Zawahiri... Formerly second in command of al-Qaeda, now the head cheese, occasionally described as
the real brains of the outfit.Formerly the Mister Big of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Bumped off Abdullah Azzam with a car boom in the course of one of their little disputes. Is thought to have composed bin Laden's fatwa entitled World Islamic Front Against Jews and Crusaders. Currently residing in the North Wazoo area. That is not a horn growing from the middle of his forehead, but a prayer bump, attesting to how devout he is...
for the first time appears to be a relative softening of the Islamist Death Eater movement's otherwise hard-line agenda. The Egyptian Death Eater has urged his followers to practise restraint whilst targeting Moslems of different sects as well as non-Moslems and limiting violent responses to combatants only. The need for propagation -- as opposed to combat alone -- has also been highlighted. The guidelines appear to have been issued as the Al Qaeda chief has realised that the Death Eaters' increased ferocity and widespread practice of takfir
...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed...
(declaring other Moslems infidels) is not winning over the Moslem world; in fact, the tactics have backfired. Previously Al Qaeda remained largely silent on sectarian killings in Iraq and Syria. However,
a person who gets all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package...
more chilling are Zawahiri's comments on what he hopes to achieve in Pakistain.
Zawahiri has urged fighters to "create a safe haven for Mujahideen in Pakistain" so that it can become a base for "establishing an Islamic system". If what the TTP, which is rumoured to be sheltering him, and other forces of Evil have done in Swat
...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat...
and Fata, as well as the campaign of terror that has shaken Pakistain, are anything to go by, we have a fair idea what sort of 'Islamic system' Zawahiri has in mind for Pakistain. This is not the first time the Al Qaeda head has focused on this country; last year Zawahiri urged the people of Pakistain to rise against the government and the army. So while Al Qaeda may be regrouping in Yemen, clearly the transnational Death Eater network has not lost interest in Pakistain. In fact, the state's recent peace overtures to the TTP must have emboldened the Al Qaeda high command. The government must weigh its options. Zawahiri and his band have effectively declared war on Pakistain. And not taking action against foreign forces of Evil in this country and their local backers would clear the way for Al Qaeda to carry forward its Pakistain-specific agenda.