American Appears In Qaeda Video
Al Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri issued a new videotape Saturday along with a man identified as an American member of the terror network, inviting Americans to convert to Islam.
The 41-minute video, posted on an Islamic militant Web site, had footage of al-Zawahri and a man the video identified as Adam Yehiye Gadahn, who has appeared in past al Qaeda videos with the nom de guerre of Azzam al-Amriki.
"To the American people and the people of the West in general ... God sent his Prophet Muhammad with guidance and the religion of truth ... and sent him as a herald," al-Zawahiri said.
Gadahn and al-Zawahiri did not appear together in the footage.
It was the second time Gadahn has appeared in the same video with al-Zawahri. In a July 7 video marking the one-year anniversary of bombings against the London transit system, Gadahn said no Muslim should "shed tears" for Westerners killed by al Qaeda attacks.
"We invite all Americans and unbelievers to Islam," Gadahn said in Saturday's video, dressed in a white robe and turban with a long, thick black beard and a computer terminal in the background.
Laura was just on CNN (call in I think - listening on XM). I will look for a transcript later.
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Addressed to American people and west in general. Both make specific references to the fact that it is for the Americans.
Gadahn introduction, then Zawahri (4 minutes), then Gadahn for the rest of the tape.
He is speaking in english to the American people.
Gadahn is taking what bin Laden and Zawahri have said in previous tapes and spelling it out in English.
Zawahri: "this is not a time to procrastinate, your time is short. "
Islamists believe they have to give infidels a chance to convert before they carry out an attach.
Tape appears to be from the last month... references Israel and Lebanon.
Specific references to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.