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| Africa North |
| Zawahiri says raids on diplomatic facilities were 'defeats' for US |
| 2012-11-08 |
| In a new audio message addressed to Shabaab, al Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, Ayman al Zawahiri cites the raids on US diplomatic facilities in September as evidence of American weakness. Shabaab has suffered setbacks in recent months, including the loss of its stronghold in the port city of Kismayo. But in what amounts to a pep talk, Zawahiri says Shabaab's spirits should be buoyed by the supposed losses suffered by America and its allies elsewhere. "They were defeated in Iraq and they are withdrawing from Afghanistan, and their ambassador in Benghazi was killed and the flags of their embassies were lowered in Cairo and Sana'a, and in their places were raised the flags of tawhid [monotheism] and jihad," Zawahiri says, according to a translation provided by the SITE Intelligence Group. "After their consecutive defeats, they are working from behind agents and traitors," Zawahiri continues. "Their awe is lost and their might is gone and they don't dare to carry out a new campaign like their past ones in Iraq and Afghanistan." Al Qaeda-linked extremists have been tied to the three assaults on US diplomatic facilities Zawahiri mentions. Press reports have identified several al Qaeda-affiliated parties as being responsible for the Sept. 11 assault on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Members of a local militia named Ansar al Sharia participated in the assault. As first reported by the Daily Beast, members of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) were in contact with some of the Ansar al Sharia assailants. CNN has reported that members of Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) are suspected of taking part in the assault. Still another al Qaeda-linked network reportedly provided fighters for the Benghazi assault. Terrorists trained in Libyan camps set up by an Egyptian named Muhammad Jamal were among the attackers. According to The Wall Street Journal, Jamal "petitioned" Ayman al Zawahiri to establish a new al Qaeda affiliate and has also received funding from Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). |
| Posted by:Au Auric |
| #5 But ... I thought the bad guyz were on the ropes after The One personally executed/assassinated/murdered OBL? The One said so, did he not? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2012-11-08 19:00 |
| #4 And so it begins -- another "problem" our now new President has inherited. It's yours, so own it. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2012-11-08 10:41 |
| #3 1st Presidential Mandate of second term: Open season for terrorists on all US embassies and sovereign soil. To include a window of 7 hours without support, public denial of terrorist involvement, two weeks cover-up and misdirection (read lying) of the American people and no obligation to attack the US directly as the newly re-elected Administration itself will destroy the country from within. |
| Posted by: jefe101 2012-11-08 03:36 |
| #2 Unfortunately he's right. And since we don't want to win, get our soldiers out now. |
| Posted by: Mikey Hunt 2012-11-08 00:36 |
| #1 Sure Zawahiri - I'm saving a warm and cozy place for you bud ... in my sniper scope. :-) |
| Posted by: Raider 2012-11-08 00:22 |