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NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 |
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Release Number: 04-02-36
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TEXT FROM INTERCEPTED LETTER WRITTEN BY SUSPECTED TERRORIST LEADER ABU MUS’AB AL-ZARQAWI
The following text is a reprint of a letter believed to be written by Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi. Al-Zarqawi, a suspected leader of terrorists in Iraq, is thought to be a key figure in the planning and execution of numerous terrorist acts against both Iraqi security forces and unarmed Iraqi civilians. The attacks have resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries.
The letter was intercepted by Coalition forces and first reported Feb.12.
1. THE FOREIGN MUJAHIDIN:
THEIR NUMBERS CONTINUE TO BE SMALL, COMPARED TO THE LARGE NATURE
OF THE EXPECTED BATTLE. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH GOOD GROUPS
AND JIHAD IS CONTINUING, DESPITE THE NEGATIVE RUMORS. WHAT IS
PREVENTING US FROM MAKING A GENERAL CALL TO ARMS IS THE FACT THAT
THE COUNTRY OF IRAQ HAS NO MOUNTAINS IN WHICH TO SEEK REFUGE, OR
FOREST IN WHICH TO HIDE. OUR PRESENCE IS APPARENT AND OUR
MOVEMENT IS OUT IN THE OPEN. EYES ARE EVERYWHERE. THE ENEMY IS
BEFORE US AND THE SEA IS BEHIND US. MANY IRAQIS WOULD HONOR YOU
AS A GUEST AND GIVE YOU REFUGE, FOR YOU ARE A MUSLIM BROTHER;
HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO MAKE THEIR HOMES A BASE FOR
OPERATIONS OR A SAFE HOUSE. PEOPLE WHO WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO SUCH
THINGS ARE VERY RARE, RARER THAN RED SULFUR. THEREFORE, IT HAS
BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO LODGE AND KEEP SAFE A NUMBER OF
BROTHERS, AND ALSO TRAIN NEW RECRUITS. PRAISED BE TO ALLAH,
HOWEVER, WITH RELENTLESS EFFORT AND SEARCHING WE HAVE ACQUIRED
SOME PLACES AND THEIR NUMBERS ARE INCREASING, TO BECOME BASE
POINTS FOR THE BROTHERS WHO WILL SPARK WAR AND BRING THE PEOPLE OF
THIS COUNTRY INTO A REAL BATTLE WITH GOD'S WILL.
2. THE PRESENT AND FUTURE:
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT AMERICAN LOSSES WERE SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE
THEY ARE SPREAD THIN AMONGST THE PEOPLE AND BECAUSE IT IS EASY TO
GET WEAPONS. THIS IS A FACT THAT MAKES THEM EASY TARGETS,
ATTRACTIVE FOR THE BELIEVERS. AMERICA, HOWEVER, HAS NO INTENTION
OF LEAVING, NO MATTER HOW MANY WOUNDED NOR HOW BLOODY IT BECOMES.
IT IS LOOKING TO A NEAR FUTURE, WHEN IT WILL REMAIN SAFE IN ITS
BASES, WHILE HANDING OVER CONTROL OF IRAQ TO A BASTARD GOVERNMENT
WITH AN ARMY AND POLICE FORCE THAT WILL BRING BACK THE TIME OF
((SADDAM)) HUSAYN AND HIS COHORTS. (HEADQUARTERS COMMENT: IT IS
NOT CLEAR TO WHOM "IT" IS REFERRING, BUT IT APPEARS TO MEAN THE
UNITED STATES.) THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT OUR FIELD OF MOVEMENT IS
SHRINKING AND THE GRIP AROUND THE THROAT OF THE MUJAHIDIN HAS
BEGUN TO TIGHTEN. WITH THE SPREAD OF THE ARMY AND POLICE, OUR
FUTURE IS BECOMING FRIGHTENING.
