Qaeda No. 2: U.S. Talks With Wrong People

Zawahiri Says America Must Negotiate With 'Real Powers' In Iraq

(CBS/AP)  The deputy leader of al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, told the United States on Wednesday that it was negotiating with the wrong people in Iraq, strongly implying in a video broadcast on Al-Jazeera that Washington should be talking to his terror group.

"I want to tell the Republicans and the Democrats together ... you are trying to negotiate with some parties to secure your withdrawal, but these parities won't find you an exit (from Iraq) and your attempts will yield nothing but failure," al-Zawahiri said on the tape, sections of which were aired in successive news bulletins.

"It seems that you will go through a painful journey of failed negotiations until you will be forced to return to negotiate with the real powers," he said, without identifying these powers.

The video — which bore the logo of al Qaeda's media production house, al-Sahab — was the 15th time this year that al-Zawahiri has sent out a statement. In Wednesday's tape, he appeared exactly as in previous videos that have been authenticated by CIA analysts. He wore a black turban and white robe and pointed his finger at the camera for emphasis. As usual, he had a rifle behind his right shoulder that was leaning against a plain brown backdrop.

Al-Zawahiri attacked the proposal of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to hold early elections to resolve the contest between the Fatah and Hamas parties, which has degenerated to daily gunbattles in the streets of Gaza.

In the clips broadcast by Al-Jazeera, al-Zawahiri did not say how the two parties should settle their dispute, but he scoffed at elections, saying: "Any way other than holy war, will lead us only to loss and defeat."

He did not say whom the Palestinians should fight, but previously he has always recommended "holy war" against Israel and the West.

He described Abbas as "America's man in Palestine," and warned that if Palestinians accepted him as their president, it would be "the end of holy war."

In what appeared to be a reference to Abbas and his Fatah party, al-Zawahiri said: "Those who are trying to liberate the Islamic territories through elections based on secular constitutions, or on decisions to hand over Palestine to the Jews, will not liberate one grain of sand of Palestine."

He also criticized the militant Hamas party — although he did not name it — which has condemned the proposal for early elections. He accused Hamas of making a number of concessions that would ultimately lead to "the recognition of Israel."

He said these concessions began with Hamas' signing "the truce" with Israel last year, then the group took part in the January elections "based on a secular constitution," and recognized Abbas as the head of the Palestinian authority.

Al-Zawahiri rebuked Hamas particularly for not pushing for an Islamic constitution before it contested the elections.

"Aren't they an Islamic movement? Aren't they campaigning for the word of God to be supreme?" he said, adding the party should have insisted on the drafting of "an Islamic constitution for Palestine."

In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum brushed off al-Zawahiri's criticism and defended the party's electoral policy.

"Our Palestinian institutions are in need of reform, and to fix them we need to participate in the parliament and other institutions," Barhoum said.

"We are not responding to al-Zawahiri so much as we are affirming who we are as a movement," Barhoum added.

Meanwhile, a truce agreement between Hamas and the Fatah party announced Tuesday night was marred by fresh violence Wednesday, as two police officers loyal to the president's Fatah party were killed.

Fatah officials condemned the killing but said they remained committed to the truce. Gaza City remained calm at midmorning, in contrast to the pitched battles that raged in city streets a day earlier.

However, hundreds of people called for revenge at the policemen's funeral, raising the prospect of renewed fighting.

Al-Zawahiri's comments were expected to have little influence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Hamas has distanced itself from al Qaeda, saying its struggle is against Israel, not the West at large.

"I don't think it would have any impact," said analyst Diaa Rashwan of the tape.

Rashwan, an expert on militant groups at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, said Hamas is a strong critic of al Qaeda, although both groups call for Israel's destruction.

Abbas has accused al Qaeda of infiltrating the Palestinian territories, but Palestinian security officials say there is no hard evidence of that. They accuse local groups of fabricating links to al Qaeda as a diversion.

Al-Jazeera staff declined to comment on how and when they obtained the tape.

The broadcast came two days after a posting on a militant Islamic Web site announced that a message from al-Zawahiri was coming.

