CAIRO, Egypt, Dec. 16, 2007
Qaeda No. 2: U.S. Hiding Failures In Iraq
In A New Video, Ayman al-Zawahiri Warns The Mujahedeen There Are Strengthening
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Photo
Al Qaeda's deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, is seen in a file image. In a video posted Monday, Dec. 16, 2007, he said the U.S. is trying to hide its failures in Iraq. (AP)
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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.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 354 CommentsPosted by libsluvsuvs at 07:38 PM : Dec 16, 2007
By the way, have you found those WMDs yet!!!!!
Once we get rid of Shrub and we re-establish communication with regular people, I wouldn''t be surprised if average people like look up to this guy about as much as we look up to Jerry Falwell (as in not at all).
What a buffoon . . .
their oil mongers in Washington.
We clearly failed Iraq, --we failed the country and the people of Iraq.
Thousands of our young me and women joined the military because they believed the BS Bush was selling--never once thinking they would be Bushes killing machines.
This country has been led by vile cowards who, without conscience, who let others do their dirty work.
They have led our country down a path of shame and disrespect and what angers me the most is the Dems must be profiting from this too, because they have done nothing to make anyone accountable!
Re: "U.S. Hiding Failures In Iraq"
You mean to tell me that there are even more than we already knew about?
If it is saying what our enemies want, than it is AGAINST America.
The Bush regime has already recently redefeated the fabled psy-ops hoax known as "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq"
This appears to be designed to bolster support from Iraqis, to join the U.S. in fighting the notorious and imaginary "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq".
We are fighting/maiming/killing/torturing the PEOPLE of Iraq, always have been, and they have a right to defend thmselves.
Re: "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."
Why on earth would "Zawahiri" call on Iraqis to attack each other, rather than the U.S.-led invaders of Iraq?
Re: "Earlier this month, the Islamic State of Iraq %u2014 the insurgent coalition in Iraq linked to al Qaeda %u2014"
Really? Linked how? These groups appear to have 2 very different names. Which is it? Are you saying that there is no such thing as "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq"?
Whoever produced this nonsense must be on the U.S. payroll. This is probably the latest propagada from the SITE Institute or IntelCenter.
Not to be taken seriously.
No, it is the Liberals and the leftist media trying to shove "their" version of reality on us.
Answer this: If ANY of the things the left claims President Bush did (lied about the war, etc) were true, why haven''t the Democrats in Congress pushed for impeachment hearings EVERY day?
Answer: You can''t have hearings if the Democrats KNOW what is being spewed are LIES.
If you have a different reason (other than claiming that those horrid Republicans won''t let the Democrats in charge do anything), than I''d like to hear it.
Notice, no author, and not even a sigle reference in this entire yellow journalism offering from CBS Newz, besides mentions of previous al-CIA''da nonsense.
Re: "...posted on an Islamic militant Web site."
What site would that be, CBS? Why are we allowing "militants" to run Web sites?
Why is it so important to CBS to promote this tripe?
LOL - good catch! Yeah, why isn''t using his ''spidey phone'' to call on his ''operatives'' to implement their ideology? That one totally doesn''t add up . . . unless Al-Qaeda in Iraq doesn''t really exist or has no connection to ''number 2''.
Just a guy in a cave!
Do you mean you really believe the "many" reasons for going to Iraq?
WMD''s? then to "liberate" Iraq? Hmmm from what I can see and what has been heard around the world, there never were WMD''s and liberating Iraquis?
How liberated are they after 6 years? Of several million that fled Iraq--over a million went back and are displaced!
The 911 terrorists were not from Iraq! We went there because thats where Cheney persuaded Bush to go.
Anoybe who believes that we should be in Iraq and Bush has always been right has a cult mind set, just sit back and believe everything being fed to you because it''s easier than reading.
Attn: Mitt Romney
This time get it right.
Ayman al-Zawahiri said this, NOT Barack Obama.
If it is saying what our enemies want, than it is AGAINST America.
Posted by SBB2211 at 09:15 PM : Dec 16, 2007
So in a recent poll, 72% of Americans said that they want our troops out of Iraq. So you''re declaring that 72% of the American public are traitors, because they want the troops home.
That''s what you''re saying, right? Most of the people are wrong because they don''t like war.
Answer: You can''''t have hearings if the Democrats KNOW what is being spewed are LIES.
If you have a different reason (other than claiming that those horrid Republicans won''''t let the Democrats in charge do anything), than I''''d like to hear it.
