Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
New York Times
January 23, 2007
Pg. 11
CAIRO, Jan. 22 (AP) — Al Qaeda’s deputy leader on Monday mocked President Bush’s plan to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq, challenging him to send the “entire army” and vowing that insurgents would defeat them, according to a new videotape released by an American group that tracks messages from Al Qaeda.
The group, the Washington-based SITE Institute, said it had intercepted the video from Ayman al-Zawahri, which had not yet been posted on militant Islamist Web sites, where his messages usually appear. SITE, which assesses and analyzes intelligence related to terrorism, did not elaborate on how it had received the message.
In the tape, Mr. Zawahri said the United States strategy for Iraq, outlined by Mr. Bush in a speech on Jan. 9, was doomed to fail.
“I ask him, why send 20,000 only — why not send 50,000 or 100,000?” Mr. Zawahri says on the video released by SITE. “Aren’t you aware that the dogs of Iraq are pining for your troops’ dead bodies?
“So send your entire army to be annihilated at the hands of the holy warriors to free the world from your evil,” he continues, “because Iraq, land of the caliphate and jihad, is able to bury 10 armies like yours, with God’s help and power.”
The video showed Mr. Zawahri in a full gray beard, wearing a white turban, in front of a black backdrop.
The message was the first reaction from Al Qaeda’s leadership to the new Iraq strategy.
The United States has said the extra troops will try to crack down on fighters from Al Qaeda and other Sunni Arab insurgents in Iraq, as well as Shiite militiamen who take part in sectarian violence.
January 23, 2007
Pg. 11
CAIRO, Jan. 22 (AP) — Al Qaeda’s deputy leader on Monday mocked President Bush’s plan to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq, challenging him to send the “entire army” and vowing that insurgents would defeat them, according to a new videotape released by an American group that tracks messages from Al Qaeda.
The group, the Washington-based SITE Institute, said it had intercepted the video from Ayman al-Zawahri, which had not yet been posted on militant Islamist Web sites, where his messages usually appear. SITE, which assesses and analyzes intelligence related to terrorism, did not elaborate on how it had received the message.
In the tape, Mr. Zawahri said the United States strategy for Iraq, outlined by Mr. Bush in a speech on Jan. 9, was doomed to fail.
“I ask him, why send 20,000 only — why not send 50,000 or 100,000?” Mr. Zawahri says on the video released by SITE. “Aren’t you aware that the dogs of Iraq are pining for your troops’ dead bodies?
“So send your entire army to be annihilated at the hands of the holy warriors to free the world from your evil,” he continues, “because Iraq, land of the caliphate and jihad, is able to bury 10 armies like yours, with God’s help and power.”
The video showed Mr. Zawahri in a full gray beard, wearing a white turban, in front of a black backdrop.
The message was the first reaction from Al Qaeda’s leadership to the new Iraq strategy.
The United States has said the extra troops will try to crack down on fighters from Al Qaeda and other Sunni Arab insurgents in Iraq, as well as Shiite militiamen who take part in sectarian violence.
