Al-Zawahri Calls for Strikes Against US

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Associated Press | March 24, 2008

CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri called on Muslims to strike Jewish and American targets anywhere in the world in revenge for Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip in an audiotape Monday, part of a new push by the terror network to use anger over the violence to rally support.

The al-Zawahri tape came just days after two messages from Osama bin Laden, who called for a holy war to liberate the Palestinian territories and warned of a "severe" reaction against Europe over the recent publishing of cartoons seen as insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad in Danish newspapers.

The string of messages has raised fears al-Qaida could be planning new attacks against Israel or in the West - or is seeking to inspire its sympathizers to carry out violence. In another message last week, bin Laden warned of a "severe" reaction against Europe after Danish papers published a cartoon seen as insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

But the new tapes may have another broader goal - to show supporters and the West that it can extend its operations and open a new front against Israel.

Bin Laden and al-Zawahri have frequently referred to the Palestinian cause in their past messages, usually in broader terms of liberating Jerusalem and denouncing Israeli violence. But al-Qaida is not known to have a direct presence in Israel or the Palestinian territories, though Israeli and Palestinian officials have at times warned it is seeking to.

Al-Qaida sympathizers have often posted messages on Islamic militant Web forums asking why the terror network has not attacked Israel on its soil or gotten more involved on the Palestinian front.

Bruce Hoffman, a counterterrorism expert, said that with al-Qaida in Iraq suffering setbacks, al-Qaida "has to look further afield and at least give an impression of an upward trajectory, that its operating across the Middle East."

He pointed out that Al-Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab, has dramatically stepped up its output of audio and video tapes, issuing an average of one every three days in 2007, more than double the 2006 rate. "There comes a time when you have to back up your words," said Hoffman, a professor at Washington's Georgetown University. "With the increased drumbeat of propoaganda ... it becomes an element of necessity, if you're talking so much you have to do something."

"Perhaps they don't have the ability to attack the United States, so they may turn to the next best enemy, either Israel or Europe," he said.

Al-Zawahri's call for attacks had a more immediate and urgent tone than past messages - and he said attacks should not be limited to Israeli or Palestinian territory.

"Muslims, today is your day. Strike the interests of the Jews, the Americans, and all those who participated in the attack on Muslims," al-Zawahri said in the 4 minute, 44-second audiotape. "Monitor the targets, collect money, prepare the equipment, plan with precision, and then - while relying on God - assault, seeking martyrdom and paradise."

"Today there is no room for he who says that we should only fight the Jews in Palestine," he said. "Let us strike their interests everywhere, just like they gathered against us from everywhere."

"Let them know that they will get blood for every dollar they spend in the killing of the Muslims, and for every bullet they fire at us, a volcano will turn back on them," he said, referring to American military aid and other ties to Israel. "They cannot expect to support Israel, then live in peace while the Jews are killing our fugitive and besieged people."

The authenticity of Monday's tape could not be independently confirmed. But the voice on it resembled that of al-Zawahri on previous audio and videotapes confirmed to be his. It was posted on an Islamic militant Web site where al-Qaida usually releases its statements, and a banner advertising the tape had the logo of Al-Sahab.

Israeli officials declined to comment on the new tape. Israel launched a weeklong offensive in Gaza that ended in early March, seeking to put down Palestinian militants firing rockets against nearby Israeli towns. The Israeli assault killed more than 120 people, including many civilians, and caused heavy damage - all aired prominently on Arab satellite TV news networks.

The only previous attack blamed on al-Qaida specifically targeting Israelis was a 2002 suicide bombing of a hotel full of Israelis in Mombasa, Kenya that killed 16 people and a simultaneous failed attempt to shoot down an Israeli passenger plane taking off from the city with rockets.

Al-Zawahri also denounced Arab leaders he accused of supporting Israel - pointing to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, suggesting they too could be targets.

The Egyptian-born al-Zawahri accused Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of colluding with Israel in the siege of Gaza. Egypt has sealed its border with the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian militant group Hamas took over the territory last year.

He said Mubarak "repeats the same dirty role" as the Lebanese Phalangists - a Christian militia that was allied with Israel in Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war and was blamed in the massacre of Palestinian refugees in the Beirut camps of Sabra and Shatila. "The roles are the same, even if the faces change - the same betrayal even if the names have changed," said al-Zawahri.

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