TALIBAN commander warns that Saddam's hanging will only spur on extremists
By ONLINE REPORTER
December 30, 2006
A TOP commander of Afghanistan's Taliban has said the execution of Saddam Hussein would galvanise Muslim opposition to the United States.
Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, a former Taliban defence minister, said Saddam’s execution on the Islamic holy day of Eid al-Adha was a provocation.
Obaidullah said: "Saddam's hanging on the day of Eid is a challenge to Muslims.
"His death will boost the morale of Muslims. The jihad in Iraq will be intensified and attacks on invader forces will increase.
"Thousands of people will rise up with hatred for America."
Obaidullah also claimed George W. Bush and Tony Blair are fighting Muslims and that the Iraqi and Afghan presidents are simply puppets.
"Bush and Blair have launched a crusade against Muslims. Saddam was hanged because he was a Muslim, while slaves like Jalal Talabani in Iraq and Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan have been given power."
"Muslims should not expect any good from these people.
"Muslims should unite against the infidels, join the jihad and support the mujahideen because jihad has become an obligation for Muslims all over the world."
"God willing, both Afghanistan and Iraq will prove to be another Vietnam for America ... God willing, the invader forces in Afghanistan and Iraq will soon face defeat."
Afghan president Karzai has declined to comment on the execution, saying it was a matter for the government of Iraq and would have no impact on Afghanistan.
However, he too suggested the timing of the execution on the Eid holiday was wrong.
He said: "Eid is a day of happiness, a day of goodness, a day of reconciliation, not a day of revenge."