3. SO WHERE ARE WE?
DESPITE FEW SUPPORTERS, LACK OF FRIENDS, AND TOUGH TIMES, GOD HAS
BLESSED US WITH VICTORIES AGAINST THE ENEMY. WE WERE INVOLVED IN
ALL THE MARTYRDOM OPERATIONS--IN TERMS OF OVERSEEING, PREPARING,
AND PLANNING--THAT TOOK PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY EXCEPT FOR THE
OPERATIONS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE NORTH. PRAISED BE TO ALLAH, I
HAVE COMPLETED 25 OF THESE OPERATIONS, SOME OF THEM AGAINST THE
SHI'A AND THEIR LEADERS, THE AMERICANS AND THEIR MILITARY, THE
POLICE, THE MILITARY, AND THE COALITION FORCES. THERE WILL BE
MORE IN THE FUTURE, GOD WILLING. WE DID NOT WANT TO PUBLICLY
CLAIM THESE OPERATIONS UNTIL WE BECOME MORE POWERFUL AND WERE
READY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES. WE NEED TO SHOW UP STRONG AND AVOID
GETTING HURT, NOW THAT WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES AND TAKEN
IMPORTANT STEPS FORWARD. AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE DECISIVE MOMENT,
WE FEEL THAT OUR ENTITY IS SPREADING WITHIN THE SECURITY VOID
EXISTING IN IRAQ, SOMETHING THAT WILL ALLOW US TO SECURE BASES ON
THE GROUND, THESE BASES THAT WILL BE THE JUMP START OF A SERIOUS
REVIVAL, GOD WILLING.
4. PLAN OF ACTION:
AFTER MUCH INQUIRY AND DISCUSSION, WE HAVE NARROWED OUR ENEMY TO
FOUR GROUPS:
A. AMERICANS
AS YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE BIGGEST COWARDS THAT GOD HAS CREATED
AND THE EASIEST TARGET. AND WE ASK GOD TO ALLOW US TO KILL, AND
DETAIN THEM, SO THAT WE CAN EXCHANGE THEM WITH OUR ARRESTED
SHAYKHS AND BROTHERS.
B. KURDS
THESE ARE A PAIN AND A THORN, AND IT IS NOT TIME YET TO DEAL WITH
THEM. THEY ARE LAST ON OUR LIST, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE TRYING TO GET
TO SOME OF THEIR LEADERS. GOD WILLING.
C. THE IRAQI TROOPS, POLICE, AND AGENTS
THESE ARE THE EYES, EARS, AND HAND OF THE OCCUPIER. WITH GOD'S
PERMISSION, WE ARE DETERMINED TO TARGET THEM WITH FORCE IN THE
NEAR FUTURE, BEFORE THEIR POWER STRENGTHENS.
D. THE SHI'A
IN OUR OPINION, THESE ARE THE KEY TO CHANGE. TARGETING AND
STRIKING THEIR RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, AND MILITARY SYMBOLS, WILL
MAKE THEM SHOW THEIR RAGE AGAINST THE SUNNIS AND BEAR THEIR INNER
VENGEANCE. IF WE SUCCEED IN DRAGGING THEM INTO A SECTARIAN WAR,
THIS WILL AWAKEN THE SLEEPY SUNNIS WHO ARE FEARFUL OF DESTRUCTION
AND DEATH AT THE HANDS OF THESE SABEANS, I.E., THE SHI'A. DESPITE
THEIR WEAKNESS, THE SUNNIS ARE STRONG-WILLED AND HONEST AND
DIFFERENT FROM THE COWARD AND DECEITFUL SHI'A, WHO ONLY ATTACK THE
WEAK. MOST OF THE SUNNIS ARE AWARE OF THE DANGER OF THESE PEOPLE
AND THEY FEAR THEM. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THOSE DISAPPOINTING
SHAYKHS, SUFIS, AND MUSLIM BROTHERS, SUNNIS WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT
ATTITUDE.
