Terrorism (6 Viewers)
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Bin Laden aide's tape is do-or-die call to Muslims
By PAUL GARWOOD
Associated Press
12/12/2005
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Associated Press
Ayman al-Zawahri, in this al-Qaida tape, extols jihad but warns that militant Islam will be defeated unless all Muslims unite.
CAIRO, Egypt - In a tape that surfaced Sunday, Osama bin Laden's deputy urged all Muslims to take up arms, saying a refusal to join the fight against "the Cross and Zionism" was a "malignant illness" that would lead to the defeat of militant Islam.
Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahri said the global Islamic community had "no hope for victory" until all Muslims signed on to the al-Qaida-led jihad.
"As long as this malignant illness continues to survive within us, there is no hope for victory, and there can only be more defeats, tragedies, disasters and betrayals," al-Zawahri said.
His comments were contained in a 48-minute tape titled "Impediments to Jihad." The video portion of the tape showed a still photo of a white-turbaned al-Zawahri with English subtitles running under it while he spoke Arabic.
The tape was believed to have been made at about the same time as a Sept. 19 video attributed to al-Zawahri, according to Ben Venzke, chief executive of IntelCenter, a U.S. government contractor that obtained the tape.
IntelCenter declined to say how it obtained the recording, citing confidentiality agreements with the U.S. government.
It was impossible to immediately verify the authenticity of the tape.
The latest tape was a rallying call to Muslims to attack Western interests everywhere to help stave off the "defeat" of Islamic extremists.
Al-Zawahri cited examples of militant activities, including the Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip, insurgent warfare against U.S. troops in Iraq and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.
"The key to victory is in our hands, and in turn, the primary cause of defeat is in ourselves," he said.
Al-Zawahri criticized the lack of support for al-Qaida-linked militants in Saudi Arabia, saying the mujahedeen had suffered "defeat" in Saudi authorities' high-profile campaign against militants.
"These idolatrous regimes achieve victory over us because each one of us wants to save his own skin and avoid harm for himself," he said.
Al-Zawahri and bin Laden are believed to be hiding in the mountains along the Pakistan-
Afghanistan border. Pakistani troops are cooperating with the United States in the search for the two men.
By PAUL GARWOOD
Associated Press
12/12/2005
Click to view larger picture
Associated Press
Ayman al-Zawahri, in this al-Qaida tape, extols jihad but warns that militant Islam will be defeated unless all Muslims unite.
CAIRO, Egypt - In a tape that surfaced Sunday, Osama bin Laden's deputy urged all Muslims to take up arms, saying a refusal to join the fight against "the Cross and Zionism" was a "malignant illness" that would lead to the defeat of militant Islam.
Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahri said the global Islamic community had "no hope for victory" until all Muslims signed on to the al-Qaida-led jihad.
"As long as this malignant illness continues to survive within us, there is no hope for victory, and there can only be more defeats, tragedies, disasters and betrayals," al-Zawahri said.
His comments were contained in a 48-minute tape titled "Impediments to Jihad." The video portion of the tape showed a still photo of a white-turbaned al-Zawahri with English subtitles running under it while he spoke Arabic.
The tape was believed to have been made at about the same time as a Sept. 19 video attributed to al-Zawahri, according to Ben Venzke, chief executive of IntelCenter, a U.S. government contractor that obtained the tape.
IntelCenter declined to say how it obtained the recording, citing confidentiality agreements with the U.S. government.
It was impossible to immediately verify the authenticity of the tape.
The latest tape was a rallying call to Muslims to attack Western interests everywhere to help stave off the "defeat" of Islamic extremists.
Al-Zawahri cited examples of militant activities, including the Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip, insurgent warfare against U.S. troops in Iraq and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.
"The key to victory is in our hands, and in turn, the primary cause of defeat is in ourselves," he said.
Al-Zawahri criticized the lack of support for al-Qaida-linked militants in Saudi Arabia, saying the mujahedeen had suffered "defeat" in Saudi authorities' high-profile campaign against militants.
"These idolatrous regimes achieve victory over us because each one of us wants to save his own skin and avoid harm for himself," he said.
Al-Zawahri and bin Laden are believed to be hiding in the mountains along the Pakistan-
Afghanistan border. Pakistani troops are cooperating with the United States in the search for the two men.
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