[olebd]

Why can't we find this guy either? He's got a bullseye right on his forehead!

[bluestardad]

Maybe he is right. Bush had the Taliban to Texas to discuss the Oil Pipeline thru Afghanistan,We need to listen to our fearless Dicktater and be glad that he is distroying the Republican Party.

[bluestardad]

howzilla YOU are SO Correct! We need to Quit giving Press to the Entire Middle East and let them kill each other on the blind side. Anyone who promotes fossil fuel is also a supporter of Terrorist and Enemy of America too!

[nothappyatall]

We can't find this guy either because either the Bush regime doesn't want to - his periodic apperances at opportune times the America public needs "scaring" to keep the little bit of support this invasion has- going, or else maybe these two guys- Osama and this one are SMARTER than us with our huge array of technology, reward offers, and "inteligence" brought to us by people like "good job Brownie."

For all our sophistication, heat sensors, radars, satelights, drones etc these two guys prove what a
waste of money that junk is, so much so we can't even find a couple of sand ngrs out in the desert lol.
We gave up looking for them because they WON and because despite a multi million $ reward NO ONE is willing to turn them in.

[stevenga777]

Shouldn't we be hunting down Bin-Laden and al-Zawahiri like dirty dogs in Afghanistan instead of fighting an unjust war in Iraq?

[bluestardad]

newster1 remember that when non-government bounty hunters were closing in on bin laden American CIA arrested them and threw them in an Afghanistan Jail where they are now!

[hhusted]

Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden will not be stopped because Bush is using them as an way to keep the war in Iraq going. Bush could easily take those solders out of Iraq right now but he doesn't want to. Bush is a war monger. He likes fighting.

The two leaders of Al-Qaeda will continue to exist if it gives Bush a reason to fight. Whether anyone in this group knows it or not, but Islam's primary mission is to take over the world. They want to infiltrate America, take control and rule all parts of the world. The Zionist movement want the same thing. The Zionist placed high ranking Jews in place so they can control the media and the government. Based on what I read over the Internet, there will be a war between Islam and the Jews.

Since Al-Qaeda is tied to Islam, they may be the ones to instigate the war. They already stated they wanted to start a holy war.

What will happen to this situation, no one knows. The sooner we can get peace on Earth the better we will be.

[bluestardad]

hhusted bush is using this war well spoken.

[jimibear]

It's amazing, isn't it, that when the US has been propping up dictatorships, funding oppressive monarchies through oil money, flip-flopping and supporting whatever side we think will pay off in the long run in various wars so that the body count escalates though our interference, and finally we've invaded and toppled the government of Iraq with no legal or moral justification, that people in the Middle East hate us.

Go figure. Who's the real terrorist, hmmm?

I'm sure I'll get flamed for this ... but imagine if some other power tried to treat us the way we've treated those countries for the last half-century. How do you think we'd react?

[bobgee_1999]

This article makes it clear what kind of mentality we're dealing with the middle east, yet we insist on responding in the same old ways, playing right into their hands. These people have relied on "holy war" and "revenge" for generations, and they thrive on it. This article also makes clear the dangers of getting your religion intertwined with your politics, but have we learned anything in that regard, either? Nope. Americans who despise the people of that region need to have enough sense to not want to become too much like them.

[friendman1]

Zawahiri only points his finger and saying you are wrong.

When are we going to look at him as Paris Hilton of the Islamic Faith, bring a lot of attention to himself but giving only vacuous statements.

[blondmadison]

"For all our sophistication, heat sensors, radars, satelights, drones etc these two guys prove what a waste of money that junk is, so much so we can't even find a couple of sand ngrs out in the desert lol."

SAND NGRS? How sickening that you think like that.

[jimibear]

I think "The Paris Hilton of the Islamic faith" wins my vote for best phrase in political commentary for 2006.

You may pick up your Whoopee! award at the podium, friendman. Nice use of metaphor! :-)

My biggest single problem with what al-Zawahiri says in this article is his scoffing at diplomatic measures by groups like Hammas and saying they will lead to the "end of holy war", as if that would be a bad thing. Talk about wrong-headed. "Holy war" is the single biggest oxymoron ever.

