Al Qaeda divides its support again, wants to join with Hamas

Global bookmakers could make a lot of money taking bets on which side Al Qaeda will take in any conflict in the Middle East. In Iraq, they sided with the Sunnis against the Shi’a. Now, they’ve decided to side with Hamas in preference to Fatah.

Exactly what this is intended to prove, and to whom, is anyone’s guess. It is in line with Al Qaeda’s ongoing attacks on moderate Arab leaders, though, and those which maintain good relations of whatever cosmetic sort with the West. One of the main items on the Al Qaeda wish list is to overthrow those governments. Egypt and Saudi Arabia in particular have had long term problems with militants, and Saudi Arabia has had serious problems with Al Qaeda. If Al Qaeda were to operate from Gaza, it would pose a real danger to Israel and Egypt. It’d be like a second Sunni Triangle, in that region. The existing lousy situations could only get worse. Hamas historically hasn’t been too interested in Al Qaeda. That may be about to change, with a quite dramatic twist. Hamas has “warned” Arab nations against any intervention in Gaza. If this is a threat, it could only mean that Hamas is prepared to operate against them. That wouldn’t be a minor problem, because Hamas is one of the best connected groups in the Middle East. Al Qaeda has again somehow managed to turn a two-sided war into a multiple-sided war. It’s an unusual talent. It may well destroy any possibility of peace for anyone in the Middle East.