Al Qaeda Deputy Threatens U.S., Israel

In Audiotape, al-Zawahri Calls On Muslims To Revenge Israeli Attack On Gaza

(AP)  Al Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri called on Muslims in a new audiotape released Monday to strike Jewish and American targets in revenge for Israel's recent offensive in the Gaza Strip.

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.

[sandyteds1]

Allah is GOD. Leave American swine! Join us. www.theoandavirus.com

[feelfree1]

liberalme,

Re: "Plus it''s an election year--Bush would love nothing better than to "wangle" another 4 years out us us and Al-qaedas'' playing right along with Bush..."

Almost as if the regime is writing the script...

[feelfree1]

Re: "Is Islam really worth all of that my friend? Think about what you are doing."

I have already explained to you that I am not religious, Rick.

Doesn''t your imaginary friend warn you about bearing false witness?

[liberalme]

This boogie-man, Zawahiri, needs to get in line.

Virtually nobody supports the failing welfare/terror-State of Israel.

The scare-mongering propagandists at IntelCenter are really reaching with this latest nonsensical offering.

Boo!!!
Posted by FeelFree1 at 12:27 PM : Mar 25, 2008

Plus it''s an election year--Bush would love nothing better than to "wangle" another 4 years out us us and Al-qaedas'' playing right along with Bush--Bush, Cheney Bin Laden and al Zawahiri--love the war games and they''ll keep it going as long as they can--there really isn''t anything to win---they all just want to be the last man standing!

[truthword08]

Virtually nobody supports the failing welfare/terror-State of Israel.
posted by FeelFree1

-The majority of the USA does FeelFree1.

Your terrorist Islamic propaganda is for the birds and you represent a tiny minority of propagandists who infiltrate these message forums whenever an article about Israel pops up.

Is Islam really worth all of that my friend? Think about what you are doing.

[feelfree1]

This boogie-man, Zawahiri, needs to get in line.

Virtually nobody supports the failing welfare/terror-State of Israel.

The scare-mongering propagandists at IntelCenter are really reaching with this latest nonsensical offering.

Boo!!!

[truthword08]

That''s why Jesus forgave the thief on the cross who was being crucified with Him. At that moment Jesus forgave Him of his earthly sins and told him that he would be with Him in paradise.

The moment before Jesus died, He said "It is finished". He meant that His job was accomplished, that He had paid the penalty on the cross for the sins of mankind, past, present, and future.

Through Him and His loving Grace, you can be saved, right now, and receive the free gift of eternal life for the redemption of your sins.

All of us who have done so in our lives can tell you how wonderful of a feeling it is firsthand, to know that your sins have been forgiven, and that Jesus paid it all, and that He loves you, and He removes all doubts.

[truthword08]

Then when you do this sir, you are saved by God''s grace and His forgiveness of your sins, not of your works.

This is love. God''s love for you. Once you accept the Lord into your heart, you are given the free gift of eternal life immediately because He forgives you of your sins and He becomes your Lord and Savior, and your best friend.

Being a Christian is about a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, not a "religion".

If this does not make sense please feel free to ask me any questions. But if you would like to accept the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and receive the free gift of eternal life, it''s quite simple. All you have to do is say a simple prayer, admitting you are a sinner (that you''ve done some wrong things in your life) and that you need Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come into your life, by trusting in what He did on the cross 2,000 years ago and by believing He rose from the grave on the 3rd day.

All you have to do is say this simple prayer, and mean it, from your heart, and the Lord will come into your life and you will be forever changed.

It really is that simple, sir.

God bless you.

TW08

[truthword08]

damnedrelign,

What I''m trying to emphasize here is that in order to be a Christian, all you have to do is believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, admitting you''re a sinner, and asking Him to come into your heart and forgive you of your sins, by believing in what He did on the cross 2,000 years ago at Calvary and believing that He rose from the grave on the 3rd day.

This is what you have to believe in in your heart to become a Christian. It has nothing to do with "religion"(as some skeptics and others might claim), it has to do with totally committing yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ, Him. Not "religion".

[truthword08]

So according to your explanation, both you and JC would think or recognize that religions compete with each other claiming ownership to the only ''''true'''' truth''''?
posted by damnreligion

-What I''m saying is that religion is the problem. The gospels of Jesus Christ, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, simply ask us to follow Jesus and to love one another, love our neighbors, our enemies, you name it.