And thanks for your support, Howzilla. You hit the nail on the head. There's an old saying about conflict: "Rich man's war, poor man's fight." The same thing applies to the mechanics of government and diplomacy. They make the decisions (usually bad, and based in greed or misplaced nationalism) and we pay the price. Some democracy.

[notblue]

This article is a crystal clear example of who Americas enemies truly are. Not our present administration, not America and it's policies. It's the extremists lead by this freak and Bin Laden. He claims the present Iraq mess is his doing and we need to talk to who is really in control of the violence, that flies in the face of the Bush haters although I'm sure many will remain unconvinced until a bomb is expolded in there own neighborhood. Even then the left will blame America and whoever happens to be president at the time. These people were trying to kill us long before Iraq and Bush. We all need to use articles like this to rally together to fight the TRUE enemy, Zawahiri and his uncivilized group of terrorists. They will not go away if we leave them alone and no matter where we choose to fight them they will keep trying to destroy us and our way of life. These terrorists Zawahiri and Bin Laden are not some pawn kept alive to strike fear in the American people for political reasons. They are cowards in hiding in a wilderness the size of Texas with people willing to sacrifice themselves to protect them. They are Americas real enemies.

[bluestardad]

The Multi Million Dollar ransom is plenty of money if America really wants to get Bin Laden. The American government discouraged the catching of Bin Laden, remember that when non-government sanctioned bounty hunters were closing in on Bin Laden the American CIA arrested them and put them in an Afghanistan Jail! The CIA said the Bounty hunters were torturing people to get information and America could not stand for that. Oh, like the CIA itself was doing at its secret prisons through out the world. America could have had Bin Laden by now at a fraction of the cost in money and lives. Not much says "hands off" like throwing a person in an Afghanistan Jail!

[jimibear]

That's the $64,000 question, jh6379. Although I think that "sand ngr" was inappropriate language, the idea that we can't find a 7-foot Arab is a puzzling one.

To put it simply, it's my opinion that the whole "war on terror" is a sham. Osama was trained by the CIA and funded by the US throughout the war with the Soviets in Afghanistan. He's yet another example of the kind of diplomatic prostitution which has gained us so many enemies in the world.

It seems pretty clear to me that the Bush administration has used 9/11 and exaggerated the threat of terror to pursue their own agenda of control of oil flow, money for various suppliers to the military, and (to that end) an increase in the size of the military itself. It's been attested to even by Israeli intelligence (who have a vested interest in the US succeeding in achieving dominance in the Middle East) that the Iraq invasion has only increased recruitment and terrorist activity, which should come as no surprise to anyone.

If we catch Osama, they'll have to find a new boogeyman. Orwell wrote about this in 1984; the endless war with an enemy whose identity keeps shifting, so that the war itself becomes the end. It serves a dual purpose; for one, it generates a lot of money for Bush and his cronies, and for another, it unites the people by giving them a common enemy so that they don't pay attention to "the man behind the curtain".

[notblue]

jimibear and bluestardad are classic examples of the other enemy America is fighting. Continueosly spewing conspirary theory bul***t in order to justify there blaming of America. Get a clue the situation in the world today isn't some political fabrication to help you guys rationalize. If people like you were trying influencing policy during world war II we would all be speaking German right now.

[perception5]

jimibear -"To put it simply, it's my opinion that the whole "war on terror" is a sham"

I guess jimibear you think that 9/11 was a sham also........ you appear to be one contamiated individual........

[observantx]

Notblue:

I agree that Osama and his followers are our enemy. But let%u2019s think about WHY he is our enemy. He hates us because of the actions and policies of our government in relation to the Middle East since the end of WW2. And what have those policies been focused on? Oil and power is the object of those policies. We have propped up corrupt dictators, conducted clandestine campaigns against those who would overthrow them, gave guns, artillery, planes, bombs and chemical weapons to our whoever will let us have the oil.

