CAIRO, Egypt, March 24, 2008
Al Qaeda Deputy Threatens U.S., Israel
In Audiotape, al-Zawahri Calls On Muslims To Revenge Israeli Attack On Gaza
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Photo
A screen shot of al Qaeda figure Ayman al-Zawahiri from a video released in July 2007. In a new audio recording, Zawahiri calls on Muslims to strike Israeli and American interests in revenge for Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip earlier this month. (CBS)
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The al-Zawahri tape came on the heels of a message from Osama bin Laden, who called for a holy war to liberate the Palestinian territories. Together, the two messages appeared to be a more direct push by the terror network's leadership to use widespread anger over the Gaza violence to whip up support.
Israel's weeklong offensive in Gaza ended in early March. It was launched in an attempt to put down Palestinian militants firing rockets against nearby the Israeli town of Sderot and city of Ashkelon. The Israeli assault killed more than 120 people, including many civilians. Three Israelis also were killed.
Bin Laden and al-Zawahri have frequently referred to the Palestinian cause in their past messages, but usually in broader terms of liberating Jerusalem and denouncing Israeli violence. Their latest calls for attacks, however, had a more immediate and urgent tone.
The string of messages has raised concerns that al Qaeda could be planning new attacks in the West - or is seeking to inspire its sympathizers to carry out violence. In another message last week, bin Laden warned of a "severe" reaction against Europe after Danish papers published a cartoon seen as insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad.
The authenticity of the 4 minute, 44-second audiotape could not be independently confirmed. But the voice resembled that of al-Zawahri on previous audio and videotapes confirmed to be his. It was posted on an Islamic militant Web site where al Qaeda usually releases its statements, and a banner advertising the tape had the logo of al Qaeda's media arm, Al-Sahab.
"Muslims, today is your day. Strike the interests of the Jews, the Americans, and all those who participated in the attack on Muslims," al-Zawahri said. "Monitor the targets, collect money, prepare the equipment, plan with precision, and then - while relying on God - assault, seeking martyrdom and paradise."
Al-Zawahri said attacks should not be limited to places in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
"Today there is no room for he who says that we should only fight the Jews in Palestine," he said. "Let us strike their interests everywhere, just like they gathered against us from everywhere."
"Let them know that they will get blood for every dollar they spend in the killing of the Muslims, and for every bullet they fire at us, a volcano will turn back on them," he said, referring to American military aid and other ties to Israel. "They cannot expect to support Israel, then live in peace while the Jews are killing our fugitive and besieged people."
Israeli officials did not immediately respond to repeated messages seeking comment.
Al-Zawahri also referred to the publishing of the cartoon seen as insulting Islam's prophet. The cartoons, which sparked deadly riots across the Muslim world in 2006 after they were first published, were reprinted last month.
"They will never be able to insult and make a mockery out of our Prophet, peace and prayers of Allah upon him," al-Zawahri said.
The Egyptian-born Al-Zawahri accused Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of colluding with Israel in the siege of Gaza. Egypt has sealed its border with the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian militant group Hamas took over the territory last year.
He said Mubarak "repeats the same dirty role" as the Lebanese Phalangists - a Christian militia that was allied with Israel in Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war and was blamed in the massacre of Palestinian refugees in the Beirut camps of Sabra and Shatila.
"The roles are the same, even if the faces change - the same betrayal even if the names have changed," said al-Zawahri.
Ben Venzke, head of IntelCenter, a U.S. group that monitors al Qaeda message traffic, said in an e-mail that the "direct use of language and sense of urgency" in al-Zawahri's call for attacks - alongside bin Laden's audiotapes last week - "is cause for concern that al-Qaeda may be moving closer to executing a large-scale attack against EU, American and/or Jewish interests."
But Venzke said it's difficult to predict because in the past, attacks sometimes came more than a year after an al Qaeda threat.
In his audiotape posted on the Web on Thursday, bin Laden said, "Palestine cannot be retaken by negotiations and dialogue, but with fire and iron."
There has been little sign in the past of direct involvement by al Qaeda militants in Israeli-Palestinian violence, though Israeli officials and the government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have warned that the terror network's presence in the area is quietly growing.