5. WAY OF ACTION
AS WE HAVE MENTIONED TO YOU, OUR SITUATION DEMANDS THAT WE TREAT
THE ISSUE WITH COURAGE AND CLARITY. SO THE SOLUTION, AND GOD ONLY
KNOWS, IS THAT WE NEED TO BRING THE SHI'A INTO THE BATTLE BECAUSE
IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROLONG THE DURATION OF THE FIGHT BETWEEN
THE INFIDELS AND US. WE NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE:
A. THE SHI'A HAVE DECLARED A SUBTLE WAR AGAINST ISLAM. THEY
ARE THE CLOSE, DANGEROUS ENEMY OF THE SUNNIS. EVEN IF THE
AMERICANS ARE ALSO AN ARCHENEMY, THE SHI'A ARE A GREATER DANGER
AND THEIR HARM MORE DESTRUCTIVE TO THE NATION THAN THAT OF THE
AMERICANS WHO ARE ANYWAY THE ORIGINAL ENEMY BY CONSENSUS.
B. THEY HAVE SUPPORTED THE AMERICANS, HELPED THEM, AND STAND
WITH THEM AGAINST THE MUJAHIDIN. THEY WORK AND CONTINUE TO WORK
TOWARDS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MUJAHIDIN.
C. FIGHTING THE SHI'A IS THE WAY TO TAKE THE NATION TO
BATTLE. THE SHI'A HAVE TAKEN ON THE DRESS OF THE ARMY, POLICE,
AND THE IRAQI SECURITY FORCES, AND HAVE RAISED THE BANNER OF
PROTECTING THE NATION, AND THE CITIZENS. UNDER THIS BANNER, THEY
HAVE BEGUN TO ASSASSINATE THE SUNNIS UNDER THE PRETENSE THAT THEY
ARE SABOTEURS, VESTIGES OF THE BA'TH, OR TERRORISTS WHO SPREAD
PERVERSION IN THE COUNTRY. THIS IS BEING DONE WITH STRONG MEDIA
SUPPORT DIRECTED BY THE GOVERNING COUNCIL AND THE AMERICANS, AND
THEY HAVE SUCCEEDED IN SPLITTING THE REGULAR SUNNI FROM THE
MUJAHIDIN. FOR EXAMPLE, IN WHAT THEY CALL THE SUNNI TRIANGLE, THE
ARMY AND POLICE ARE SPREADING OUT IN THESE REGIONS, PUTTING IN
CHARGE SUNNIS FROM THE SAME REGION. THEREFORE, THE PROBLEM IS YOU
END UP HAVING AN ARMY AND POLICE CONNECTED BY LINEAGE, BLOOD, AND
APPEARANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION. THIS REGION IS OUR BASE
OF OPERATIONS FROM WHERE WE DEPART AND TO WHERE WE RETURN. WHEN
THE AMERICANS WITHDRAW, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED DOING THAT,
THEY GET REPLACED BY THESE AGENTS WHO ARE INTIMATELY LINKED TO THE
PEOPLE OF THIS REGION. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO US, IF WE FIGHT THEM,
AND WE HAVE TO FIGHT THEM, IS ONE OF ONLY TWO CHOICES:
1) IF WE FIGHT THEM, THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE
WILL BE A SCHISM BETWEEN US AND THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION. HOW CAN
WE KILL THEIR COUSINS AND SONS AND UNDER WHAT PRETEXT, AFTER THE
AMERICANS START WITHDRAWING? THE AMERICANS WILL CONTINUE TO
CONTROL FROM THEIR BASES, BUT THE SONS OF THIS LAND WILL BE THE
AUTHORITY. THIS IS THE DEMOCRACY, WE WILL HAVE NO PRETEXT.
