Ansar = al-Qaida

«Ansar al-Islam is Al Qaeda, and Al Qaeda is Ansar al-Islam.» Sjefen for de kurdiske sikkerhetsstyrkene i det nordøstlige Irak, Dana Ahmed Majed, slår dette kategorisk fast overfor avisen Boston Globes utsendte i Sulaymaniyah.

200 familier ble drevet på flukt av Ansar al-Islam fra landsbyen Goolp, der mulla Krekar hadde sitt hovedkvarter, ifølge en kurdisk kommandant.

«Under Ansar al-Islam, many Kurds who did not adhere to the group’s strict interpretation of Islamic law were allegedly detained for long periods of time, tortured, and warned they could be punished further by amputations and being stoned to death. Music and dancing were prohibited, as were televisions and satellite dishes. Majed said many of Ansar al-Islam’s recruits received training in Afghanistan, fought with the Taliban, and have sophisticated weapons that could come only from well-financed sources.»

Forbindelse til Saddam:
«Majed also said Ansar had links to Hussein’s regime, an allegation he added is buttressed by the group’s numerous crates of ammunition and access to high-quality food unavailable to local Kurds, whom Hussein’s regime attacked ruthlessly.»

«Instead of territorial control, Majed said, Ansar al-Islam now seems to be directing its efforts to terrorist activity best conducted by tight-knit cells of operatives. Any attempt to regroup in large numbers would be detected quickly and quashed by the peshmerga, he said.»