AL-ZAWAHRI'S THREATS

On September 9, 2004, al Qaeda number two man Ayman al-Zawahri forecasted a US defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan, in a videotape aired on Al Jazeera TV.

"The American defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan has become just a question of time, God willing."

"In the two countries, the Americans are between two fires: if they remain there they will bleed to death, and if they withdraw they will have lost everything."

The mujahidin are in a strong position in Afghanistan and have turned US plans in Iraq "head over heels", al-Zawahri said.


Al Jazeera aired another taped message from al-Zawahri today.

He said:
"Blair's policies brought you destruction in central London and will bring you more destruction ...."

"What you have seen in New York, Washington and Afghanistan, are only the initial losses and if you (United States) continue the same hostile policies you will see what will make you forget those horrors (9/11 attacks)."

"To the people of the crusader coalition ... our blessed Shaikh Osama has offered you a truce so that you leave Muslim land. As he said, you will not dream of security until we live it as a reality in Palestine, and until all your infidel armies leave Prophet Mohammad's lands."

"Our message to you is clear, strong, and final: There will be no salvation until you withdraw from our land, stop stealing our oil and resources, and end support for infidel (Arab) rulers."

"The Americans... will see horror that would make them forget the horror they saw in Vietnam."

"The truth that (President George) Bush ... hides from you is that there is an exit from Iraq except through immediate withdrawal. Any delay will mean only more dead and losses.

"If you do not leave today, you will inevitably leave tomorrow, but only after (you suffer losses) of tens of thousands of dead and many more injured."

The tape appeared to be made outdoors. Al-Zawahri was sitting in front of a woven cloth, rippling with the wind and showing the sunlight. He was dressed in a white robe and a black turban. While delivering his message, he punctuated his statements by wagging his finger at the camera.

There you have it--the face of our enemy, the threats of destruction.

What does al-Zawahri believe he can accomplish with that tape?

It's not aimed at U.S. or British leaders. It's aimed at us. We're his audience.

He wants to erode support for Bush and Blair, thereby eroding support for the War on Terror.

He thinks we're weak. He is banking on a Vietnam scenario, where we gave up on the mission. He's counting on this being a Somalia, where we cut and ran.

The homegrown anti-Bush forces will blame al-Zawahri's threats on the war in Iraq, citing our involvement there as the impetus for terrorism. They'll say it was a failed Iraq policy that has wrought the destruction.

They couldn't be more wrong.

THROUGHOUT THE 1990s, WE WERE ATTACKED BY AL QAEDA.

WHILE CLINTON WAS IN OFFICE, WE WERE HIT REPEATEDLY.

THE 9/11 PLOT WAS HATCHED LONG BEFORE BUSH WAS IN THE OVAL OFFICE.

OUR ENEMY HAS BEEN BENT ON DESTROYING US FOR WELL OVER A DECADE.

THIS DID NOT START WITH BUSH OR BLAIR.

Al-Zawahri said, "The American defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan has become just a question of time."

His words echo the quagmire talk that comes from the Left, don't they?

The Dems want a timetable for immediate troop withdrawal. They want us to believe they are tough on terror, but they criticize our war against it.

Remember, this jihad didn't start when Bush was sworn in as the President. It didn't start with our presence in Iraq. In spite what the Dems would have you believe, Al Qaeda declared war on the U.S. years and years ago.

After 9/11, the Bush administration decided to fight it.

Al-Zawahri said today that the Islamic fundmentalist terrorists are guaranteed victory.

"In the two countries, the Americans are between two fires: if they remain there they will bleed to death, and if they withdraw they will have lost everything."

Is he right?

Are we weak?

Should we leave the Middle East now?

Have we already been defeated?

Do we let the terrorists win?

To all of the above, the answer is NO.