American Thinker- Print Article

There's a headline you will never see in the New York Times. You don't believe it? Well, judge for yourself the latest evidence.

Our good buddy Doctor Al-Zawahiri, Osama's deputy commander of Al Qaeda, has just released a video through "Al-Qaeda's media production company." Here is the summary from MEMRI. I've added italics to some of the more interesting phrases below.

1. "A Desperate Call to Muslims..."

"... Al-Zawahiri attacks Muslim scholars around the Islamic world for their persistent refusal to issue fatwas that support (Al Qaeda in Iraq) and, worse, for the harsh criticism they aim at (AQ) and its jihad endeavor."

2. "A Call for Unity"

"The message further reveals Al-Zawahiri's growing distress over the persistent opposition to (Al Qaeda in Iraq) among many Iraqi military groups."

3. "The Saudi Conspiracy Against Iraq"

"Al-Zawahiri dedicates a significant portion of his message to what he labels as "the Saudi conspiracy against Iraq," describing it as "the hidden yet greatest danger facing Iraq today." ... He claims that since the Saudi regime is corrupt and looks only after its own interests and the interests of the Crusaders, it cannot be trusted to protect the rights of Muslims in Iraq."

Or, in Al-Z's inimitable prose,

"Muslims [in Iraq] and Afghanistan [...beware] of the religion-trading traitors who conspired with the crusaders to invade Iraq and Afghanistan and to help the Crusaders to fight the mujahideen in exchange for ... positions of power."

4. Appeal to Shi'ites.

"In what appears to be an attempt to appease the Shi'ites in Iraq, Al-Zawahiri implores Shi'ites not to believe those who accuse (Al Qaeda in Iraq) of being the enemies of Hussain." Who is this guy Hussain, you ask? Well, for that you have to go back to the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. Hussein was a major Shiite saint, the Third Imam. Just leave it at that. But notice that Mr. Big #2 of Al Qaeda is now asking his religious enemies, the Shiites, to rescue AQ's Iraq franchise.

5. "Beware of the Messages of Retractions"

"Al-Zawahiri appeals to Muslims around the world to beware of messages of retractions by imprisoned mujahideen in Islamic countries ... because these messages are dictated by their jailors."

Does it sound like Zawahiri is confident of victory? To me it sounds like a cry for help. This is the time to really crank up the pressure.

Don't tell the libs, but we're winning.

James Lewis blogs at http://www.dangeroustimes.wordpress.com/

Update:

The Associated Press carries an article noting AQ's troubles.

Ed Lasky

Al Qaeda is desperate (updated)