Posted by SBB2211 at 09:25 PM : Dec 16, 2007
Because a majority vote of 60% is required in the Senate, (and the Dems only have 51%), and 66% is required in the house, (and the Dems only have 53%). Without the support of some of the Republican minority voting along with them, impeachment can''t happen.
It''s really too bad that you post on here like your some very smart, politically intelligent person that knows what he''s talking about, when in fact you don''t even know the most elementary facts about your own government.
You should stick to subjects your more familiar with like NASCAR, Budweiser, and varmint huntin''.
Every *** time somebody comes out with some real since, they trot out some video from their paid Al Queda specialists.
Bush and Cheny run Al Queda...doesn''t anyone get it?
Posted by RowdyTexan2
I totally agree! I''ve always believed Bush and Cheney knew a lot more about 911 than they want anyone to know.
It''s strange Bush senior was in a meeting with people in the Bin Laden family when 911 took place.
There seems to have been conversation with Cheney and an aide regarding a plane during 911 and many other questions we''ll never find an answer to unless someone in Washington finds a backbone and does his/her own investigating!
It angers me to think Washington regards the citizens of this country as being stupid!
jandj6488,
Re: "At what point does this kind of journalism cross over into the realm of treason?"
I would say that producing fake tapes to prop-up a lie-based, criminal, and self-crippling war of aggression, would qualify.
Wouldn''t you?
liberalme,
Good comment, but-
Re: "It angers me to think Washington regards the citizens of this country as being stupid!"
So far, it seems, they have placed a pretty safe bet...let''s hope that a few more wise up.
Posted by FeelFree1 at 10:30 PM : Dec 16, 2007
Naw thats only 30% of the country--they just aren''t listening to the majority!!
But they''ll hear us next election!! (Unless, of course they get the same supreme court to "hand" them the election like they did Bush).
jandj6488,
I don''t hate anyone.
"al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" appears to be a total ruse, made up for a number of reasons.
For one, the Bush regime attempts to use this ficticious group in a classic divide and conquer technique against the the people of Iraq and elsewhere, creating a ficticious "enemy" for them to chase, rather than blow up U.S. troops.
Another goal behind this hoax, appears to be to smear the opposition. The Democrats are happy to join in as eager patsies for the hoax, since they are happy to point to "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" as yet another Regime failure. It''s not.
We''ve noted many recent "al-Qaeda" tapes have been championing legitimate social justice causes, and calling for the withdrawl from Iraq (just as the majority of Americans, and the majority of Iraqis have been for a long time).
The psy-ops effect of this associating is to imply that anyone who supports these issues is "in league with the terrarist...". See how that works?
Those are a couple of the reasons that I suspect for being behind this elaborate puppet-show.
If you believe in the many various "links" (poof) that are "believed" about "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq", them I''m afraid that you are being duped, sir.
You do realize that al qaeda has been attacking our interests since long before Bush entered the White House. President Clinton spoke of them many times.
When do you see this conspiracy beginning?
jandj6488,
I believe that "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" is a Made-in-USA hoax, designed for the reasons that I mentioned, as well as others.
This particular Bush regime ruse has been building since the runup to the recent ground war against Iraq.
They have more recently turned up the volume on the ruse, ever since it became more obvious to all that we have not, and never will, "win" anything in Iraq.
Posted by jandj6488
The Soviet war in Afghanistan also known as the Soviet-Afghan War was a nine-year conflict involving Soviet forces supporting the Marxist People''s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) government against the largely Islamic fundamentalist Mujahideen insurgents. The latter group found support from a variety of sources including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other Muslim nations in the context of the Cold War.
Part of the US strategy consisted of arming, training, and supplying a local group of fighters under the control of CIA operatives, One of whom was Osama Bin Laden, son of the wealthy Bin Laden family, who were themselves partners in the Carlysle Group with George Bush Sr, and Jr.
This group was given the name Al Qaeda, and to date still carriesout activities on behalf of the CIA, while being careful to maintain the appearance of enmity with them.
The short answer to your question, try 1979.
ilikecats1,
Re: "It''s news."
Are you sure that this is not a Pentagon public service ad, posted here, unedited, as news? Did you notice that there is no author associated with this article?
Re: "We have a free press."
Not free, but available for the right corporations, at the right price.
Posted by brianbwb
And can you guess who was CIA director in 1979?
jandj6488,
Re: "FeelFree1...Do you believe that al-zawahiri is complicit in this?"
