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Iraq

Zawahiri Urges Iraqis to Take Jihad to Other ME Countries

2007-05-28

The deputy leader of Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has urged supporters in Iraq to extend their "holy war" to other Middle Eastern countries. In a letter sent to the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq in the past few weeks, Zawahiri claims that it is defeating U.S. forces and urges followers to expand their campaign of terror. He conjures a vision of an Islamic state comprising Lebanon, Palestine and Syria, where Al Qaeda has already gained its first footholds.

The goal of an Islamic "greater Syria," first outlined by Zawahiri two years ago, is detailed in the letter amid growing concern about the activities of new groups under Al Qaeda's influence in the countries concerned. Zawahiri's letter was sent to Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, and intercepted by a Middle Eastern intelligence service.

But there is no al-Qaeda in Iraq. Rosie O'Donnell said so.

A senior American security source said he was aware of the letter and Al Qaeda's growing emphasis on spreading jihad through a volatile region. The source said Zawahiri, a Sunni, was determined to prevent Lebanon falling into the hands of the Shiite Hezbollah movement, which has tried to bring down the government. "Al Qaeda is trying very hard to seize a foothold in Syria," the American source added.

Posted by:Steve White

#13 he's dead, Jim

Posted by: Frank G 2007-05-28 20:07

#12 So if Zawahiri is making all these statements and we never hear from Binny anymore, what's the deal? Did Zawahiri and Binny split? If so, was it amicable or, one can only hope, acrimonius? Or is Binny dead?

Posted by: Elmereter Hupash6222 2007-05-28 19:45

#11 I used to think Zawahiri was in Iran, when it was apparent Bin Laden had parted ways when the missiles kept getting too close. Could it be Zawahiri has moved into Syria, stirring up trouble along with some key Sunni Baa'thists like al-Douri? Old buddy Binny's mother and first wife are from Latakia, and OBL used to ride horses and explore at the beach during his youthful summers, and even sowed some wild oats in Lebanon as a young man, making his old stomping grounds nearer and dearer to AQ's cause than thought, perhaps. Sure seems like the Levant has attracted plenty of vermin in need of extermination, saving on ammo.

Posted by: Danielle 2007-05-28 13:18

#10 Zawahiri envisions a larger more cohesive Iranain client state than already exists.

Posted by: Super Hose 2007-05-28 12:11

#9 And the Dems with their leftist allies are more than happy to help.

Posted by: Pappy 2007-05-28 11:04

#8 They must be losing and need to transfer assets.

Posted by: DarthVader 2007-05-28 08:22

#7 Yeah, Zaw - Iraq's a done deal. Who's next?

Posted by: Bobby 2007-05-28 07:15

#6 Al Qaeda is a Sunni supremacist group and always has been. That is why Al-Q was so happy to butcher Shiites in Iraq : they got to kill heretics and maybe ignite a religious civil war in Iraq. Al-Q and other wahhabist groups are just as happy to kill Druze, Shiite, Sufi, and any other Muslim denomination that does not bow down before the Sunnis as they are to kill non-Muslims.

Posted by: Shieldwolf 2007-05-28 04:01

#5 Kewl, bringing the war back home. Gotta love it.

Posted by: Zenster 2007-05-28 01:57

#4 Somebody should kidnap his relatives.

Posted by: 3dc 2007-05-28 01:44

#3 Less talk, more action.

Posted by: gromgoru 2007-05-28 01:31

#2 Not if he's trying to fight the Hezzies. The iranians don't strike me as the kind of guys to host someone that's killing their pets.

Posted by: Mike N. 2007-05-28 00:53

#1 Ayman al-Zawahiri...could he be in Iran?

Posted by: long hair republican 2007-05-28 00:35

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