Qaeda No. 2: U.S. Hiding Failures In Iraq

In A New Video, Ayman al-Zawahiri Warns The Mujahedeen There Are Strengthening

(CBS/AP)  Al Qaeda's No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri warned of "traitors" among insurgents in Iraq and called on Iraqi Sunni Arab tribes to purge those who help the Americans in a new videotape posted Monday on the Web.

Al-Zawahiri's comments were aimed at undermining so-called "awakening councils" — the groups of Iraqi Sunni tribesmen that the U.S. military has backed to help fight al Qaeda in Iraq and its allies.

Some Sunni insurgent groups have fought alongside American forces, and the U.S. military has touted the councils as a major factor in reducing violence in war-torn regions like Iraq's Anbar province.

In the 90-minute video, al-Zawahiri warned of the "presence of hypocrites and traitors among the ranks of the mujahedeen, working and fighting for the Americans."

The mujahedeen "must throw out the bribe-taking collaborators from among their ranks, those who sold out their faith and fight under the banner of the cross. They must expose them to the Muslim world," al-Zawahiri said.

"Those who support the Americans are despicable scum," he said, calling on the "noble tribes of Iraq, those that defend Islam, to stand up to this scum."

"The tribe or clan that does not cleanse itself of traitors and apostates will be remembered in history for generations as one of the collaborators and traitors," he warned. "But any clan or tribe that defends Islam and crushes traitors ... will be remembered in Arab history with pride and glory."

The video was made in the form of an interview of al-Zawahiri by Al-Sahab, the media arm of al Qaeda. In the footage, Al-Zawahiri — wearing a white turban and robes — sat in front of shelves of Islamic theology and law books, answering questions from an unseen interviewer.

Earlier this month, the Islamic State of Iraq — the insurgent coalition in Iraq linked to al Qaeda — announced a new campaign against members of awakening groups.

The founder of the awakening movement, Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha, was killed in a bombing in September in Ramadi 10 days after meeting President Bush at a U.S. base in Anbar. Fifteen people were killed that same month when a suicide bomber struck a U.S.-sponsored reconciliation of Shiite and Sunni tribal sheiks.

At the same time as the awakening councils have arisen, the Islamic State of Iraq has faced disputes with other insurgent groups that continue to fight the Americans — groups that accuse al Qaeda of trying to intimidate their fighters into joining their groups.

In an October message, al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden called on Iraqi insurgents to unite and avoid dangerous "extremism" in their allegiances to their factions. Bin Laden said all groups — including al Qaeda in Iraq — should admit mistakes and resolve differences.

Al-Zawahiri on Monday took a tougher stance, saying that insurgents should focus on purging "traitors" rather than making accusations against the Islamic State of Iraq.

"The mujahedeen should end their disputes by turning to scholars to judge between them by Islamic Sharia law," al-Zawahiri said.

"I can't say any side is innocent or guilty in a case where I haven't heward both sides. But I say the Islamic State of Iraq is not guilty of having a political ideology that allows the slaying of innocents," he said.

"Even if we suppose that the accusations are true, is the Islamic State the only one that has made mistakes?" he said. "Most importantly, do the acts that it and other jihadi groups are accused of reach the level of ... other groups that have collaborated with the Americans and fought alongside them?"

Al-Zawahiri said the Americans have failed in Iraq and will withdraw soon. "The reports from Iraq tell of the growth of the mujahedeen and the collapse of the Americans' circumstances," he said.

"The American forces are defeated and looking for a way out. Their government is faced with an incredible popular demand to withdraw," he said, adding that the U.S. forces would abandon Iraqi troops "to their fate."

"No matter how much the gigantic propoganda machine in America tries to deceive the people, the reality is stronger and worse than all the deceptions," al-Zawahri said.

Last week, al-Zawahiri denounced the Mideast peace conference in Annapolis, Md., as a "betrayal" of Palestinians in an audio message posted on an Islamic militant Web site.

[speakinup]

"al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" appears to be little more than a Made-in-USA psy-ops hoax. Posted by FeelFree1

Sure - and hugo chavez is the savior of the planet, right ?

[underdogus]

Posted by FeelFree1 haa the BUM from the attic get a job you bum!!!

[feelfree1]

realpatriot1,

Re: "Al Quaeda has its own motives in Iraq."

"al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" appears to be little more than a Made-in-USA psy-ops hoax.

If you can provide any substantial evidence (i.e.- something other than fake tapes from SITE and IntelCenter), you are free to do so.

[jimc52]

Has anyone stopped to take a look at the picture? Just look at the "hole" in Ayman al-Zawahiri''s forehead. Now if that doesn''t speak for itself, what does? Besides, Al Qaeda is passe. They are an old story, a has-been, a failure even among the Arab countries they say they represent. They are really scared to death that they have lost relevancy...so they have to get on line and on the media to try and convince us they are still something to reckon with.
Even the Arabs are sick of them. If I were a Muslim, I wouldn''t even listen to their nonsense.

[yongamerica]

"As I have explained previously, "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" appears to me to be overwhelmingly a made up ruse, as is alluded to in this very article, which cites "the Islamic State of Iraq", rather than "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq", as being associated with "Zawahiri", in Iraq. - FEELFREE1

Perhaps you haven''t had a chance to read from your favorite news source. Here it is from the mouth of your "illustrious" (still not the brightest candle in the cave) leader:
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A65705A1-EFCA-4E2D-95D1-3272D81DDE49.htm

[realpatriot1]

I don''t know who put that bullet in his forehead, but thanks!!

