Just two weeks after the US Presidential election, Al Qaeda second-in-command Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri has released a message, which he claims is specifically in response to the election of Obama.
Zawahiri says
Barack Obama has won the presidency of the United States of America, and on this occasion, I would like to send several messages.”
In the message Zawahiri calls Obama “the direct opposite of honorable Black Americans”. He points out that Obama was born to a Muslim father, but “chose to stand in the ranks of the enemies of the Muslims, and pray the prayer of the Jews, although … claim to be Christian, in order to climb the rungs of leadership in America”.
He calls Obama and Secretaries Rice and Powell “House Negroes”, claiming they are confirmation of the words of Malcolm X.
This is not the first time Zawahiri has used the term “abayd al bayt”, which literally translates as slaves or servants of the house. Zawahiri takes the phrase from a statement by Malcolm X, which Zawahiri has quoted in the past. In an interview with As Sahab in May 2007, Zawahiri includes old video footage of Malcom X saying:
"You have to read the history of slavery to understand this. There were two kinds of Negroes: there was that old house Negro and [there was] the field Negro”.
In that message as well, Zawahiri suggested that former US Secretary of State Colin Powell and current US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice were “House Negroes”, the same term that he now applies to US President-elect Barack Obama.
The influence of Adam Gadahn is apparent in these Zawahiri comments, which seem to reflect Gadahn’s perception of current race relations in the United States.
Zawahiri congratulates Abu Umar al Baghdadi, citing the Obama election as evidence that the US has been defeated in Iraq. He encourages the mujahideen in Somalia to continue fighting.
He concludes the message with a threat towards the west:
As for my final message, it is to the American people. I tell it: you incurred defeat and losses from the foolish actions of Bush and his gang, and at the same time, Shaykh Usama bin Ladin (may Allah preserve him) sent you a message to withdraw from the lands of the Muslims and refrain from stealing their treasures and interfering in their affairs. So choose for yourself whatever you like, and bear the consequences of your choice, and as you judge, you will be judged.
This comment is reminiscent of the words of Bin Laden in his pre-election video tape of October 2004, when Bin Laden said:
Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands. Any nation that does not attack us will not be attacked.
Al Qaeda has been uncharacteristically silent during the weeks and months leading up to the US election. However, in today’s message Zawahiri has let the world know his opinion of the new US President-elect. Will we soon hear from Bin Laden as well?
Official Al Qaeda Statement: Humiliate the Republicans
Al Qaeda has finally made an official statement of policy regarding the 2008 US elections, and it is a ringing “anti-endorsement” for the Republican Party.
The “anti-endorsement”, posted on the jihadist forums a week before the Election Day 2008, was included towards the end of the message. The message, from Al Qaeda leader (and Bagram prison escapee) Abu Yahya al Libi, was a Khutba or sermon delivered in honor of the Eid al Fitre holiday.
Unlike 2004, when Bin Laden referenced both candidates by name, but refrained from actually endorsing either, Al Libi specifically calls for the wrath of Allah to be brought down upon the Republicans.
The message is more of a "vote against" message calling for the party of Bush to be humiliated, rather than a "vote for" message promoting Obama and the Democrats:
Oh Allah, Lord of mankind, humiliate Bush and his party!
Oh, Allah, degrade and defy him!
Oh Allah, Lord of mankind, defy him!
Oh Allah, make him live a day like the day Pharoah, Haman, and Qarun experienced...
Comments about the election have been few and far between on the jihadist forums and in message from Al Qaeda leadership this year. This is a sharp contrast to the 2004 election, when discussion about candidates Bush and Kerry began months in advance of Election Day, and culminated in an official As Sahab release of a video tape from Osama bin Laden.
In a video released just 4 days before Election Day 2004, Bin Laden said:
Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or Al-Qa'ida.
Your security is in your own hands
At this point, it is not known whether or not Bin Laden will comment on the 2008 US Presidential Election. With just days to go before the election, we’ll know soon whether or not Bin Laden will make a statement.
In the meantime, it appears obvious from Al Libi’s statement that Al Qaeda is not supporting the Republicans.
A new video from American Al Qaeda Adam Gadahn was released this morning by As Sahab.
The video, 32 minutes, 7 seconds long, is primarily focused on Pakistan. It makes specific references
to Musharaff's resignation and to Pakistan's new President Asif Zardari.
He says "It's time for you to put aside tribal, ethnic, and territorial differences and petty worldly disputes not just
for now but forever and unite to restore the glories of your forefathers and hasten, Allah willing, the defeat
of the Zionist-Crusader enemy and the establishment of the Islamic state, the Ummah, the so eagerly
anticipated... and fight the Crusaders and their agents wherever they are and don't be intimidate by their
weak and futile plots"
We are transcribing the video now and will send out a transcript shortly.