In effect, we have TWO enemies. We have Osama and we also have our current Clueless Leader and his Project for the New American Century (PNAC) neocons who want America to rule every other country and have all the oil and minerals and water and food for themselves. These two are fighting each other. Let me amend that. Clueless Leader, Darth Cheney and the neocons are spending the bodies and blood of our sons and daughters in this grab for more power and wealth.

Osama and his cohorts need to be killed. Our other enemy needs to be removed from the White House and thrown in jail for the rest of their lives.

[jimibear]

I disagree with you, notblue1. But one of the great things about this country is we can both hold our own opinions.

I agree that the terrorists are enemies of the US. I also agree that the Bush administration didn't start that. It goes all the way back to the Crusades. However, I do think Bush & Co. have vastly multiplied the problem for their own reasons, and that they continue to lie and exaggerate to sow seeds of fear to keep this highly profitable (to a select few in power) "war on terror" going.

I don't believe for a moment they are fighting this "war" to win it, even if it were winnable. It isn't, of course, because metaphorically speaking, the best way to make a terrorist is to drop a bomb on a rug merchant's house. You don't stop violence of this sort with violence; you just draw more people to the fight.

And frankly, I think the best thing we could do is leave the Muslim world alone. They do a very good job of killing each other off without our help. Why not just let them get on with it, and concentrate our energy and money on finding our own oil, and in the long-term developing alternatives to fossil fuels in general? I think, really, that if we do leave them alone, they'll return to their usual sectarian violence and leave us out of it.

But then, it's never been in human nature to mind our own business, unfortunately.

[bluestardad]

notblue do basic research then your comments will have the minimum of credibility.

[notblue]

It's one thing to have an opinion and another thing to undermine the effort.

[jimibear]

Thanks to the people who think that I am "contaminated" and a "conspiracy theorist", and can't express themselves without insult and profanity. You reinforce my conviction that intelligent people question authority, whereas the small-minded revert to catch-phrases and abuse as a substitute for thought.

I don't think 9/11 was a sham, but I think (as it's hard to avoid thinking if you look at the way it supposedly went down) that it was allowed to happen, and that it provides a wonderful excuse for our government to spend a lot of blood and money making themselves richer.

And as for my being an enemy of this country - no, not at all. People who attempt to suppress dissenting opinions and trade their own ability to think are the real enemies of the ideas this country was built upon.

[notblue]

Bluestardad, look up research in the dictionary, your constant left wing fairtales don't fall under that category.

[jimibear]

What effort am I undermining, notblue1? The effort to squander our tax dollars and the lives of our military in an unwinnable war which will have no good effects, short or long term, whatsoever? It will lead to an endless state of semi-declared war with about 1/3 of the planet's population, eventually the bankrupting of this country, and the utter ruination of our foreign relations with friend and foe alike. It will also make a handful of people very rich.

That seems to be the effort at hand, and yes, I will do whatever I can to undermine that.

[jimibear]

As a side note: I am not a left-winger at all. My biggest historical hero is Winston Churchill; hardly a conciliator, I think you'll agree. I have every interest in defending my country, which is why I deplore the current (and previous) administrations' efforts to find ways to go to war whenever they can.

People who bash others' ideas without providing any basis for their own other than sloganeering and direly misplaced patriotism are not doing anyone any good. Notblue1, it seems pretty clear you have a brain. It would be nice if you'd use it more thoughtfully.

[getcentered]

Al-Zawahiri is just jealous that he's not considered for diplomatic meetings. Auhhh.....

Al-Zawahiri actually didn't SAY anything in his statement, and he speaks as if he or his groups are people you can find. THESE GUYS ARE PURE COWARDS. The only negotiating I'd do with this guy is negotiating him into a coffin.

[bluestardad]

notblue; do you or your children serve? or are you a paid right wing hack like Jane, and bushrocks1?

[bluestardad]

Associated Press: Reports Slant Drilling

Here is one of many articles that support the claim of the Oil being stolen from Iraq during the chaos of this war. This theft of oil was the reason for start for the last gulf war. Please note as before this theft was brought to the attention of the United Nations, America, and the neighboring countries of Iraq. No one in the United Nations or American Media or Leadership is addressing this pivotal issue and as you can see it has been brought to the attention of all parties involved.

