Posted on 12/11/2005 11:47:27 AM PST by Valin
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Osama bin Laden's deputy, in a new tape that surfaced Sunday, urged all Muslims to take up arms and said their refusal to join the fight against "the Cross and Zionism" was a "malignant illness" that would only lead to the defeat of militant Islam. Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahri said the global Islamic community had "no hope for victory" until all Muslims signed on to the al-Qaida-led jihad. "As long as this malignant illness continues to survive within us, there is no hope for victory and there can only be more defeats, tragedies, disasters and betrayals," al-Zawahri said.
His fiery comments appeared in a 48 minute tape entitled Impediments to Jihad. The video portion of the tape was a still photo of a white-turbaned al-Zawahri with English subtitles running under it. The audio on the tape appeared to be his voice speaking Arabic. The tape was believed to have been made at about the same time as a Sept. 19 video attributed to al-Zawahri, according to Ben Venzke, chief executive of Intelcenter, a U.S. government contractor that obtained the tape.
It was impossible to immediately verify the authenticity of the tape. IntelCenter declined to say how it obtained the recording, citing confidentiality agreements with the U.S. government. But Venzke said it was produced by al-Sahab Media Production House, a purported al-Qaida media organization, and expanded on al-Zawahri's Sept. 19 message, which gave increased prominence to the Taliban. "This latest one even goes beyond that with al-Zawahri pledging allegiance to the Taliban," he said. "The whole thing is an address to Muslims, saying armed jihad and struggle is the only way and that they have to suffer to do it."
Al-Zawahri credits toppled Taliban leader Mullah Omar with leading a three-year campaign "against the Crusaders and apostates in Afghanistan" and purportedly taking control of "extensive parts of eastern and western Afghanistan." Mullah Omar is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, where Taliban forces continue to launch regular attacks, but do not control large swaths of territory.
U.S.-led forces toppled the hardline Taliban regime in late 2001 when it refused to turn over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and to stop providing a haven to the group after the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States. "When the Taliban and their helpers were forced to leave the cities and take to the mountains, the Islamic Emirate (of Afghanistan) did not fall nor did its troops fall into disarray, nor did its leadership fall apart," al-Zawahri said. "Instead, it began a fierce campaign of guerrilla warfare and martyrdom (suicide) operations."
The latest tape was also a rallying call to Muslims to attack Western interests everywhere to help stave off "defeat" for Islamic extremists. Al-Zawahri specifically cited as examples of militant activities the Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip, insurgent warfare against U.S. troops in Iraq and the Sept. 11 attacks by 19 plane hijackers. "The key to victory is in our hands, and in turn, the primary cause of defeat is in ourselves," it said.
Al-Zawahri also criticized the lack of support for al-Qaida-linked militants in Saudi Arabia, saying the mujahedeen had suffered "defeat" in Saudi authorities' a high-profile campaign against militants. "These idolatrous regimes achieve victory over us because each one of us wants to save his own skin and avoid harm for himself," al-Zawahri said on the tape. Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of bin Laden, has suffered multiple bombings and attacks since 2003 and has since waged a fierce crackdown against militants.
Al-Zawahri and bin Laden are believed to be hiding in the mountains along the Pakistani-Afghanistan border. Pakistani troops are co-operating with the United States in the search for the pair.
That's good. I going to go tear a page out of my koran.
Muslims are joining the jihad. On 15 Dec 26 million Muslims will join the jihad to defeat chaos in Iraq. They will form a government and their jihad will be successful. The islamists are an anachronism--their time is over.
"That's good. I'm going to go tear a page out of my koran."
You bet, time to celebrate the Dems losing the media battle! It is said that a man who refuses laughter
must dangle from the short hairs of the prophet! ( LOL)
Tip to Zawahri: time to also motivate Air America...they ain't
really doing all they can do to help your murderous -ss.
Don't forget proper toilette alignment for saluting Mecca.
He would have done better to invite the Left to join the Jihad. I'm sure many of them would sign up willingly. Stupid terrorist, he is ignoring an untapped market.
It's Bush's fault.
I guess we'll be in a race now to see which side gives up first.
Agreed. UBL and Zawahiri are most likely only moving seasonally or when other specific events call for it.
Unlike Zarqawi in Iraq whom is moving quite frequently (though not every 6 hours or such like some speculate).
"Throughout the NW Frontier (and South toward Baluchistan) Pashtun tribes are completely in control. A group of warlords who are autonomous from any centralized Gov't - Pakistan troops (Gov't troops) haven't controlled these areas in about for the last 70 years -"
Thanks for the reasoned explanation. That was what I hoped to learn.
So is Pakistan guilty of harboring terrorists: the Pashtun tribes and al Qaida remnants?
September 20, 2001 Bush clearly indicated we would not tolerate "harboring."
Another item. Pre-invasion of Afghanistan, we heard all about reading license plates from satellite photos, about heat giving away human locations.
Men who know that they are trapped like rats fight like trapped rats.
Murtha: "Hey, no fair! You guys can't surrender. We surrendered first!"
Yes and no - That is an extremely difficult (and at times frustrating) situation. In that the border regions of Pakistan have been autonomous from the the Pakistan Gov't for close to a century. Yet at the same time Pakistan doesn't want foreign soldiers on their "official" soil (in these border regions) hunting down al Qeade - (At least they don't want foreign soldiers "officially" hunting al Qeade on their soil).
Which means conducting operations with large numbers of forces becomes impossible.
Additionally conducting operations in this region is extremely difficult (especially without having official approval to do so). But even with official support from the Pakistan Gov't clearing these areas would be a very difficult task (one you could never do completely).
Another item. Pre-invasion of Afghanistan, we heard all about reading license plates from satellite photos, about heat giving away human locations.
Technology and eyes in the sky are wonderful....but they are often very overrated as well. Without going into further detail.
This sounds to me like a disinformation ploy, If it is, I hope it is successful in causing some muslims to decide against jihad if it appears to be a loosing cause.
I was not being sarcastic. There's a reason for him saying this.
1 To counter what the terrorists and those who provide aid and comfort to the terrorists are saying.
2 It's true
DevSix Wrote
"Throughout the NW Frontier (and South toward Baluchistan) Pashtun tribes are completely in control. A group of warlords who are autonomous from any centralized Gov't - Pakistan troops (Gov't troops) haven't controlled these areas in about for the last 70 years"
truth_seeker wrote
"So is Pakistan guilty of harboring terrorists: the Pashtun tribes and al Qaida remnants?"
No They are not, Islamabad has very little control over the Tribal areas. You can say some of the tribes are harboring Al Qaida, but not the national government. You look at a map and it says Pakistan on it with a really nice line drawn around it, the reality on the ground is completely different, it's not so much a country as a collection of tribes. Like much of the 3rd world.
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