I''m not even sure that this is Zawahiri, because this tape is so ridiculous...but who knows?
We do know that his partner and alleged boss, Osama bin Laden, was supported by the CIA in Afghanistan against the Russians.
At what point was he fired from the CIA?
I am trying to focus on the hoax nature of "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq", though, at the moment.
jandj6488,
Re: "But if our leaders actually worked together half as well as they''d have to in order to make such a conspiracy happen, our country would be in much better shape than it is today."
Not necessarily. It depends on what they are conspiring to do.
For example, if they conspire to kidnap folks, send them to secret prisons, torure them, video tape it, then destroy the video tape in spite of a court order against it, then cover up some more, then we are obviously not better off.
If they conspire to honor ther sworn oaths to our Constitution, on the other hand, then I would agree.
Planting fake news pieces is hardly anything new or out of the ordinary, and does not require many resources, relatively, for reasons that we can see demonstrated by this crappy article.
jandj6488,
RE: "I do accept that you don''t hate anyone. I apologize for saying it."
I appreciate that.
brianbwb at 11:31 PM,
Very nice.
Posted by jandj6488
You''re talking about the AP report over at msnbc? Did you not read the whole article right until the end on the second page, are you deliberately not reporting the main point of Odierno speaking out, or did you not pick up on the main point with reference to what needs to be done next? Because the thrust of the article was that he can''t sustain the surge and is already being forced to dwindle down the troop numbers and time is running out - Sunni baathists are still being disenfranchised and the Shiite government is still refusing to pass laws that would give Sunnis equal footing.
From the Article:
"I can''t say any side is innocent or guilty in a case where I haven''t heward both sides."
Like I said- transcribed from the desk of some Bush regime stooge, without edit.
I think that we have "heward" more than enough of this ooga-booga nonsense.
Both sides have a third column of traitors?
In the end, who will prevail? We in the US will have a regime change to throw the warmongers out next year.
YOU DID NOT HOLD BUSH AND THE NEOCONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR WAR CRIMES AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO STOP THE ILLEGAL WAR IN IRAQ!
ENJOY YOUR FAILURE AND FEAR!
the bamboozled bush war brought al-qaeda into iraq.
YOU DID NOT HOLD BUSH AND THE NEOCONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR WAR CRIMES AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO STOP THE ILLEGAL WAR IN IRAQ!
ENJOY YOUR FAILURE AND FEAR!
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Posted by bluestardad
Ya know, if I didnt know any better, I would say that bluestardad was zawahiri himself.....
Bush''s decisions on Iraq and Afghanistan could heavily influence his ability to pass on to his successor stable situations in both countries, an objective his advisers describe as one of the president''s paramount goals for his final year in office. They say Bush will listen closely to his military commanders on the ground before making any decisions on troops but is unlikely to do anything he believes could jeopardize recent, hard-won security improvements in Iraq.
Administration officials say the White House has become more concerned in recent months about the situation in Afghanistan, where grinding poverty, rampant corruption, poor infrastructure and the growing challenge from the Taliban are hindering U.S. stabilization efforts. Senior administration officials now believe Afghanistan may pose a greater longer-term challenge than Iraq.
"There''s a real dilemma there for the U.S.," said retired Lt. Gen. David W. Barno, the former commander of U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan. "In some ways, the paradox is you could make an argument that the insurgency is diminishing in Iraq and increasing in Afghanistan."
Bush Faces Pressure to Shift War Priorities
As Iraq Calms, Focus Turns to Afghanistan
By Michael Abramowitz and Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, December 17, 2007; A01
With violence on the decline in Iraq but on the upswing in Afghanistan, President Bush is facing new pressure from the U.S. military to accelerate a troop drawdown in Iraq and bulk up force levels in Afghanistan, according to senior U.S. officials.
Administration officials said the White House could start to debate the future of the American military commitment in both Iraq and Afghanistan as early as next month. Some Pentagon officials are urging a further drawdown of forces in Iraq beyond that envisioned by the White House, which is set to reduce the number of combat brigades from 20 to 15 by the end of next summer. At the same time, commanders in Afghanistan are looking for several additional battalions, helicopters and other resources to confront a resurgent Taliban movement.
(CONT)
YOU DID NOT HOLD BUSH AND THE NEOCONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR WAR CRIMES AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO STOP THE ILLEGAL WAR IN IRAQ!
ENJOY YOUR FAILURE, FEAR, the Carlisle Group (Bush Family) and High Energy Prices!
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