The video can be downloaded from: http://www.lauramansfield.com/azzam102008.rm
New unreleased Zawahiri message sends condolences for those killed in rockslide near Cairo
While most of the focus has been on the difficulties As Sahab is having in releasing the much-anticipated September 11 commemorative video, another As Sahab video has been quietly uploaded to the internet. It is expected to be released shortly.
The video, which features Al Qaeda second-in-command Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri plays an audio message which sends condolences for those killed in the recent rockslides in residential slum in the Muqattum Hills near Cairo, Egypt on September 6. At least 95 residents were killed in the disaster.
We will be providing a full transcript later today
A copy of the video has been provided to subscribers.
New Zawahiri message lamenting the deaths of two recent Al Qaeda members to be released shortly
We will update when the message is released.
Zawahiri English language message to Pakistani Army released on internet by As Sahab
The message released to ARY TV last weekend featuring the voice of Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri speaking in English
was released on the internet this morning by As Sahab.
The message, which features an audio recording of Zawahiri speaking in English played while a still image of
Zawahiri is shown on screen, is 58 minutes, 10 seconds in length.
A full transcript will be provided later today.
Al Qaeda Leader Mustafa abu al Yazid reported killed in Pakistan
Reports out of Pakistan indicate that Al Qaeda's Mustafa abu al Yazid has been killed in an airstrike by
Pakistani planes in the tribal areas near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Over the past yearand a half, Abu al Yazid has appeared in a number of Al Qaeda videos that were released
by As Sahab. He is usually described in those videos as the commander of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, and
is thought by many to be the third highest ranking member of the leadership team after Bin Laden and
Zawahiri.
Abu al Yazid, born in 1951, came out of the ranks of Egyptian jihadists, and was imprisoned along with
Dr.Ayman al Zawahiri for his role in the 1981 assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.
Last month, Abu al Yazid became the first member of Al Qaeda to grant a television interview when
he went on camera wiht Najeeb Ahmad, a reporter for Geo TV.
Abu al Yazid's last video release through As Sahab was on July 8.
A special report on Abu al Yazid will be sent to subscribers later this morning.
Another video out of Turkistan makes more threats against the Olympics in Beijing.
Like several other previous videos from this group, this video was uploaded to YouTube.
If can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sufKQ_t5NfA
We are currently working on a complete translation of this video.
Zawahiri: Alive or Dead
Analysis of Open Source Reporting
by Laura Mansfield
Is he alive or is he dead? That’s the question that many have been asking as rumors of Al Qaeda second-in-command’s death or serious injury have rippled through the internet and into the mainstream news media.
Although answers to this question have been elusive, much information can be derived from Al Qaeda’s previous actions. After all, the global terror group is very much a creature of habit when it comes to how it handles the deaths of members of the group.
Reports of Zawahiri’s death were hinted in vague postings shortly after the death of al Misri was announced. The initial reports indicated a number of foreigners were killed and injured, and that known casualties included two Egyptians. It is believed one of the dead is Al Qaeda chemical and explosives specialist Abu Khabab al Masri (al Masri translates as “the Egyptian”).
On Friday, CBS News reported that a letter from Baitullah Mehsud, a local Taliban leader, had been intercepted in Pakistan. The letter reportedly requested medical assistance and a physician to help Zawahiri, who supposedly had sustained severe injuries which had since become infected. The reports said the letter mentioned Zawahiri by name and said the Al Qaeda second in command was in severe pain. Since those initial reports, the signature and seal of the local Taliban leader on the letter has reportedly been authenticated.
There has been no acknowledgement to date of any injuries to Zawahiri. A written message from Al Qaeda in Afghanistan leader Mustafa Abu Yazid did announce the death of another Al Qaeda field commander, Abu Abdullah al Shami, who escaped from Bagram prison in July 2005.
At this point, those are the facts as we know them, and based upon this information, it is highly likely that Zawahiri remains alive or if he is dead the other members of the Al Qaeda leadership team are not aware of it..
Although we can’t be 100% sure since the last Al Qaeda leader of Zawahiri’s stature to be killed was Abu Hafs al Masri in 2001, and the Al Qaeda internet campaign was still very much in its infancy compared to today. The death of Zawahiri would almost certainly be celebrated much as the death of Abu Mus’ab al Zarqawi was just over two years ago.
But based on past behavior, we can conclude that the death of Al Qaeda leader of Zawahiri’s stature would be eulogized by at the very least the likes of Abu Yahya al Libi and Mustafa abu al Yazid, and probably Osama bin Laden himself unless op sec concerns prevent it.
