Qaeda scorns Obama and urges attacks on U.S.
Do you see what I see? A lot of deceit and misinformation! Do you notice that this 'Alzawhri' guy seems never to age! The message is claimed to have been an audio message? How does one verify the authenticity of an audio message? Why could they not show a video message? That would be more convincing! He could also send a written message affixing his thump print to verify the sender. This is a story made in Hollywood. This article also indicated, "The audio recording was accompanied by visuals including a picture of Obama wearing a yarmulke." Funny! Could we see that picture? I bet Osama is also frozen at the age of 40! Ziomania
Wed 19 Nov 2008, 16:57 GMT
By Inal Ersan and Firouz Sedarat
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's second-in-command urged Muslims to keep up attacks on the "criminal" United States and criticised U.S. president-elect Barack Obama for promising to back Israel.
The U.S. Homeland Security Department said the message by Ayman al-Zawahri, the first al Qaeda comment on Obama's election, held no indications of an increased threat to the U.S. homeland.
"You represent the direct opposite of honourable black Americans like ... Malcolm X," Zawahri said on the tape, which included video footage of Malcom X.
"The Muslim nation received with extreme bitterness your hypocritical...stance towards Israel," he said. "You were born to a Muslim father, but you chose to stand with the enemies of Muslims."
An Obama spokeswoman in Washington said the president-elect's office was not planning to comment.
A U.S. counterterrorism official said the message showed that al Qaeda -- which masterminded the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on the United States -- was isolated but still a threat.
"The message...is remarkable chiefly as an additional sign that al-Qaeda is out of touch with so much of the world," the official said.
Homeland Security Department spokeswoman Laura Keehner, asked if the message changed the department's assessment of the threat to the United States, said: "Not that I've seen. We maintain that there's no credible information to suggest there's an imminent threat against the homeland at this time."
During a visit to Israel in July, Obama assured Israel and its U.S. Jewish supporters he was a friend who would not press for peace concessions that would compromise its security.
Hailing Israel as a "miracle," he promised staunch support and held only a low-profile meeting with Palestinian leaders in the occupied West Bank.
The audio recording was accompanied by visuals including a picture of Obama wearing a yarmulke.
NO TRESPASSING
"America, the criminal, trespassing crusader, continues to be the same as ever, so we must continue to harm it, in order for it to come to its senses," Zawahri said, addressing Muslims across the world.
"Its criminal, expansionist crusader project in your lands has only been neutralised by the sacrifices of your sons, the mujahideen," he said in an audio recording.
Zawahri urged Islamists fighting U.S. forces and those of the Shi'ite-led Iraqi government to stay the course, saying that U.S.-led forces were being routed.
"The American people, by electing Obama, declared their anxiety and fear about the future towards which the policy of the likes of Bush was leading them, and so they decided to support someone calling for withdrawal from Iraq."
In a similar message to Islamists fighting Ethiopian and government forces in Somalia, Zawahri urged them not to stop.
"America is gathering its wounds in Iraq, and Ethiopia is looking for a way out...don't put down your weapons before the mujahid state of Islam has been set up in Somalia."
(Editing by Angus MacSwan)
http://africa.reuters.com/world/news/usnTRE4AI45X.html