CAIRO, Egypt, Feb. 27, 2008

Al Qaeda No. 2 Lauds Slain Commander

Terrorist Media Branch Showcases Video Message From Ayman Al-Zawahiri

  • Image from video by IntelCenter shows Al-Qaida's top lieutenant to Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahri, May 5, 2007. Photo

    Image from video by IntelCenter shows Al-Qaida's top lieutenant to Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahri, May 5, 2007.  (AP/IntelCenter)

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(AP)  Al Qaeda's number two Ayman al-Zawahiri issued a new video message Wednesday praising one of the terrorist organization's slain commanders in Afghanistan.

The nine minute, 59 seconds-long tape, entitled "An Elegy to the Martyred Commander Abu Laith al-Libi," was issued by al-Sahab, the organization's media branch.

The video had English subtitles and was followed by a letter addressed to al Qaeda sympathizers and Muslims in general. Its authenticity could not be immediately verified, but SITE and the IntelCenter, two U.S. groups that monitor militant messages, also reported it.

Al-Libi is believed to have been killed by a missile from a U.S. Predator drone that struck his safehouse in Pakistan in late January. He was viewed as a top al Qaeda strategist in neighboring Afghanistan.

Pakistani intelligence considered him the operational commander of al Qaeda in the border region and one of the militant group's most high-profile figures after its leader, Osama bin Laden, and his deputy al-Zawahiri.

In the tape, Al-Zawahiri described Al-Libi as a "knight" of al Qaeda's holy war. He was "a mountain of Jihad and a lion," al-Zawahiri said.

The al Qaeda deputy implicitly threatened the U.S. and its allies, saying that new leaders would replace al-Libi to continue the militant group's fight. "You Americans and you the agents of the Americans: (al-Libi and others) are the pioneers of the march and the good omen of a new dawn," he said.

Quote

Every time a martyr falls, another martyr grabs the banner from him, and every time a chief goes down in blood, another chief completes the march after him.

Ayman al-Zawahri, al Qaeda deputy chief
"Every time a martyr falls, another martyr grabs the banner from him, and every time a chief goes down in blood, another chief completes the march after him," al Qaeda's deputy chief said.

Al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor, also lashed out at his former allies of the Islamic Jihad in Egypt who have recently called for revising the group's radical ideology. He described the group's leaders, currently held in Egyptian jails, as "hypocrites and followers of despots" for softening their stance.

The video released Wednesday was posted on a web site that usually releases al Qaeda messages. The web site also displayed a banner advertising an upcoming "interview" of al-Zawahiri by al-Sahab, with a picture of him in a white traditional Arab robe and black turban, seated before a bookshelf. Such advertisements are usually posted up to 72 hours before the message is released.

Al-Zawahiri is believed to play a large role in directing al Qaeda's strategy on the ground and issues frequent videos and audiotapes, often laying out the network's doctrinal line. He issued 15 video and audio messages in 2007, and is seen by many counterterrorism experts to be al Qaeda's operational chief, rather than bin Laden.

The message released Wednesday was the first tape or video issued by al-Zawahiri this year. It followed a tape issued on Feb. 6 by Mustafa Abu al-Yazeed, the self-proclaimed leader of the terror network's Afghanistan branch.

In the 12-minute video, Abu al-Yazeed said the death of al-Libi and other al Qaeda commanders only strengthened the group's resolve against "infidels."

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Video and Galleries from War On Terror

Add a Comment See all 50 Comments
by singingrick February 27, 2008 5:33 PM PST


I declare Jihad on all Jihadies that Jihad against Bush''s global Jihad!




Reply to this comment
by lovegetpeace February 27, 2008 5:37 PM PST
Folks,
The Soviet Union got out of Afghanistan after 13 years of trying just about everything.

American got 7 more years before they learn from the school of hard knocks.
Reply to this comment
by notblue February 27, 2008 5:49 PM PST
lovegetpeace, so according to history and your opinion fighting the militants is fruitless so we just retreat and wait, hopefully when we retreat the bad guys will just stop attacking?
Reply to this comment
by singingrick February 27, 2008 5:58 PM PST



notblue


According to you, following a moronic policy that has proven to be a total failure is the only option we have other than surrender.

lol!


Reply to this comment
by singingrick February 27, 2008 5:59 PM PST


notblue


You find those WMD''s yet?

No?

Keep looking?

lol!