Iraqis Accuse Kuwait of Stealing Oil
By BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, August 2, 2005
(08-02) 12:48 PDT BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) --
Iraqi legislators accused Kuwait of stealing their oil as well as chipping away at their national territory on the border %u2014 allegations similar to those used by Saddam Hussein to justify his invasion of Kuwait that began 15 years ago Tuesday.
An Iraqi delegation was scheduled to head to Kuwait on Wednesday discuss the incidents along the Kuwaiti border
"There have been violations such as digging horizontal oil wells to pump Iraq oil," legislator Jawad al-Maliki, chairman of the parliament's Security and Defense Committee, told the National Assembly on Tuesday.

[bluestardad]

Slant Drilling continued:

Why then are American Tax Dollars and the lives of our troops being used to keep this war going on while at the same time promoting and supporting the theft of this Iraqi Oil by its neighbors? This oil and the profits generated are going to line the pockets of a variety of persons at various levels. Like the Oil for Food Scandal in scope this scandal has greater implications as the American people are paying for this theft with the lives of their children and hard earned tax dollars with the full knowledge of the United Nations, media, and political leadership. Please help in bringing these people who permitted and perpetrated this theft to light of Justice.

[jtdavies3]

I don't see anything in this article that would make me believe that Zawahiri is still alive.

I have movies of my grandmother - doesn't make her alive either.

[bluestardad]

I also have had business dealings with the family of one of the guys in the Afghanistan Jail!

[jimibear]

Notblue, I'm really sort of disappointed in you, as your first post was so reasonably put. I was hoping for a real debate, not an exchange of insults. I'm secure enough in what I think that I'm always open to learning.

On that note, you might consider that every war has elements of greed, lies and opportunism, including your example of WWII. If you "got a clue" of your own, you'd learn that the US ignored repeated warnings of an attack on Pearl Harbor, because they needed a way to galvanize the people into war. Likewise, you'd learn that Prescott Bush (GW's grandfather) had 3 companies seized under the Trading With the Enemy Act, because they were supplying oil and ball bearings (two staples of mechanized warfare) to Nazi Germany.

Likewise, the US used the sinking of the Maine (later determined to be either an accident or actually engineered by the US) as an excuse to delare war on Spain and seize Cuba.

Again in Cuba (and this just came out recently in de-classified documents) a group of senior brass approached Kennedy with a plan in 1961 to fake an attack on Guantanemo Bay and kill a bunch of US servicemen to justify an invasion. To his credit, JFK told them to pi$$ up a rope.

In closing: a lot goes on that you will miss if you don't beother to do some reading before forming your ideas. Don't confuse your own ignorance with that of others.

[gunnerv1]

The only time you "talk" to the enemy is when they want to surrender

[jimibear]

Well, gunnerv, maybe it's that attitude that made them "the enemy" in the first place. Ever think of that?

[gunnerv1]

"They" "actively" started this war 27 years ago with th U.S.

[jimibear]

Gunnerv, are you referring to the Iran Hostage Crisis? Hate to burst your bubble, but Iraq was not involved in that. In fact, at that time they were at war with Iran, and receiving US funding ...

Things are more complicated than you or George Bush would like to believe, I'm afraid. If you actually want to get down to single root causes (not that their actually is one single cause) the US and Great Britain started this current mess with their post WWII mid-East policies, most particularly depriving the Palestinians of their country so that the Jews could have it. Or, if you want to go back further, the Crusade (that is, invasion) to "re-take" Jerusalem (despite the fact that it happened never to have been a European holding in the first place) may have started it.

If your view of history only goes back to 1979, and you can't even get the facts straight about that short period, I'm afraid you're underinformed.

