Yes, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades are supporting President George Bush on his visit to Israel and the West Bank. They will be in the forces protecting Mr. Bush. The force is listed as a terrorist organization by the US State Department. That’s a special kind of situation isn’t it, terrorists supporting George Bush? From that paragon of journalistic integrity, WorldNetDaily:

Bush is due in the region Jan. 9 as part of a follow-up to last month’s U.S.-led Israeli-Palestinian Annapolis summit.

During his trip, the American president is scheduled to hold talks with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem, and meet quickly with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

According to Israeli security officials coordinating deployments of forces with the PA for Bush’s Ramallah visit, members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah’s declared military wing, have been called upon by the PA to participate in the protection of Bush’s convoy and in securing the parameter during the meeting with Abbas.

The Brigades is listed as a terror organization by the U.S. State Department. The group took credit along with the Islamic Jihad terror organization for every suicide bombing in Israel between 2005 and 2006, and is responsible for thousands of shootings and rocket firings. Statistically, the Al Aqsa Brigades perpetuated more terrorism from the West Bank than Hamas, according to the Israeli Defense Forces.

Many Brigades members, including the group’s chiefs, serve openly in Fatah’s Force 17 presidential guard units and the Palestinian Preventative Security Services; thousands of Force 17 and Preventative officers are slated to secure Ramallah during Bush’s visit there.

A chief of the Al Aqsa Brigades in Ramallah who also serves as a senior officer in Force 17 confirmed to WND he has been tapped to participate in Bush’s security. The chief, who spoke on condition his name be withheld, said he is slated to patrol the road outside Abbas’ compound during the Palestinian leader’s meeting with Bush.

Sounds a bit strange to me that only WorldNetDaily (WND) has chosen to write about the irony of the world’s self-professed enemy of terrorism, George Bush, is himself being protected by Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades forces. I suppose I could write this off as wacky journalism by WND, as per their reputation for wacky journalism. Still. . . the whole thing is very, very odd, if true.