Ayman al Zawahiri is expected to release another tape soon in which he will discuss the Pope, President Bush, and Darfur.
From MSNBC:
CAIRO, Egypt – Al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri will soon release a new message about the pope, U.S. President George W. Bush and Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, an Islamic Web site said Wednesday.
A banner warning of the upcoming message was posted on an Islamic Web site that frequently airs al-Qaida videos. Wednesday’s notice did not specify whether the new message was a video, audiotape or text, but al-Zawahri usually releases videos.
His latest came earlier this month, to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Al-Qaida released a string of videos for the anniversary, showing increasingly sophisticated production techniques in a likely effort to demonstrate that it remains a powerful, confident force five years into the U.S.-led war on terror.
Laura Mansfield says that the following banner is on jihadists websites:
The Blotter is also reporting that Bin Laden is alive and may release a tape to prove it.
In a surprise phone call to the home of an ABC News producer in Pakistan, the top Taliban military commander, Mulla Dadullah Akhund, said Osama bin Laden is alive and that there is no truth to the rumors of his death from typhoid
“Sheikh Osama is all right. He is safe,” Dadullah told ABC News’ Rahimullah Yusufzai. Dadullah would not disclose the location from where he was calling.
In the past, Dadullah has issued statements to the effect that bin Laden and Taliban leader Mulla Mohammad Omar are alive and leading the resistance against U.S.-led foreign forces in Afghanistan.
When pressed for evidence to show that bin Laden is alive, Dadullah hinted that there is a possibility of a tape being sent to media organizations to prove that the al Qaeda head isn’t dead. Dadullah, however, declined to say as to when this tape would be made available.
I must admit, this makes me a little nervous. Why? Remember Hamid Mir’s Ramadan warning? My post was a summary of Allahpundit’s in which I highlighted the items I thought were the most important to Wizbang readers. Well, Allahpundit posted an update that I, unfortunately, didn’t get to, which included Hamid Mir’s conversation with al Qaeda Afghan commander Abu Dawood:
“We have a different plan for the next attack,” [AQ Afghan commander Abu Dawood] told Mir. “You will see. Americans will hardly find out any Muslim names, after the next attack. Most of our brothers are living in Western countries, with Jewish and Christian names, with passports of Western countries. This time, someone with the name of Mohamed Atta will not attack inside America, it would be some David, Richard or Peter.”
He said there will be another audio message from bin Laden aired within the next two weeks.
Mir reportedly interviewed Dawood Sept. 12 at the tomb of Sultan Mehmud Ghaznawi on the outskirts of Kabul. Dawood and the al-Qaida leaders who accompanied him were clean-shaven and dressed as Western reporters.
I don’t know if a Bin Laden tape would further support Hamid Mir’s report of a nuclear attack during Ramadan, but I do think it’s worrisome. Allahpundit wonders: “Is the worry-meter about to go to code orange?”
Update: Stop the ACLU is also reporting on the new OBL tape and says this:
I’m wondering if these will be video tapes or audio. Around the circle we go again. Doesn’t this cycle repeat itself often? He’s dead and then he comes out to show he isn’t. Don’t grow complacent though, especially with the reports of an American Hiroshima. We’ve missed the signs in the past on numerous occassions and paid the price. We are still pointing fingers on that.
Personally I don’t think he is dead, but a pre-produced vague tape doesn’t reallly prove he isn’t either. I wonder if he will come out with the tape in time for it to be considered a Rovian October surprise.
Update II: Ace makes an interesting point about a possible Bin Laden tape:
Osama makes/made a lot of tapes. If there is a new tape, I’ll be listening for the possibility of multiple outs. For example, he knew of the SkyBomb plan quite a long time ago. It is no difficult trick to produce one tape exalting the SkyBombers for their success and another tape celebrating their failed attempt.
And, if he’s dead — or gravely ill, and not suitable for videotaping — it’s not hard to get the right pre-recorded tape to Al Jazeera.
The simple fact that Osama may vaguely reference a recent incident — which would have been known to him long ago — and correctly (though vaguely) notes the outcome of the event is not quite proof he’s alive.