With the latest messages, al Qaeda may be responding to impatience among its sympathizers over the lack of direct al Qaeda involvement in the Palestinian issue. Supporters have frequently posted messages on Islamic militant Web forums asking when the group will carry out attacks inside Israel.
The increased focus on the Palestinian issue also reflects the terror network's desire to show it is up to date on the latest events in the region, even as al-Zawahri, bin Laden and other leaders are believed to remain in hiding in the Afghan-Pakistan border region.
The Israeli assault in Gaza was heavily covered in Arab media, particularly Arab satellite TV news networks such as Al-Jazeera, which aired footage of casualties and damage from Israeli strikes in the Mediterranean coastal strip.
The fighting has hampered a new round of peace talks launched at a conference hosted by the U.S. in November. The Bush administration has been pushing the two sides to sign a peace deal by the end of the year.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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See all 76 CommentsIs anyone still buying this silly nonsense?
We note that this authorless pile of propaganda comes on the eve of the 4,000th officially recognized U.S. military death, as a result of the criminal war of aggression against Iraq.
What a coincidence. Gee, have we seen this before?
We note that "Zawahiri" fails to mention Iraq or Afghanistan. Must have slipped his mind.
Again, what is the URL for this supposed "Islamic militant Web site where al Qaeda usually releases its statements", and why is "al-Qaeda" allowed to maintain a Website?
Ooga-booga altert!
Boo!!
Given Al Qaeda''s history, it sounds perfectly reasonable and probable to me.
What''s that you say, you haven''t heard of that?
Well it is a common topic when US Middle East topics are discussed amongst everyday, average Joe type Muslims, I wonder why the media is not informing you of this...
Nothing more needs to be said as even MORE people die at the hands of Bin Laden and his group.
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Posted by aeasus at 06:43 AM : Mar 24, 2008
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Strange you should say that.. being YOU were one of those who thought the "Terror Alerts" were such a great idea when we were being LIED into the War in Iraq? You don''t think WE the PEOPLE, being we are about to elect a new leader, shouldn''t know this? If you do then you are just a Bush Cultist in search of a defense.
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Posted by sleepyric at 08:34 AM : Mar 24, 2008
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Yep you got that right... course IF we''d had a REAL President with a little courage, he''d have dug these guys out and brought them to justice LONG ago. Oh well.... LOL Sieg Heil Bush
This is old news.
What''s new heh?
Posted by grumpas
-The only thing adding fuel to Muslim hatred is their own belief system. Not the USA.
Every time you post on a public message forum that it''s the USA''s fault and this administration''s fault that Muslim hatred has increased, the only thing you are accomplishing sir is feeding maniac Muslims around the globe exactly what they want to hear.
Ahmadenijad and Bin Laden blame the same source as you. Yet you see no problem with this.
Although I have not agreed with all of Bush''s policies, to blame him for the Muslim hatred (they attacked us on 9-11-01 by the way in case you missed it) is completely absurd and irrational.
Every time you do this, Muslim jihadists who clearly read these articles and comments like yours consider it another victory for them, a victory in the propaganda game.
Not to mention the fact that you are demoralizing our troops who have access to the internet and can read these things.
Posted by grumpas at 09:04 AM : Mar 24, 2008
I think you are forgetting about Mogadishu and those Toma-hawks Clinton sent to Afghanistan. But that''s okay, I think you consider fighting terrorism a police action and not a war regardless of the fact that Al-Qaeda fights it as a war.
Protect the borders and let the arabs f themselves to death.
http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2001/2842us_alqaeda_kla.html
Why isn''t the Demopublican Regime in Washington proud of its support of Zaimen al Zawahiri drug and terror jihad with the INTERPOL named terrorist drug dealers, the KLA? They don''t seem to be very proud of his brother Ayman, either...
http://www.members.tripod.com/kosovo99/whoand.htm
I guess that joke, the "American al Qaeda" will be making his appearence next. Looks like a false flag operation is looking more and more likely...
ORANGE ALERT!
RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!
GREAT SCARY PROPAGANDA TO PROP UP BUSH''s WAR!
Hey stupid, there are two holes in the ground in NYC that used to be be giant building. They are there because Bush and his Republican incompetents ignored the threat from the terrorists. Clinton didn''t - which is why the previous group of terrorist who attacked this same target are now rotting in prison.