So the point I''m trying to make is that if everyone followed Christ, and not "religion" this world would be a much better and safer place. But this is not the case because of sin and people have chosen "Religion" instead of the grace of God which comes through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Does that make sense?

With "religion" one is constantly trying to earn their way to heaven through works and following a set of man made rules.

With Christ however, one has a personal relationship with God through Him, and is saved by God''s grace for their sins, not of their works or of any man-made rules.

What I''m trying to say is that through Christ their is freedom from religion, and a knowledge of the Truth. But with "Religion", there is simply a bunch of man-made rules and instructions with the hope that whatever god it is that is worshipped will "allow" you in to paradise.

[prinzowhales]

Will Ayman ever get to visit his brother Zaiman? He is part of the KLA which both al Qaeda and the US sides with against Serbia. Isn''t this special? Two brothers working for US intelligence...one as a friend, the other as a foe...Two brothers working for al Qaeda...one as a friend, one as a foe...Two brothers...one hunted, one supported...the stuff of fiction...but real.

[truthword08]

damnedrelign,

Religion is bad, yes. But Jesus Christ is not. That''s why He never asked anyone to pick a religion. He never said follow a religion, He never said I am a religion, and He never said religion is the way to heaven. He said HE is the way. Not religion. Not man-made rules.

Your assessment on religion is pretty accurate, but it also affirms why Jesus never asked anyone to follow religion.

[gaye5]

titletrack, you said.. something about Christian and Jewish fascists invading their country?
titletrack where have you been, America can produce its own oil, and America and many other western countries pour trillions a year into Iraq in money then they buy the oil as well and this is not counting the fact that the U.S. has already spent $45 billion rebuilding the country,..one could call it appeasement taxes to Muslims eh... but it appears unfortunately that the people are not getting this money could it be that a %u201Csignificant%u201D amount of what the U.S. GIVE to Iraqi is being diverted to Sunni and Shiite militias., so what does its leaders do with this money eh, it sure isnt spent on the people..
And what land has been taken by America???
I am one who will advocate to take all western soldiers out of Iraq so as they can go back to mass murdering themselves again, plus going back to their leaders cut off their water/food and power etc if the villiages dont do exactly what their leaders tell them to do, just as it was before, to the children not being allowed to learn etc etc... yep lets turn the clock back so as these ungrateful people can get on with killing each other, and DONT give them another cent..I now object to my hard earned money going to these people who hate us so much that they want to do terrible things to us..
On top of what the west pour into this country to help, the country gets many trillions in oil sales and yet it is still a basket case.

[gaye5]

How many times have we heard that these animals are going to hit America.. they have been saying it for years and now people from all over the world are saying that even sep 11th wasnt done by Muslims.. so if it were true (which I dont think is) in regards to muslims not doing Sep 11th then it means that the arabs have done only small things against america for decades and dont really have the means to do anything big, so they are only trying to terrorize americans, as Mohammad said, "a terrorized people are easier to conqure".

[yongamerica]

In his speech Ayman al-Zawahri calls on Muslims to "strike the interests of the Jews, the Americans, and all of those who participated in the attack on the Muslims,". Seeing that his band of murders have the blood of Muslims on their hands perhaps they should target themselves as well.

[titletrack]

What do you suppose the Muslims think of the Christian and Jewish fascists invading their country to steal their oil and land?

We and Israel are the rogue states. The Christian fascists here would do the same thing as they are if we were invaded: fight back. So what do we expect? Or is it OK as long as we are doing the genocide and murder?

Posted by noloyalisti

Who cares what they think. It is called survival of the fittest. Those who are weak are pushed aside

[j-whitman]

What was it McCain said today ?? He is in agreement with Ossama Bin Laden

[yongamerica]

Ayman al-Zawahri is going to shake his finger off if he keeps waving it so violently.
Why is this nobody even making the news? His message is always the same. It''s old and no one believes him because he has made himself a liar with his own words.

[yongamerica]

LOL

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[cfin5]

One parent of a robot should take him out ?

Posted by beehive21 at 06:04 PM : Mar 24, 2008------Wouldn''t hurt my feeling to hear of a USMC triggersmith removing that pointing finger with his remote hole drilling apparatus. I''d say that would spoil his sermons somewhat.