Sound farfetched? Tell that to Queen. As his death approached, Freddie Mercury recorded dozens of demo tracks of his (weakening) vocals for new songs he wrote in a hurry, so as to make sure his longtime bandmates would have at least one or two albums’ worth of Queen songs with his voice, if they so chose.
Americans will hardly find out any Muslim names, after the next attack. Most of our brothers are living in Western countries, with Jewish and Christian names, with passports of Western countries. This time, someone with the name of Mohamed Atta will not attack inside America, it would be some David, Richard or Peter.”
And yet we’ll still take it out on them…especially when they give us a ‘heads up’. I’m thinking they’re not realizing that if (that’s ‘if’) our military is overextended as some claim and unwilling or unable to execute another ground war…well we’ll just have to rely on lots of rather large bombs aren’t we? Would they prefer that?
Mohamed Atta will not attack inside America, it would be some David, Richard or Peter.”
In the name of all Peters in the West, Dr. Zawhiri, your mother was a pigf***er.
And I’m a LOT better looking than any jihadist, too.
I think perhaps the US should make an announcement that if there is another attack, the result will be the complete anihilation of the “tribal areas” along the Afghan-Paki border. Tactical nukes and anything else it takes. The area will be depopulated and occupied by coalition troops for the duration.
And I don’t care about collateral damage.
The people there support and harbor these nutcases. Let them learn their lesson.
Personally, I am really tired of this shit.
Scott, currently Pakistan is our ally in the War on terror. I don’t think President Musharaff would agree to just let us nuke parts of his country.
Most likely the ‘Peters’ and ‘Davids’ will belong to the ranks of CodePink or International ANSWER
Scott,
A while back there was some “rumor” that if there were a nuclear attack, then Mecca would be flattened.
This explains alot…
Clinton’s “performance” on FOX.
Dems jumping in as if they hadn’t been on that wagon.
The “LEAK”
Dems are hoping to take advantage of an attack, an attack they may have intelligence on.
I am truly saddened that I have Countrymen like that. Power over lives.
Osama bin Laden is dead. He is a splat on the side of a cave wall in Afghanistan.
Here’s an ecerpt from the tape:
“Least we forget – the one common element causing all problems is the sulfur-spewing GW Rove-Bushler and the flea-infested lap dog capitalist-USA.
Now, when our global leaders Hugo and Makhmood have arrived to finally unite with Jimmah, Billary, Howie, George, Cindee, DNC, move on dot org, world-workers party, academia and all of us to fight from within – we must depart the latte-cafe and ivory towers to slay the the Great Shaytan once and for all and usher in the dawning of the global dry-flush-toilet progressive-submissive islamo ham-free village! Allah Akbar!”
I fear a massive attack is in the works before the end of October i.e. the end of Ramadan – A massive strike against the US larger than 911 or a wmd attack against the Green Zone in Baghdad.
They have the religious clearance from all the boys and chatter levels are higher than before 911.
Crusade Media News
http://www.crusade-media.com
excerpt…
A while back there was some “rumor” that if there were a nuclear attack, then Mecca would be flattened.
Oh yeah. I remember that:
SILENCE MECCA! SILENCE MOHAMMED!
Flattening Mecca provides no tactical advantage and simply guarantees even Muslim Unity would strap C4 and ball bearings to his waist and head to the nearest mall or large church.
Perhaps a strike at the source of money for the miscreant nations might be more effective. Kinetic and non-kinetic financial obliteration is completely at our disposal if we have the balls to use it.
Well – 2 weeks will be tomorrow, the 28th.
10/7 attack? that’s an important date in their calendar.
AGGHH!! 26th would have been 2 weeks, he’s late.
J.R. – I disupte the fact that Pakistan is our ally in the war. Musharev is on our side, for the moment, because we pay him to be. He has only shaky support from his own military and intelligence services, who actually run things most of the time. Both are infested with Islamists.
Also, there is the fact that M basically ceded sovereignty of Waziristan to AQ and the Taliban. In effect, they are no longer part of Pakistan.
As I said, I am really tired of this shit. We may need to make a major move to make it clear that we will not be pushed endlessly. And it that means ending the Waziristan problem, then it’s fine by me.