2) WE CAN PACK UP AND LEAVE AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER LAND,
JUST LIKE IT HAS HAPPENED IN SO MANY LANDS OF JIHAD. OUR ENEMY IS
GROWING STRONGER DAY AFTER DAY, AND ITS INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION
INCREASES. BY GOD, THIS IS SUFFOCATION! WE WILL BE ON THE ROADS
AGAIN. PEOPLE FOLLOW THEIR LEADERS, THEIR HEARTS MAY BE WITH YOU,
BUT THEIR SWORDS ARE WITH THEIR KINGS. SO I SAY AGAIN, THE ONLY
SOLUTION IS TO STRIKE THE RELIGIOUS, MILITARY, AND OTHER CADRES OF
THE SHI'A SO THAT THEY REVOLT AGAINST THE SUNNIS. SOME PEOPLE
WILL SAY, THAT THIS WILL BE A RECKLESS AND IRRESPONSIBLE ACTION
THAT WILL BRING THE ISLAMIC NATION TO A BATTLE FOR WHICH THE
ISLAMIC NATION IS UNPREPARED. SOULS WILL PERISH AND BLOOD WILL BE
SPILLED. THIS IS, HOWEVER, EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT, AS THERE IS
NOTHING TO WIN OR LOSE IN OUR SITUATION. THE SHI'A DESTROYED THE
BALANCE, AND THE RELIGION OF GOD IS WORTH MORE THAN LIVES. UNTIL
THE MAJORITY STANDS UP FOR THE TRUTH, WE HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES
FOR THIS RELIGION, AND BLOOD HAS TO BE SPILLED. FOR THOSE WHO ARE
GOOD, WE WILL SPEED UP THEIR TRIP TO PARADISE, AND THE OTHERS, WE
WILL GET RID OF THEM. BY GOD, THE RELIGION OF GOD IS MORE
PRECIOUS THAN ANYTHING ELSE. WE HAVE MANY ROUNDS, ATTACKS, AND
BLACK NIGHTS WITH THE SHI'A, AND WE CANNOT DELAY THIS. THEIR
MENACE IS LOOMING AND THIS IS A FACT THAT WE SHOULD NOT FEAR,
BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST COWARDLY PEOPLE GOD HAS CREATED.
KILLING THEIR LEADERS WILL WEAKEN THEM AND WITH THE DEATH OF THE
HEAD, THE WHOLE GROUP DIES. THEY ARE NOT LIKE THE SUNNIS. IF YOU
KNEW THE FEAR IN THE SOULS OF THE SUNNIS AND THEIR PEOPLE, YOU
WOULD WEEP IN SADNESS. HOW MANY OF THE MOSQUES HAVE THEY HAVE
TURNED IN TO SHI'A MOSQUES ("HUSAYNIYAS")? HOW MANY HOUSES THEY
HAVE DESTROYED WITH THEIR OWNERS INSIDE? HOW MANY BROTHERS HAVE
THEY KILLED? HOW MANY SISTERS HAVE BEEN RAPED AT THE HANDS OF
THOSE VILE INFIDELS? IF WE ARE ABLE TO DEAL THEM BLOW AFTER
PAINFUL BLOW SO THAT THEY ENGAGE IN A BATTLE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO
RESHUFFLE THE CARDS SO THERE WILL REMAIN NO VALUE OR INFLUENCE FOR
THE RULING COUNCIL, OR EVEN FOR THE AMERICANS WHO WILL ENTER INTO
A SECOND BATTLE WITH THE SHI'A. THIS IS WHAT WE WANT. THEN, THE
SUNNI WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SUPPORT US IN MANY OF THE SUNNI
REGIONS. WHEN THE MUJAHIDIN WOULD HAVE SECURED A LAND THEY CAN
USE AS A BASE TO HIT THE SHI'A INSIDE THEIR OWN LANDS, WITH A
DIRECTED MEDIA AND A STRATEGIC ACTION, THERE WILL BE A
CONTINUATION BETWEEN THE MUJAHIDIN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF IRAQ.
