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.

[patriotic9]

mjv2944
Whatever we do should be considering American Interest.Nothing has ever hurt AMERICAN INTEREST,LIVES and MONEY then US taking oil in cheaper prices from ARABS and supporting their those enemies who were brought into Palestine after WWII to occupy the land of those PALESTINIANS by force who had nothing to do with the crimes comited by HITLER.
It's time to stop making foreing policies on the basis of PSYCHOSIS called CHRISTAINITY.We need to stop considering Americans as GOD-NEGLECTED and NON AMERICAN EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE as GOD-CHOSEN.Why should we sacrifice American interests based on OIL for the GOD-CHOSEN ENEMIES of the GOD'S ONLY SON while EUROPEANS and CANADIANS enjoying real western RELIGION FREE FULL OF FUN LIVES.
Be practical."You said we need to concentrate on hunting them down".
Is it practically possible.OSAMA BEEN FORGOTTEN still at large since BUSH was more interested in IRAQ INVASION to kill and displace IRAQIs from their land and to bring the GOD-CHOSEN ENEMIES of the GOD'S ONLY SON to occupy that land just like they were brought into Palestine after WWII.In the mean time N.Korea has built Nukes which she'll definately sell to OBL as she has built em for business reason.We've lost Iraq war by BUSH's RADICAL CHRISTIAN POLICIES.Are we ready to lose millions of US citizens in next terrorist attck for helping the GOD CHOSEN ENEMIES of the GOD'S ONLY SON.

[mjv2944]

Well we shouldn't even consider talking with those terrorists. We legitimized Yassar Arafat, which gained us nothing but grief, and Palistinians are still killing one another. We need to concentrate on hunting them down and killing them. They are not a legitimate country or government, they are murders trying to hide behind their religion.

[feelfree1]

al-Zawahiri to U.S.- BOOO!!!

[patriotic9]

By opposing HAMAS in Plaestine after they won last election,United States is giving Alqaeda a chance to get involve in Palestine.Who is better,Hamas which wants Israel to be destroyed or Alqaeda which wants USA to be doomed.Unfortunately,for the CHRISTIAN PSYCHOTICS in our country,confronting Hamas is more important then confronting Alqaeda(Bush had let OSAMA BEEN FORGOTTEN escape from TORA BORA for increasing the are of ISRAEL by invading Iraq) as Israel is a HOLY LAND whereas USA is not,EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE are GOD-CHOSEN whereas AMERICANS are GOD-NEGLECTED eventhough Americans believe in JESUS as MESSIAH and SON of GOD and believe in his MOTHER'S VIRGINITY but Christians belive in GOD a RACIST and UNJUST who only care about people's race or family not their actions.Bible which discriminates against AMERICANS by not promising them a SINGLE PENNY and promising NON-AMERICAN GOD CHOSEN ENEMIES OF THE GOD'S ONLY SON a LAND in the MIDDLE EAST is HOLY whereas the CONSTITUTION which separates CHURCH from STATE is UNHOLY.
Nobody has been fooled like Americans on the name of NON-SENSE CHRISTIANITY.The only purpose of the creation of GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS is to be SLAVES,SERVANTS and PROTECTORS of the GOD CHOSEN ENEMIES of the GOD'S ONLY SON.

[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.

[friendman1]

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

[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?

[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

[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.

[olebd]

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

[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.

[gunnerv1]

And I'm not here to debate!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!!!!!!!

[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.

[gunnerv1]

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

[jimibear]

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