Terrorists rejoicing over new Baker report

A high level US commission's recommendations for an eventual withdrawal from Iraq and for dialogue with Iran and Syria proves "Islamic resistance" works and America will ultimately be defeated, according to senior terrorist leaders interviewed by WND.

The militants, from the largest Palestinian terror groups in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, welcomed the policies outlined by the Iraq Study Group, which they claim recognizes Islam is the "new giant of the world."

"The report proves that this is the era of Islam and of jihad," said Abu Ayman, a senior leader of Islamic Jihad in the northern West Bank town of Jenin.

The Islamic Jihad terror group is responsible for every suicide bombing in Israel during the past two years.

"(With the Iraq Study Group report), the Americans came to the conclusion that Islam is the new giant of the world and it would be clever to reduce hostilities with this giant. In the Koran the principle of the rotation is clear and according to this principle the end of the Americans and of all non-believers is getting closer," Abu Ayman said.

'Victory for Allah'

According to Abu Abdullah, a senior leader of Hamas' military wing, Baker's report is a victory for Islam brought about by "Allah and his angels."

"It is not just a simple victory. It is a great one. The big superpower of the world is defeated by a small group of mujahedeen (fighters). Did you see the mujahedeens' clothes and weapons in comparison to the huge individual military arsenal and supply that was carrying every American soldier?" exclaimed Abu Abdullah, who is considered one of the most important operational members of Hamas' Izz al-Din al-Qassam Martyrs Brigades, Hamas' declared "resistance" department.

"It is no doubt that Allah and his angels were fighting with them (insurgents) against the Americans. It is a sign to all those who keep saying that America, Israel and the West in general cannot be defeated on the ground so let us negotiate with them," Abu Abdullah said.

Abu Abdullah said following a withdrawal from Iraq, the US will be defeated on its own soil.

'Jihad will ultimately destroy Israel'

"America must understand that with anti-American governments in Latin America and with Islam growing and reinforcing, including in the US itself, the next step would be a total defeat on their (American) land, not a relative one like they are facing in Iraq," he said.

Abu Nasser, the second-in-command of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror group in the West Bank, called the Iraq Study Group report a "great victory" from which other jihadist organizations can learn.

"The Iraqi victory is a great message and lesson to the revolutionary and freedom movements in the world. Just to think that this resistance is led by hundreds of Sunni fighters who defeated hundreds of thousands of Americans, British and thousands of soldiers who belong to the puppet regime in Baghdad. What would be the situation if the Shiites will decide to join the resistance?" commented Abu Nasser.

The al-Aqsa leader said his group learned from the "Iraqi resistance" that jihad will ultimately destroy Israel.

The al-Aqsa Brigades is the military wing of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party.

"If Israel will not start negotiating its withdrawal we are ready to launch the new stage of the intifada," Abu Nasser said.

Expecting Iraq insurgents to help in struggle

Islamic Jihad's Abu Ayman said after the US "defeat" in Iraq is finalized, insurgents there should move to the West Bank and Gaza to help destroy Israel.

"We hope that after chasing the occupation from Iraq, these jihad efforts and experiences will be transferred to Palestine, and yes, I mean that we expect these fighters will come to Palestine as part of a big Islamic army."

Some terror leaders, though, were unsure whether the Baker report would actually be implemented. They claimed Israel controls US foreign policy and would ultimately block changes in American actions in the Middle East.

"The problem is that I think the political structure of the US and the role of the Zionists in the US turns impossible the possibility that this report would be implemented," said Abu Ayman.

Still the terror leader said the report shows insurgent actions are working.

"It is the dawn of the real Islam what we are seeing now, young people who are leaving everything in their countries and are coming to fight in Iraq," said Abu Ayman.