Al-Qaida leader calls US soldiers 'cowards'

The Howard Dean News Network ^ | Friday 19 December 2003, 23:03

[Kaslin]

Al-Qaida number two Ayman al-Zawahri has called American soldiers cowards "with no faith in their leaders".

In an audio tape broadcast on Aljazeera TV on Friday, al-Zawahri said al-Qaida is pursuing Americans everywhere, but especially "in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Palestine and in the Arab peninsula".

The tape, which has yet to be verified for authenticity, is said to have been made in November during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

It marks the second anniversary of the battle of Tora Bora, when US-led forces in Afghanistan sought to wipe out al-Qaida chief Usama bin Laden and other leaders of the group.

"Two years after Tora Bora... we continue to pursue the Americans everywhere," the voice said. "The Americans have become weaker in Iraq. Their soldiers are cowards because they have no faith in their leaders.

'America defeated'

"America has been defeated (by) our fighters despite all its military might, its weaponry."

And in an apparent reference to an attack on a Baghdad hotel in October, al-Zawahri said: "Americans have become unable to defend themselves and even to protect their biggest criminals and leaders such as (Deputy Defense Secretary Paul) Wolfowitz."

The Al-Qaida number two, who has repeatedly urged Americans to oppose the policies of President George Bush, told the American people: "How can we excuse you after all the warnings that we gave you. You reap what you sow."

He also threatened Arab countries that provided "bases and help" to US forces to fight Muslims to be ready for "judgment day", saying the United States was getting ready to withdraw from the region.

Al-Zawahri, a former eye surgeon, was born in Egypt in 1951.

On the run

He was tried along with scores of Islamists for the 1981 assassination of President Anwar Sadat during a Cairo military parade.

In the 1990s, an Egyptian court sentenced him to death in absentia for activities linked to Jemaah Islamiya.

He is currently on the run from US forces who believe he is with bin Laden, probably somewhere along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The United States leads a 12,000-strong force in Afghanistan after a 2001 invasion ousted the Taliban government which which gave shelter to al-Qaida.

The US blames the Islamist network for the September 11 attacks on the New York and Washington which killled around 3000 people.

[mylife]

CLEARLY, it's "Author" is either unaware of current military events,

There are reports that the tape was made in November. It took quite a while for it to get to Al Jazera. This may indicate that this guy is in a very remote area.

[Uncle Miltie]

Happily, both our Islamofascist and Deaniac opponents have fallen off the edge of the table. That gives them two handicaps: illogical strategy, and the inability to recruit the reasonable.

[highlander_UW]

This guy must be Baghdad Bob's cousin.

[scott7278]

Ayman al-Zawahri,

That's funny seeing that you're in hiding and releasing tape recordings, while the U.S. military is visible and active.

They whupped you, and whupped you good. Since you think you won, why don't you come out and call a public press conference?

Didn't think you would, coward.

-- scott7278

[Pro-Bush]

Funny, this comes from someone who lives in a cave.

[per loin]

He doesn't have a periscope in his spider hole, so he's not too tuned in to what's happening up on the planet's surface.

[Trampled by Lambs]

If tapes and empty threats were WMDs, I'd be really worried.

[been_lurking]

Let's invite him to speak at the Army's next prayer breakfast. I'm sure they would be happy to discuss his view points over coffee and doughnuts.

[tbpiper]

faith in their leaders.

An obvious pile of camel dung, but this guy believes it. The other half baked jehadis believe it and act on it. They plant IEDs, pull of suicide bombings and ambushes thinking we'll cut and run. Where in the world did they get such an idea? Who told them the troops didn't have any faith in their leaders? Could it be Rep. Jim McDermot? Gov. Howard Dean? Rep. Dick Gephart? Senator Hillary Clinton? How about the DNC, Code Pink, Not In Our Name? MoveOn or,my favorite, Military Families Speak Out?

Who ever it is, 'traitor' is their name.

[sly671]

If he's so tough.....meet me in Kabul....just you and me, no guns, no knives....we'll see if you call the soldiers and my brother(who's in Iraq as I type) a coward again....and quit smokin the hash, it's making you think that you're in "Wonderland"

[stevem]

I got in this fight with this guy, and let me tell you, I gave him what for! I hit him as hard as I could in the fist with my stomach. Then I gave him such a smack in the knee with my face. It was a fight he won't soon forget!

[armymarinemom]

[Ethyl]

'"The Americans have become weaker in Iraq. Their soldiers are cowards because they have no faith in their leaders."'
Maybe he is referring to what Hillary Clinton said on her treasonous visit to Iraq.

And the other goof balls running on the idiotic democratic ticket. They are all guilty of giving "aid and comfort to the enemy". Treason?

[lainde]

I can't wait til we get this jackal...

[rogator]

"Nah, once a camel kissing coward always a camel kissing coward!"

Kissing?

[SandRat]

What can I say right on the reply page it says -- Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts.

But then you get the idea anyway.

[blackbart.223]

"Al-Qaida number two Ayman al-Zawahri has called American soldiers cowards "with no faith in their leaders".

Say that face to face with a Navy Seal you little hole crawling bastard. We saw what Saddam did when confronted by real men.

[blackbart.223]

Bump

[DarthMaulrulesok]

WHAT is this guy smoking?

I guess we didn't intercept all of the hashish in that shipment after all. That or he sampled his product before shipping!

[blackbart.223]

"That's why you cannot negotiate with these idiots. They're way too stupid to see their coward azzes are the ones hiding."

Too much inbreeding over the centuries methinks.