In a statement issued May 1, 2005 from al-Qaeda in Iraq entitled: "A Statement from al-Qaeda Denying the Media Comments about the Speech of its Leader," the group's official spokesman, Abu Maysara al-Iraqi, responds to media interpretations of Abdul al-Rahman al-Iraqi's message concerning attacks upon the White House and Vatican.
As reported by the SITE Institute, Abdul al-Rahman, the Deputy Emir (Prince) of al-Qaeda in Iraq, allegedly voiced an audio message issued on the Internet April 30, 2005 declaring unwavering support for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. In the course of his speech, he stated: "If you lead us to the White House and the fortress of the Vatican, we will be patient and endure with you." Al-Maysara's statement refutes the media's assertion that this is a threat upon the White House and Vatican, although he says that "it will be great to do so, to please Allah
." The message states that "the oppressors of the truth misrepresented it" and he only meant that "even if he [Zarqawi] had to cross the ocean, or walk to Washington and Rome he will do so, and we will be with him."
On the jihadist message board on which the statement was posted, one member agrees that the media perpetrated a "misrepresentation of the facts, in the manner that serves their benefits," and another adds that they are "reshaping it so it can serve their dirty goals." Both members, however, are agreeable about "a take over of the Vatican" and explain: "our Prophet had promised us that the Muslims will be able to take over Rome, and Allah willing, that will be soon
we are coming, we are coming." |