At this point, in the absence of such messages, it is highly likely Zawahiri remains alive.
The second point which should be examined is Zawahiri’s condition: is he seriously wounded?
If the seal and signature of the local Taliban leader have been authenticated, then there are two possibilities: the message is legitimate, and Zawahiri needs medical assistance; or the message is some sort of coded message with a completely different meaning.
The reference to Zawahiri by name tends to lend credence to the first alternative.
The last message released by Zawahiri on the internet was in early June; a video tape aired on Pakistani TV on the anniversary of the Lal Masjid incident but it has never been officially released by As Sahab on the web to date. It is unknown whether or not another message from him is in the pipeline, recorded before the missile strike that the letter refers to.
In order to dispel these rumors of his demise or disability, Zawahiri will need to release a video taped message showing him in good health, and referencing events after the date of the letter.
Until such a message appears, Zawahiri’s status remains murky. He is likely alive but that is the only conclusion that can be reasonably drawn in the absence of more information.
Girls’ Education held hostage: Over a third of girls schools destroyed or closed in Swat area of Pakistan
It has only been nine months since the Swat region of Pakistan, just
90 miles from Islamabad, fell to the Taliban. One of the main
casualties of the Taliban takeover in this area of Pakistan has been
girl’s education.
Last month alone, 39 girls’ schools were damaged or destroyed by fire
or bombs, courtesy of the Taliban, and the attacks continue unabated.
This week, yet another girl’s school was damaged, this time by a bomb,
which destroyed 10 classrooms and two offices, and damaged nearby
homes.
According to an article in Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, the local Taliban
spokesman blames the attacks on a “third party”. The newspaper
reported that Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan claims that the Taliban in
the area did not oppose education for girls in general, but did oppose
the current educational system for females in Pakistan claiming it
teaches “obscenity” and promotes “indecency”.
Current estimates are that over 17,000 girls have had their education
interrupted, and the best estimates are that at least 131 schools have
been damaged to the point where they cannot function. At least 62 more
girls’ schools have been closed because of the violence as well as
threats to female staff members. Another ten schools are currently
closed because they have been occupied by Pakistani security forces.
There are a total of 566 girls school in Swat. Four of then are higher
secondary schools, 22 are high schools, 51 are middle schools, and 489
are primary schools. So upwards of a quarter of the girls schools in
the area are out of commission.
Traditionally education for girls falls far behind that for young men,
Male literacy rates stand at just under 53% while female literacy is
just under 23 percent.
Olympics in the crosshairs: Al Qaeda ally releases video threatening Beijing Olympcs
Islamist elements affiliated with Al
Qaeda have had this summer's Olympics games in Beijing clearly in the
crosshairs for some time.
Further evidence of this emerged
this weekendin the form of a video posted on the internet from the
Turkistan Islamic Party (also known as ETIM or the East Turkistan Islamic Movement) Ihreatening the 2008 Olympics Games in
Beijing. The video features the Commander of the Turkistan Islamic
Party, Sayfallah, making very specific threats against the XXIX
Olympiad.
Sayfallah states that his group is warning China one
more time, threatening to attack key points related to the Olympics
Games. He explicitly states that the group plans to attack Chinese
cities using previously unused methods.
Sayfallah issued a stern warning:
"This
is our last warning to China and the rest of the world. The viewers
and athletes, especially those who are Muslim, who plan to go to the
Olympics should change their plans and not go to China. The Turkistan
Islamic Party plans military attacks on people, offices, arenas, and
other activities that are connected to the Chinese Olympic Games."
He
claimed the group had undergone special training and has already begun
it's operations against China, including bomb attacks two busses in
Shanghai in May and three busses last week in Yunnan. He also took
credit for an attack on police forces in Wenzhou with an
explosives-laden tractor and the attack with explosives on a plastics
factory.
Chinese authorities have recognized for some time the
threat from the organization, and has actively prepared for terror
attacks against the Games.
Last week, an anti-terrorism manual
was released to the public. People were urged to remain calm in the
event of any attack and to notify authorities by text message. The
Xinhua news agency reported an excerpt from the manual advised people
that they might "also have to hide your mobile phones if kidnapped by
terrorists,"
Xinhua reported that the manual covers a wide
range of possible attacks, including explosions, shootings, hijacking
and even chemical or nuclear attacks.
In today's message, Sayfallah promised to used "methods that have not previously been used.
It
is unknown if the group has chemical, radiological, biological, or
nuclear capabilities but given it's affiliation with Al Qaeda, the
possibility must be considered.
In March of this year, at least
one plot targeting the games was busted up by Chinese security forces
in a raid in the Turkestan region.