WE ARE RACING AGAINST TIME, IN ORDER TO CREATE SQUADS OF MUJAHIDIN
WHO SEEK REFUGE IN SECURE PLACES, SPY ON NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WORK
ON HUNTING DOWN THE ENEMIES. THE ENEMIES ARE THE AMERICANS,
POLICE, AND ARMY. WE HAVE BEEN TRAINING THESE PEOPLE AND
AUGMENTING THEIR NUMBERS. AS FAR AS THE SHI'A, WE WILL UNDERTAKE
SUICIDE OPERATIONS AND USE CAR BOMBS TO HARM THEM. WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON MONITORING THE AREA AND CHOOSING THE RIGHT PEOPLE,
LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON THE STRAIGHT PATH, SO WE CAN
COOPERATE WITH THEM. WE HOPE THAT WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS, AND
PERHAPS WE WILL SOON DECIDE TO GO PUBLIC--EVEN IF GRADUALLY--TO
DISPLAY OURSELVES IN FULL VIEW. WE HAVE BEEN HIDING FOR A LONG
TIME, AND NOW WE ARE SERIOUSLY WORKING ON PREPARING A MEDIA OUTLET
TO REVEAL THE TRUTH, ENFLAME ZEAL, AND BECOME AN OUTLET FOR JIHAD
IN WHICH THE SWORD AND THE PEN CAN TURN INTO ONE. ALONG WITH
THIS, WE STRIVE TO ILLUMINATE THE HINDERING ERRORS OF ISLAMIC LAW
AND THE CLARIFICATIONS OF ISLAMIC LEGAL PRECEPTS BY WAY OF TAPES,
LESSONS, AND COURSES WHICH PEOPLE WILL COME TO UNDERSTAND.
THE SUGGESTED TIME FOR EXECUTION: WE ARE HOPING THAT WE WILL SOON
START WORKING ON CREATING SQUADS AND BRIGADES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO
HAVE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE. WE HAVE TO GET TO THE ZERO-HOUR IN
ORDER TO OPENLY BEGIN CONTROLLING THE LAND BY NIGHT AND AFTER THAT
BY DAY, GOD WILLING. THE ZERO-HOUR NEEDS TO BE AT LEAST FOUR
MONTHS BEFORE THE NEW GOVERNMENT GETS IN PLACE. AS WE SEE WE ARE
RACING TIME, AND IF WE SUCCEED, WHICH WE ARE HOPING, WE WILL TURN
THE TABLES ON THEM AND THWART THEIR PLAN. IF, GOD FORBID, THE
GOVERNMENT IS SUCCESSFUL AND TAKES CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY, WE JUST
HAVE TO PACK UP AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AGAIN, WHERE WE CAN RAISE
THE FLAG AGAIN OR DIE, IF GOD CHOOSES US.
6. WHAT ABOUT YOU?
YOU, NOBLE BROTHERS, LEADERS OF JIHAD, WE DO NOT CONSIDER
OURSELVES THOSE WHO WOULD COMPETE AGAINST YOU, NOR WOULD WE EVER
AIM TO ACHIEVE GLORY FOR OURSELVES LIKE YOU DID. THE ONLY THING
WE WANT IS TO BE THE HEAD OF THE SPEAR, ASSISTING AND PROVIDING A
BRIDGE OVER WHICH THE MUSLIM NATION CAN CROSS TO PROMISED VICTORY
AND A BETTER TOMORROW.
AS WE HAVE EXPLAINED, THIS IS OUR BELIEF. SO IF YOU AGREE WITH IT
AND ARE CONVINCED OF THE IDEA OF KILLING THE PERVERSE SECTS, WE
STAND READY AS AN ARMY FOR YOU, TO WORK UNDER YOUR GUIDANCE AND
YIELD TO YOUR COMMAND. INDEED, WE OPENLY AND PUBLICLY SWEAR
ALLEGIANCE TO YOU BY USING THE MEDIA, IN ORDER TO EXASPERATE THE
INFIDELS AND CONFIRM TO THE ADHERENTS OF FAITH THAT ONE DAY, THE
BELIEVERS WILL REVEL IN GOD'S VICTORY. IF YOU THINK OTHERWISE, WE
WILL REMAIN BROTHERS, AND DISAGREEMENT WILL NOT DESTROY OUR
COOPERATION AND UNDERMINE OUR WORKING TOGETHER FOR WHAT IS BEST.
WE SUPPORT JIHAD AND WAIT FOR YOUR RESPONSE. MAY GOD KEEP FOR YOU
THE KEYS OF GOODNESS AND PRESERVE ISLAM AND HIS PEOPLE. AMEN,
AMEN.