Reply to this comment
by j-whitman February 27, 2008 6:08 PM PST
notblue,,,, Why is it when retreat is mentioned it''s always from a Bush Lover ???
Reply to this comment
by j-whitman February 27, 2008 6:10 PM PST
notblue,,,,, FYI - Bush''s quandry in Iraq & his appeasing terrorist supporting country''s has allowe Al Quida to grow.
Reply to this comment
by hungry1968 February 27, 2008 6:13 PM PST
lovegetpeace, so according to history and your opinion fighting the militants is fruitless so we just retreat and wait, hopefully when we retreat the bad guys will just stop attacking?

Posted by notblue at 05:49 PM : Feb 27, 2008






No. We should have went into Afghanistan AND Pakistan and chased these *** down, then either kill them where they stand or put them on trial AND THEN execute them.

Unfortunately for us, we have a president that is more concerned with starting a war against a country that did nothing to us INSTEAD of going after the terrorists that actually attacked us.

Friggin'' conservatives are spineless cowards.
Reply to this comment
by rowdytexan2 February 27, 2008 6:54 PM PST
why do they practice apartheid on non-muslims???



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by terrorislama at 05:20 PM : Feb 27, 2008

The same stupid reason our extremist terrorist leadership is committing jihad against these extremist terrorist leadership. It''s called stupidity!
Reply to this comment
by rowdytexan2 February 27, 2008 6:55 PM PST
Wonder when they''ll dig Osama up and put out another fake tape!
Reply to this comment
by jwind11 February 27, 2008 7:30 PM PST
Wonder when they''''ll dig Osama up and put out another fake tape!

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 06:55 PM : Feb 27, 2008

i am sure you will be first to know
Reply to this comment
by mcvet February 27, 2008 7:35 PM PST
lovegetpeace, so according to history and your opinion fighting the militants is fruitless so we just retreat and wait, hopefully when we retreat the bad guys will just stop attacking?

Posted by notblue at 05:49 PM : Feb 27, 2008


It''s no wonder we''re losing this fight people. It''s small minded fascist like this poor man who can''t get the message. We were PROMISED by that lower than life LYING piece of Garbage, George Bush, that he would go after these people and not stop until they are brought to justice. So what do we have AFTER 6 years? Well we''re arguing about Al Queda in Iraq!! What Al Queda in Iraq? Well the group that opposed the invasion of Iraq by the US, it allied itself with the Al Queda that attacked us, the Al Queda that Bush and McCain PROMISED they would not rest until they were brought to justice. The Al Queda that is NOW in a safe haven created by George Bush and John McCain. You fools had better wake up because there is little doubt that John McCain is going to kill even MORE of our troops and it''s a promise that Al Queda in Pakistan will STILL be there when were dead broke... pretty good bet there will still be a civil war in Iraq as well. Just how much failure do we accept?
Reply to this comment
by mcvet February 27, 2008 7:36 PM PST
Wonder when they''''ll dig Osama up and put out another fake tape!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 06:55 PM : Feb 27, 2008
+ report abuse

It''s pretty certain that''s the ONLY way they are ever going to catch him!!
Reply to this comment
by mcvet February 27, 2008 7:44 PM PST
I have serious doubt about John McCain and his ability to deal with this situation. He, like Bush, seems to just want to kill our troops without going after Al Queda or without repairing our relationship with our former allies. This nation can not keep this up. The cost and the wear on our Military is going to put us at risk.
Reply to this comment
by jwind11 February 27, 2008 7:45 PM PST
Just how much failure do we accept?

Posted by MCVet at 07:35 PM : Feb 27, 2008

we still let you post dont we?
Reply to this comment
by singingrick February 27, 2008 7:45 PM PST



Wow, the heads of Al Qaeda are feeling pretty confident that Bush won''t go after them. They even do press releases.



Reply to this comment
by jwind11 February 27, 2008 7:49 PM PST
John McCain vietnam vet, years in POW camp. Gets out, goes on to productive member to society even becoming a senator and a presidential candidate. McVet, vietnam vet, says lost a foot in war, goes on to become a victim, offers absolutely nothing to society but hate and anger.
Reply to this comment
by luigi999-2009 February 27, 2008 7:55 PM PST
What''s with all the books behind him in the video? This clown has probably never opened a book in his miserable life. He and bin Laden are like cartoon characters.
Reply to this comment
by bluestardad February 27, 2008 8:11 PM PST
MORE VIDEOS STRAIGHT FROM THE ROVIAN STUDIOS IN CRAWFORD TEXAS...