Where''s Bin-Laden almost 7 years later? Oh, that''s right, he''s still at large, threatening us. Your leader Bush is an idiot and a boob who couldn''t find his a$$ with both hands. And so are you for supporting him.
Tens of thousands of GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS lost their limbs for a NON-AMERICAN CAUSE, NON-AMERICAN GOD-CHOSEN PEOPLE and a NON-AMERICAN HOLY LAND far away from any state or territory of the United States!!
Why should it be the responsibility of GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS to protect NON-AMERICAN HOLY LAND on the cost of UNHOLY LAND "UNITED STATES"?
Because CHRISTIANITY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS.
This world was much better off with PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIANS playing THE FATHER, THE SON and the HOLY SPIRIT in the churches then to come into US politics and sodomize United States (The holy, god-loving, conservative christian man is THE FATHER, that young, innocent, little boy whose pant is pulled down in the name of god is THE SON and what is inserted in the BACK HOLE of that little boy is THE HOLY SPIRIT).
Posted by timdgrim
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Sort of like liberals in America with tie-die shirts in anti-War marches.
posted by patriotic9
-Give ''em what they want to hear patriotic9. There you go pal. Give those Muslim maniacs what they want to hear.
I wonder sir, do you consider Islamic suicide bombers sane?
Did everybody notice this one line in the story? It''s a pretty big qualifier, folks!
Maybe these tapes are being produced by Al Qaeda sources, and may be they aren''t! Maybe, they are just an additional ''fear button'' being activated against a very niave---and often times---ignorant American public, that rarely stops to question things and ask themselves if any of this makes sense? Are there any other possible explanations?!
Ten years from now, it''d be funny---ironic---to find out the CIA was behind these tapes in an effort to keep the war going---it wouldn''t surprise me!
Posted by timdgrim
Sort of like liberals in America with tie-die shirts in anti-War marches.
Posted by TruthWord08
So, which one of you is Beavis and which one Butthead? It''s hard to tell because you left out he "hehehehe" laugh.
For an ''al Qaeda'' leadership we have Osama bin Dead, the Intel Center''s Ayman al Zawahiri and the ADL''s American al Qaeda Adam Gadahn..."Nothing to see here folks, Move along."
...he says he will extend his hand in peace first... that is what the Mongols would do...and if the enemy city doesn''t surrender?--then it was burned to the ground and all the inhabitants slain.
Now just why is he going to have to extend his hand? Apparently, he has the same thing in mind as Bush... he''s just not as forthcoming about it. There is a kind of manic truth in Bush and McCain...their move against AFgahnistan and Iraq was hamhanded and brutal at best and they are not apologetic...
...Obama and the Democrats are slicker...they are going to pretend to be pushed into war...and Obama will be left there with Bush''s pre-emption doctrine and the War Pig, Police State Judiciary to back him.
So if you are a shy little war piggy and need to be pushed and prodded into supporting a war...Obama is your candidate. "Please, please don''t make me kill you...Do what I say, and no one will be hurt!," ...the Obama foreign policy.
For an ''''al Qaeda'''' leadership we have Osama bin Dead, the Intel Center''''s Ayman al Zawahiri and the ADL''''s American al Qaeda Adam Gadahn..."Nothing to see here folks, Move along."
Posted by Prinzowhales
Please return to your taliban training camp--please not tht Al-Zawarhii made threats against Jews andthe US--these are not anti israelis or anti zionists much to your protestations-it is quite simple--they hate jews just like you do.
lfitts1--Do you deny that Adam Gadahn is the grandson of a board member of the Israeli intelligence front, the "Anti-Defamation League"?--The group found guilty in California for spying on Americans?
Looks like YOU are the one who supports terrorists... From the death squad ring master, Negroponte to the airline bomber Posada who worked for the CIA.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/may2005/110505planebomber.htm
Come on, time to grow up and stop being so scared of everyone who is not a white republican. The real threat is right here in our government. Oh, and quit listening to the fascist propaganda in the mainsteam media. The you won''t be so frightened.
Posted by notblue
-That''s because allot of these posters on here are Muslims themselves and some of them have freely admitted as such. They have a propaganda agenda.
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