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region is the Chinese term for Chinese Turkestan, which has been
battling an Al Qaeda-linked jihadist group called the East Turkestan
Islamic Movement. ETIM is recognized by the US, China, Kazakhstan, and
the United Nations as a terror group.
The US State Department
stated in its 2005 annual report on terrorism that ETIM waslink to Al
Qaeda, and that Al Qaeda provided the group with training and funding.
In 2002, the Chinese government claimed that the group's founder,
Hasan Mahsum, met with Bin Laden and received funds from the terror
leaders. The Chinese also claimed that Bin Laden exported dozens of
terrorists to China to assist ETIM efforts. (Mahsum was killed in
2003 by Pakistani forces.)
Further evidence of the jihadist link
is found in the evidence recovered by police when the group planning
the Beijing attack was raided. "Extremist religious ideological
materials" were located along with guns, homemade bombs, and training
material.
Turkestan has been referenced by Al Qaeda leaders in
numerous messages, most recently in a message from Al Qaeda
second-in-command Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri in part 2 of his "Town Hall"
question and answer session, released in April of this year:
Concerning
the United Nations, the program demanded reforming the United Nations
so that it will be based on the principles of sound international
democracy, which the program calls for, without presenting the theories
on the rule of the strong. This means that the program agrees that the
UN resolutions are adopted by the majority of members. This is an
acceptance of two serious things. The first is the acceptance of
non-sharia rules, and the second is acceptance of resolutions that the
UN members agreed on by a majority, such as the decision to partition
Palestine in 1947 and the decision to accept Israel's membership in the
United Nations, thus forcing all UN members, according to the UN
Charter, to respect its sovereignty and the territorial integrity of
its territory. This contradicts with what the program mentioned
concerning the duty of liberating the entire Palestinian territory.
Indeed,
this is not confined to Palestine but it transcends it to recognizing
all the UN member states that have transgressed on the territories of
Muslims; that is, recognizing Russia's sovereignty over the Muslim
Caucasus, the sovereignty of the Philippines on its Muslim south, the
sovereignty of India over Kashmir until the referendum takes place,
which the international powers will not allow, the sovereignty of China
on eastern Turkistan, and the sovereignty of Spain over Ceuta and
Milella, and indeed on the entire Andalusia, and so on.
The Turkistan front was also referenced by Zawahiri in his message of March 11, 2007:
The
first question is: Who gave the killers the right to appoint judges to
interfere in the affairs of Muslims? By what right the Security Council
interferes in the affairs of Muslims and forms courts, which acquit
this and convict that, while the hands of their criminals are stained
with Muslims' blood in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Algeria, Chechnya,
and East Turkestan? How does America refer the Darfur case to an
international court which it does not recognize and refuses to be
subject to it? What injustice is governing this world.
The
second question is: If you want to try those who term criminals in
Darfur, who will try the criminals in Bosnia, Palestine, Iraq,
Afghanistan, Somalia, Chechnya, Kashmir, Indonesia, Philippines, and
East Turkestan? Who will try Bush, Blair, Putin, and Sharon? Who will
try the villains who are shedding our blood and violating our
sanctities on a daily basis, which is many times more than what was
committed in Darfur? Who will try Mubarak, Al Sa'ud, Bouteflika, Zine
El Abidine, and Bin-al-Husayn, and Musharraf?
In November 2006,
a video was released by Al Fajr highlighting activities of the East
Turkestan Islamic Movement. (A copy of the video is available upon
request.) A number of other videos from the group are available for
viewing on YouTube.
And the cartoon jihad continues…
The Taliban has ordered a newspaper editor to “repent” and the editor
has received death threats after publishing a cartoon showing a woman
in a burqa ordering her students to embark in jihad and embrace
martyrdom.
But this time the newspaper is not in Europe; instead it is the Daily
Times, the well-respected English language newspaper in Pakistan and
its sister publication Aaj Kal And the editor whose life is being
threatened is an award-winning Pakistani Muslim, Najam Sethi.
Sethi published a cartoon satirizing Umme Hassan, who is the principal
of a radical madrassa for females. But Umme Hassan has powerful
friends it seems. She is the wife of Abdul Aziz, the prayer leader of
the Lal Masjid. Abdul Aziz has been in jail since last summer when the
Pakistani security forces raided the Lal Masjod.
Umme Hassan has declared cartoon “blasphemous” and claims it reaches
the same level as the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed.
Apparently the threat is being taken seriously to the point that Sethi
says he’s been encouraged by authorities to stay out of Pakistan until
the incident dies down. Sethi reportedly declined to leave the
country. Sethi’s home and office are under heavy guard. Security
officials in Pakistan pointed out that individual soldiers involved in
the raid on the Lal Masjid last summer had been targeted in attacks.
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