's a wikipedia exerpt (most here know I think wiki is slanted left).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Musab_al-Zarqawi