WHAT IS BUSHIT AND THE BOYS UP TO NOW....

BOOGIE MAN!

AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!
Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 27, 2008 8:20 PM PST
Just how much failure do we accept?

Posted by MCVet at 07:35 PM : Feb 27, 2008

we still let you post dont we?

Posted by jwind11 at 07:45 PM : Feb 27, 2008

It appears that jwind11 is secretly coveting you and it%u2019s just a matter of time before she hit%u2019s you up
Reply to this comment
by jwind11 February 27, 2008 8:22 PM PST
Just how much failure do we accept?

Posted by MCVet at 07:35 PM : Feb 27, 2008

we still let you post dont we?

Posted by jwind11 at 07:45 PM : Feb 27, 2008

It appears that jwind11 is secretly coveting you and it%u2019s just a matter of time before she hit%u2019s you up

Posted by mrconservatv at 08:20 PM : Feb 27, 2008

I seriously doubt McVet has ever been coveted by anyone his whole life....thus the anger.
Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 27, 2008 8:22 PM PST
The video had English subtitles

And was produced by KARL ROVER PRODUCTIONS INC
Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 27, 2008 8:23 PM PST
Just how much failure do we accept?

Posted by MCVet at 07:35 PM : Feb 27, 2008

we still let you post dont we?

Posted by jwind11 at 07:45 PM : Feb 27, 2008

It appears that jwind11 is secretly coveting you and it%u2019s just a matter of time before she hit%u2019s you up

Posted by mrconservatv at 08:20 PM : Feb 27, 2008

I seriously doubt McVet has ever been coveted by anyone his whole life....thus the anger.


Posted by jwind11 at 08:22 PM : Feb 27, 2008

In other words you really like Him
Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 27, 2008 8:25 PM PST
Posted by jwind11 at 08:22 PM : Feb 27, 2008


It''s rather odd that you chase him all over these threads and can''t deal with the topics instead you turn it into your own McVet can I help you thread.
Reply to this comment
by jwind11 February 27, 2008 8:25 PM PST
Just how much failure do we accept?

Posted by MCVet at 07:35 PM : Feb 27, 2008

we still let you post dont we?

Posted by jwind11 at 07:45 PM : Feb 27, 2008

It appears that jwind11 is secretly coveting you and it%u2019s just a matter of time before she hit%u2019s you up

Posted by mrconservatv at 08:20 PM : Feb 27, 2008

I seriously doubt McVet has ever been coveted by anyone his whole life....thus the anger.


Posted by jwind11 at 08:22 PM : Feb 27, 2008

In other words you really like Him

Posted by mrconservatv at 08:23 PM : Feb 27, 2008

yea, i like bitter angry probably impotent losers.
Reply to this comment
by jwind11 February 27, 2008 8:26 PM PST
It''''s rather odd that you chase him all over these threads and can''''t deal with the topics instead you turn it into your own McVet can I help you thread.

Posted by mrconservatv at 08:25 PM : Feb 27, 2008

oh my god!! mrconsrvatv and mcvet are an item.....want me to leave your boyfriend alone mrconsrvatv?
Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 27, 2008 8:28 PM PST

Terrorist Media Branch Showcases Video Message From Ayman Al-Zawahiri

WOW that war on terror sure has been a success

With over a few hundred billion and the US military chasing them for five plus years
Reply to this comment
by jwind11 February 27, 2008 8:28 PM PST
John McCain vietnam vet, years in POW camp. Gets out, goes on to productive member to society even becoming a senator and a presidential candidate. McVet, vietnam vet, says lost a foot in war, goes on to become a victim, offers absolutely nothing to society but hate and anger.

Posted by jwind11 at 08:24 PM : Feb 27, 2008
Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 27, 2008 8:31 PM PST
William F. Buckley, Jr.

In a February 2006 column published at National Review Online and distributed by Universal Press Syndicate, Buckley stated unequivocally that, "One cannot doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed." Buckley has also stated that "...it''s important that we acknowledge in the inner councils of state that it (the war) has failed, so that we should look for opportunities to cope with that failure."



The war on terror is headed the same way just as the war on drugs failed
Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 27, 2008 8:32 PM PST
William F. Buckley, Jr.