[sevenveils]

Nancy_Naive - what a loaded question. We can all agree knives don''t shoot so we can eliminate the punk.

[realpatriot1]

underdogus,

I did have some cookies before bed last night...peanut butter, awesome!

Abinijhad is like Bush, he blusters more than he thinks then realizes too late he''s painted himself into a corner he can''t get out of.

No nation is going to launch nukes with a return address against another nation that can shove 2,00 nuclear tomahawks up their ***. No matter how hard he tries he''ll never catch up with Israel, let alone the U.S.

The real concern is that terrorists will obtain the means for producing a suitcase bomb from the black market and us not knowing the source or having the means to disrupt it.

That''s why the disruption of the Brewster & Jennings network by the neo-cons was the most damaging thing that could ever be done to the security of the American people. Valerie Plame and her colleagues were tracking the nuclear black markets and have now been rendered impotent.

Iran is one of many potential sources for black market nuclear technology-our own Los Alomos & Livermore Labs have had numerous unsolved security breaches which raises the possibility that the greatest threat is right here.

But don''t worry, have some cookies and let George take care of everything.

[underdogus]

the punk with a knife?
Posted by Nancy_Naive the punk with the sword!! get it? the friggin MUSLIMS!!! like i said have some milk and cookies and go to bed.. everything will be alright... greetings....

[yongamerica]

These fake "Osama" and "Zawahiri" releases appear to be just one more Regime deception effort.

And you know they are fake because you''ve been by the side of these jackals all along.

[underdogus]

I don''''t agree with your analysis but I''''ll play along; if it''''s 1938 again Posted by realpatriot1 at 05:15 AM : Dec 18, 2007
yes realpatriot everything is all right let them have the BOMB, its ok Ahmadinejad wont use it (even though he said so!) have some milk and cookies and go to bed EVERYTHING will be alright.....

[realpatriot1]

underdogus,

I don''t agree with your analysis but I''ll play along; if it''s 1938 again we''re the Nazis because we''re the ones occupying another country. That has a great deal to do with why China is turning our ships away and Russia is sending nuclear fuel to next door Iran.

We''ve thumbed our nose at the world and the world is returning the favor.

The White House policy of preemptive war and occupation is the reason why we''re in serious trouble and it''s only going to get worse until we repudiate this un-American policy and the related un-American policies like torture that go with it.

The world is watching and they don''t like what they see.

[realpatriot1]

feelfree,

You base your conjecture on what you feel even when the facts are clear that those feelings are wrong. The basis of your premise is that everything which happens in Iraq relates somehow to ulterior motives on the part of the U.S. and that no one else has nay ulterior motives. Even if your premise is true it''s by accident because the thought process leading you to that conclusion is wrong.

Al Quaeda has its own motives in Iraq. They want to win the battle for the hearts and minds of the Sunnis.
When the U.S. first occupied Iraq they were winning that battle.

They overplayed their hand by bombing the Golden Temple; this led to civil war and dissension in the short run but is blowing up in their face now in the long run because most Sunnis now realize that Al Quaeda doesn''t give a rat''s *** about them.

al-Zawari realizes they''ve handed the Americans a victory by default in the battle for the hearts and minds of Iraqis and is desparately trying to pull the genie back out of the bottle.

If you would take a critical look at all motives in Iraq and not just American motives you would see that.

[feelfree1]

realpatriot1,

Re: "What benefit would our government obtain from al-Zawari''s attacks on Iran..."

Iran? Could you elaborate?

Re: "...or his call for Sunnis to support Al Quaeda against the United States?"

As I have explained previously, "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" appears to me to be overwhelmingly a made up ruse, as is alluded to in this very article, which cites "the Islamic State of Iraq", rather than "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq", as being associated with "Zawahiri", in Iraq.

The U.S.-led forces have every interest in creating an imaginary enemy for Iraqis to chase, because if the Iraqis are busy chasing ghosts, they have less time to blow up Americans.

[underdogus]

2008: prepare for WWIII......its 1938....

[realpatriot1]

There are two separate highly illogical rants on here and I can''t choose which is the more brainless.

On one hand we have feelfree who thinks that he''s presented a rational argument for determining that this article is a propaganda hoax from the U.S. government.

For the sake of argument, let''s assume that karl Rove has decided to release a fake video to cause "dissension among the Iraqi people". What benefit would our government obtain from al-Zawari''s attacks on Iran or his call for Sunnis to support Al Quaeda against the United States? This is classic al-Zawari, the man has been fighting against middle east peace since he helped assassinate Sadat, before Al Quaeda existed and while Bin Laden was still on the CIA payroll.

On the other hand we have speakinup saying that Bush was using bad intelligence when he claimed evidence of WMD in Iraq. I can''t possibly offer all the evidence that this is not true in 1500 words, but let''s start with the CIA taking the claims out of his Cincinnati speech and White House aides putting it back into the State of the Union 4 monthes after the intelligence community had thrown cold water on the claim.

The tape is real and Bush lied about WMD; the truth is right under your noses boys.

[underdogus]

there you have it folks we are in serious trouble and it will only get worst!!!

[underdogus]

14 US soldiers killed in IRAQ so far this month.....

[underdogus]

CHINA tells more US vessels to KEEP OUT!!

[underdogus]

RUSSIA delivers nuclear fuel to IRAN: CNN reports