[gslinger3]

"Any way other than holy war, will lead us only to loss and defeat." Ayman al-Zawahiri

You brainless left wing radical Liberals just do not have a clue. This is the real world we are faced with, President Bush has done a wonderful job protecting your a$$es from these animals, but, you will never admit this simply because you hate the man. You have let your hatred sway your incompotent minds into wanting him out more than wanting whats best for this world you live in.

THANK YOU president Bush for standing on principal and not caving for the weak do nothing stance that the Liberals would have you to do!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!

[gunnerv1]

I am speaking about "ALL of ISLAM" And I speak from the experance of my Deceased Father who worked in Saudi Arabia for 25 years until he retired in '86 and a personal friend who was injured on the USS COLE and my time in Somila. Now if you cna come up with some "Been There" time, I suggest you shut up.

[jimibear]

Gunnerv, you have yet to demonstrate any actual understanding of the overall situation, as opposed to limited personal or second-hand knowledge.

Being right on the scene, or having friends or family members involved, is likely to form emotional opinions. taken by itself, though, it doesn't impart knowledge, and honestly, your opinions read more as prejudice and anger. While those are understandable in the face of negative experience, they tend to blind people to the larger picture, which includes the global wrongdoing of the US, as well as the local wrongdoing of our enemies.

I won't suggest you shut up, as that is extremely rude. Nor will I presume to doubt that you lack knowledge. As of yet, however, you haven't displayed any.

[jimibear]

gslinger, I wouldn't usually stoop to this level, but you are clearly a brainwashed nincompoop with all the cognitive skill of a dog-***. Congratulations on demonstrating so clearly why this country is far less than it could be.

Please never breed.

[gunnerv1]

As I might guess, I'll be one of those on the front line protecting you from yourself in your rightious selfbelef that the world is just a-ok. This is a culture class that has moved into blood letting hat there will never be peace until the last of th combattants are dead (I don't know about you, but I don't want to be the last guy) As I stated before, you don't talk to your enemy until he is ready to surrender. The more of them that you kill, the less of you that get killed. That's how wars are won.

[gunnerv1]

And I'm not here to debate!

[jimibear]

Well, then we can agree to disagree, Gunner. I think that wars are more likely to be avoided with a position of reason backed by strength. I am very far from believing the world is just "a-ok", but I don't believe that by acting as badly or worse than anyone else, we improve it. Self-righteousness is also not my issue; in factm the sickeningly self-righteous attitude that "it must be right because America did it" is what I have a serious probem with.

As well as that, considering there are a hell of a lot more Muslims than Americans, your attitude of "kill them all" isn't very practical. And your accusations of bloodthirst on the part of the Muslims when you then go on to advocate killing as many as possible is rather hypocritical.

It's a good thing you aren't here to debate, because you don't seem very good at it. You've got the unthinking macho chest-beating down, though. I guess we all have our strengths. It's unfortunate that yours seem to lie in areas that in no way contribute to the improvement of the species. I guess evolution misses people occasionally.

[olebd]

Did that dent in his forehead knock him silly or what?

[jn122736]

Jimibear-bluestardad

Very good posts, you state your cases well.

As for the usual name callers and insult slingers, Their characters are so obvious most readers dismiss them out of hand.

[agnim]

"Al Qaeda No. 2: US Talks With Wrong People"

The US should take up their suggestions. LOL

I'm sure that the US would love to talk to those maniac muslims. Where would they like the talk to take place? LOL

[Syndicate]

I know what you mean gunnerv1. Not every one will get it. I can't seem to figure out how a position of reason backed by strength will ever work if your not willing to kill alot of people and break alot of things. In other words wage war. Our sins have nothing to do with the cause of this war it is truly a fight for the world. Will it be a secular progressive society or will it be a tyranical muslim theocracy?

[friendman1]

Thank you, jimibear, for your comments. I am glad you enjoyed them.

[mattmhouston]

Zawahiri is trying to pit Hamas against Fatah. So far it's working. I think al-Qaida is likely the mysterious force who keeps igniting the fight between the two. They are trying to split the groups and support one side, as well as antagonize the relations with Israel. Hopefully they will get wise and unite to infiltrate al-Qaida and beat him at his own game.