More Al Qaeda Threats

A videotape shown by al Jazeera today has Ayman al-Zawahri issuing more threats, this time against the Persian Gulf area and Israel. There are vague references to more terrorist attacks. Zawahri continues to echo Western leftist talking points, knowing they will resonate with certain useful people.

Addressing the West, the al-Qaida No. 2 said, "You should not waste your time in reinforcing your troops in Iraq and Afghanistan because their fate is doomed … Instead, you have to reinforce your troops in two regions. First is the Gulf, where you would be thrown out … and second is Israel."

In other portions of the tape aired by CNN earlier Monday, al-Zawahri urged Muslims to intensify their resistance against the United States and warned in general terms of new terror strikes.

The video was not on any of the militant Web sites that usually carry messages and videos from al-Zawahri and other al-Qaida figures. As-Sahab, the terror network's media arm, had posted notices late Sunday that the video would be available.

It was the latest in a flurry of al-Qaida videos released ahead of the anniversary. But unlike the others, it appeared to be new with references to Israel's bombardment of Lebanon this summer and the capture of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah and Palestinian militants in Gaza.

"You gave us every legitimacy and every opportunity to continue fighting you," said al-Zawahri, addressing the United States. "You should worry about your presence in the (Persian) Gulf, and the second place you should worry about is Israel."

The video shows the Egyptian-born al-Zawahri dressed in white and seated in front of a wall of bookshelves.

"Your leaders are hiding from you the true extent of the disaster," he said. "And the days are pregnant and giving birth to new events, with Allah's permission and guidance."

The article also goes on to detail another videotape just released where Osama bin Laden is shown planning the 9/11 attacks. That video includes footage of Cheney discussing Haliburton. Gee, you think they may be playing to certain elements in the West?