Al-Qaeda-Linked Site Endorses John McCain

Says attack may be launched pre-election to scare voters towards McCain

Al-Qaeda supporters have taken to the Web to declare that an attack on Americans may be launched before the election in an effort to get John McCain elected.

Comments posted on al-Hesbah Web site said that the terrorist organization needs a leader like McCain in the White House who will keep U.S. forces in Iraq, which they profess to desire.

"This requires presence of an impetuous American leader such as McCain, who pledged to continue the war till the last American soldier," the message said. "Then, al-Aeda will have to support McCain in the coming elections so that he continues the failing march of his predecessor, Bush."

SITE Intelligence Group, based in Bethesda, Md., monitors the Web site and translated the message.

"If al-Aeda carries out a big operation against American interests," the message said, "this act will be support of McCain because it will push the Americans deliberately to vote for McCain so that he takes revenge for them against al-Aeda. Al-Aeda then will succeed in exhausting America till its last year in it."

The thinking seems to echo the strategy employed by the mujahideen -- with U.S. support -- in Afghanistan to drive out Soviet forces in the '80s.

The comments were attributed to Muhammad Haafid, who has no known affiliation with Al-Qaeda.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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