In a February 2006 column published at National Review Online and distributed by Universal Press Syndicate, Buckley stated unequivocally that, "One cannot doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed." Buckley has also stated that "...it''''s important that we acknowledge in the inner councils of state that it (the war) has failed, so that we should look for opportunities to cope with that failure."



The war on terror is headed the same way just as the war on drugs failed

Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 27, 2008 8:36 PM PST
Terrorism is as old as civilization itself and many political movements have been forced to resort to it in varying degrees, especially in their early stages of struggle. Powerful, established political powers regularly resort to state terrorism, known euphemistically as war conducted by overwhelming force applied with shock and awe - in other words, terror. Thus the "war on terror" is in fact fought with state terror. Even the most heinous war is always rationalized with high moral justification.

In its most current manifestation, the "war on terrorism" today is a religious war between a faith-based Christian nation and Islamic extremists, both groups controlled by fundamentalists, not unlike the struggle between the Roman Catholic Church and emerging Protestant movements during the Thirty Years'' War. It is an unevenly matched conflict between a powerful state military machine and clandestine cells engaged in asymmetrical warfare reminiscent of the early phases of the Thirty Years'' War. It is an unbalanced game between an organized system with visible and open targets everywhere and a vast network of disjointed cells that are impossible to find until after they surface with an attack. The same was true with the Holy Roman Empire in its effort to rein in the Protestant German princes and their religious zealot advisers during the Thirty Years'' War.


http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/GD14Aa01.html
Reply to this comment
by guadalcanal3 February 27, 2008 8:41 PM PST
When are we going to get this guy??
Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 27, 2008 8:43 PM PST
When are we going to get this guy??


Posted by guadalcanal3 at 08:41 PM : Feb 27, 2008

Before or after USAMA BIN DEAD is identified
Reply to this comment
by rowdytexan2 February 27, 2008 8:46 PM PST
John McCain vietnam vet, years in POW camp. Gets out, goes on to productive member to society even becoming a senator and a presidential candidate. McVet, vietnam vet, says lost a foot in war, goes on to become a victim, offers absolutely nothing to society but hate and anger.

Posted by jwind11 at 08:24 PM : Feb 27, 2008


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jwind11 at 08:28 PM : Feb 27, 2008

Yeah, J-Whitman is not promoting that John McCain be allowed to make cannon fodder out of military volunteers for a cause that first of all was an illegal pre-emptive war on another country for it''s oil, and second is a totally failed initiative!

Mr. McCain has become a liar for the benefit of the Neocon regime and deserves to be spit on!
Reply to this comment
by hungry1968 February 27, 2008 8:47 PM PST
Gets out, goes on to productive member to society even becoming a senator and a presidential candidate.

Posted by jwind11 at 07:49 PM : Feb 27, 2008





Make up your mind.

Is he a productive member of society or is he a senator and a presidential candidate?
Reply to this comment
by rowdytexan2 February 27, 2008 8:49 PM PST
When are we going to get this guy??


Posted by guadalcanal3 at 08:41 PM : Feb 27, 2008

Before or after USAMA BIN DEAD is identified



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by mrconservatv at 08:43 PM : Feb 27, 2008

Osama is dead! Ms. Bhutto announced it on international tv, and now that she''s let the cat out of the bag, she''s dead! Quite a coincidence, huh?

No more boggieman Osama!
Reply to this comment
by hungry1968 February 27, 2008 8:49 PM PST
When are we going to get this guy??

Posted by guadalcanal3 at 08:41 PM : Feb 27, 2008




You''ve got to look for ''em, before you can find ''em.
Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 27, 2008 8:53 PM PST
Osama is dead! Ms. Bhutto announced it on international tv, and now that she''''s let the cat out of the bag, she''''s dead! Quite a coincidence, huh?

No more boggieman Osama!



Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 08:49 PM : Feb 27, 2008


Wasn''t that just the neatest coincidence reminds of


9/11 Security Courtesy of Marvin Bush
Marvin Bush was a principal in a company which provided security for the World Trade Center, United Airlines, and Dulles International Airport.www.whatreallyhappened.com/911security.html - 14k - Cached - Similar pages


Who are these conspiracy theorists anyway? ROLLING MY EYES
Reply to this comment
by fstop100 February 27, 2008 8:56 PM PST
why look for an old friend?
Reply to this comment
by donbl1 February 27, 2008 10:24 PM PST
Well, it looks like we Americans are looking for OBL and the bunch if we knocked off a key lieutenant by Predator while he was in "Pakistan". Looks like Pakistan is now open season.
Reply to this comment
by ontheleft February 27, 2008 10:50 PM PST
''Image from video by IntelCenter shows Al-Qaida''s top lieutenant to Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahri''

Anyone with a 3rd grade education knows from the latest anonymous e-mails circulating around that Obama is an al Qaeda operative and a devout jihadist.

So it''s only fitting that he chooses this old guy with the turban as his running mate. It should be an interesting ticket going up against McCain. Obama-Zawahri for president of the United States of Al Qaeda. Praise be to Allah! Yippee!
Reply to this comment
by soldierboy37 February 27, 2008 11:20 PM PST
Zawahri, Why don''t you do everyone a favor and go find a rat to gnaw that thing off your forehead you freak!
Reply to this comment
by yongamerica February 27, 2008 11:20 PM PST
Anyone with a 3rd grade education knows from the latest anonymous e-mails circulating around that Obama is an al Qaeda operative and a devout jihadist. - ontheleft

I can''t say how many people have had to hold their gut from laughter after reading your post. You write for Saturday Night Live, is this right?
Reply to this comment
by endofempire February 28, 2008 1:24 AM PST
I guess the socialist-Americans (I''m trying to be PC)would say something along the lines of: This is another example of neocon propaganda... This guy isn''t real and if we drop our guard nothing will happen. Just like the attack on the twin towers didn''t happen and we didn''t land on the moon. I guess Foxworthy is right... Even leftists can be rednecks!
Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 28, 2008 1:52 AM PST

May 1, 2003

President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended
Remarks by the President from the USS Abraham Lincoln
At Sea Off the Coast of San Diego, California



Bush Works To Rally Support for Iraq ''Surge'' - washingtonpost.comJan 9, 2007 ... President Bush yesterday began promoting his plan to send more troops to Iraq placing troop levels around 132,000




Pentagon expects ''post-surge'' troop levels in Iraq to be 140,000
The Associated PressPublished: February 26, 2008

Now back to the war on terror
Reply to this comment
by mrconservatv February 28, 2008 1:54 AM PST
%u201CIt had all the earmarks of a CIA operation; the bomb killed everybody in the room except the intended target!%u201D
William F. Buckley, Jr. quote




Sounds like 9/11
Reply to this comment
by poopusbuttus February 28, 2008 4:03 AM PST
It''''s no wonder we''''re losing this fight people. It''''s small minded fascist like this poor man who can''''t get the message. We were PROMISED by that lower than life LYING piece of Garbage, George Bush, that he would go after these people and not stop until they are brought to justice. So what do we have AFTER 6 years? Well we''''re arguing about Al Queda in Iraq!! What Al Queda in Iraq? Well the group that opposed the invasion of Iraq by the US, it allied itself with the Al Queda that attacked us, the Al Queda that Bush and McCain PROMISED they would not rest until they were brought to justice. The Al Queda that is NOW in a safe haven created by George Bush and John McCain. You fools had better wake up because there is little doubt that John McCain is going to kill even MORE of our troops and it''''s a promise that Al Queda in Pakistan will STILL be there when were dead broke... pretty good bet there will still be a civil war in Iraq as well. Just how much failure do we accept?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by MCVet


Spoken like a true dummy. Al-Qada safe? Well, perhaps you ought to get a "seance" together, see if you can get in touch with the dead, and ask Al-libi if he thought he was safe....
Reply to this comment
by twocanpete February 28, 2008 10:48 AM PST
http://twocanpete.blogspot.com
We have replace one bunch of homicidal maniacs for another at great cost to this country. Follow the money!
Reply to this comment
by albinm February 28, 2008 8:36 PM PST
have al-Zawarhri bring it on, after we eliminate him we can stuff him full of pork and send him off to his promised land.
Reply to this comment
by prinzowhales March 1, 2008 3:36 PM PST
Which al-Zawahiri?--The SITE employee pictured above or his cousin who is a ranking leader of special forces of our allies--the drug dealing KLA terror organization, whose rule we made possible in Kosovo?

"Ana raicha al Qaeda." In Arabic, this means, "I''m going to the toilet." Do you think dose bad ole tewwowists named their little gang after a sh*tpot?

"al Qaida" was also the name given to the data base of all the mujahideen fighting for the CIA.

Its little wonder that the US-backed al Qaida appeared in Iraq only when the Americans had cleared a path for them.
Reply to this comment
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