CentCom has posted the full text of the Zawahiri-Zarqawi letter (in both the Arabic and an English translation), along with a thematic summary and gloss (posted in the extended entry):
We note seven critical themes from the Zawahiri-Zarqawi letter. The first four confirm al-Qaida’s long-term strategy and core beliefs; the latter three reflect new information about how senior al-Qaida leader Zawahiri views developments in Iraq – and elsewhere – turning against them.
Further confirmation of al-Qaida’s long-term strategy/beliefs:
Iraq is becoming the central battlefield for al-Qaida senior leaders in Pakistan . Zawahiri views Iraq as the bridgehead for the creation of a new Islamic caliphate – their ultimate objective. The letter makes clear al-Qa’ida intends to wrest control of Iraq from the Iraqi people so they can use the country in pursuit of other goals.
o Quote: “I want to be the first to congratulate you for what God has blessed you with in terms of fighting in the heart of the Islamic world, which was formerly the field for major battles in Islam’s history, and what is now the place for the greatest battle of Islam in this era….â€Â
· Al-Qaida’s ambitions do not stop at Iraq ’s borders. Establishing the political dominance of Sunni militants in Iraq is only a first stepâ€â€a means to an endâ€â€in realizing al-Qaida’s ambitions of imposing its control over the broader Middle East. In fact, al-Qaida’s focus on Iraq has nothing to do with Iraqi nationalism, but is purely instrumental as a beachhead for al-Qaida’s broader agenda. Under al-Qaida, Iraq will serve as a terrorist haven and staging ground for attacks against Iraq ’s neighbors and quite possibly Western nations—all those judged to be ruling in violation of their distorted interpretation of Islamic law – and clearly destabilize the region. According to Zawahiri:
o Quote: “…the Jihad in Iraq requires several incremental goals: The first stage: Expel the Americans from Iraq . The second stage: Establish an Islamic authority or amirate, then develop it and support it until it achieves the level of a caliphate over as much territory as you can spread its power in Iraq, i.e., in Sunni areas. . . . The third stage: Extend the jihad wave to the secular countries neighboring Iraq . The fourth stage: …[This is ] the clash with Israel , because Israel was established only to challenge any new Islamic entity. . . . [T]heir ongoing mission is to establish an Islamic state, and defend it, and for every generation to hand over the banner to the one after it until the Hour of Resurrection.â€Â
o Quote: “It has always been my belief that the victory of Islam will never take place until a Muslim state is established in the manner of the Prophet in the heart of the Islamic world, specifically, in the Levant, Egypt , and the neighboring states of the Peninsula and Iraq ; however, the center would be in the Levant and Egypt .â€Â
· The letter demonstrates that pulling US forces out of Iraq is the wrong approach – that terrorists will not simply lay down their arms when American forces depart Iraq . Al-Qaida and its terrorist brethren will not go away when the Coalition hands over security control to Iraqi forces; rather, they are committed to overthrowing the elected, democratic Iraqi government and ruling the country according to their interpretation of Islamic law.
o Quote: “And it is that the Mujahidin must not have their mission end with the expulsion of the Americans from Iraq , and then lay down their weapons, and silence the fighting zeal. We will return to having the secularists and traitors holding sway over us.â€Â
· Zawahiri believes in religious intolerance and converting, conquering, or killing anyone who does not believe as he does. His only concern is how to deceive the population that this is not the case by urging Zarqawi to reduce attacks on Shia civilians. Zawahiri contends that Shia are heretics. He views Shi’ism as a “religious school based on excess and falsehood,†and as a danger to what he sees as true, Sunni Islam. Zawahiri does not condemn Zarqawi for killing Shia. Indeed, the Shia, along with anyone who does not blindly follow al-Qaida’s twisted interpretation of Islam, will be forced either to adopt al-Qa’ida’s extremist ideology or face repression or death if the terrorists establish control. Zawahiri’s concerns are purely tactical; managing the press and gaining the support, or acquiescence, of the people.
o Quote: “People of discernment and knowledge among Muslims know the extent of danger to Islam of the 12’er school of Shi’ism. It is a religious school based on excess and falsehood whose function is to accuse the companions of Muhammad of heresy [in] a campaign against Islam, in order to free the way for a group of those who call for a dialogue in the name of the hidden mahdi who is in control of existence and infallible in what he does. Their prior history in cooperating with the enemies of Islam is consistent with their current reality of connivance with the crusaders.â€Â
o Quote: “The collision between any state based on the model of prophecy with the Shi’ites is a matter that will happen sooner or later. This is the judgment of history, and these are the fruits to be expected from the rejectionist Shi’a sect and their opinion of the Sunnis. These are clear, well-known matters to anyone with a knowledge of history, the ideologies, and the politics of states.â€Â
o Quote: “[M]any of your Muslim admirers amongst the common folk are wondering about your attacks on the Shi’a.â€Â
How al-Qaida views the developments in Iraq – and elsewhere – as turning against them:
· Zawahiri clearly is worried they are losing public support in Iraq, and is attuned to the role of the media in the battle for such support. Zawahiri emphasizes that the struggle is ideological, with each side competing for the popular support and loyalty of the Muslim world. Zarqawi’s methods are backfiring by alienating the Iraqi people with attacks against the Shia.
o Quote: “…[W]e will see that the strongest weapon which the Mujahidin enjoy . . . is popular support from the Muslim masses in Iraq , and the surrounding Muslim countries. So, we must maintain this support as best we can, and we should strive to increase it….â€Â
o Quote: “[T]he Jihadist movement must avoid any action that the masses do not understand or approve. . . .â€Â
o Quote: “I say to you: that we are in a battle, and that more than half this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media. And that we are in a media battle in a race for the hearts and minds of our nation.â€Â
· Zawahiri, who previously termed democracy heretical, is willing to exploit the political process unfolding in Iraq to advance the group’s goals. Zawahiri is advocating a modified strategy in an attempt to expand the group’s Sunni support base in Iraq . It is tacit acknowledgement that the political process unfolding in Iraq appeals to average Iraqis. Zarqawi’s recent pronouncements for all-out war against the Shia and recent rhetoric against Sunnis supporting the government and coalition stirred concerns among his advisers and allies and already have prompted Zarqawi to quickly adjust his rhetoric and some tactics.
o Quote: “We don’t want to repeat the mistake of the Taliban, who restricted participation in governance to the students and the people of Kandahar alone. They did not have any representation for the Afghan people in their ruling regime, so the result was that the Afghan people disengaged themselves from them.â€Â
o Quote: “I stress again to you and to all your brothers the need to direct the political action equally with the military action, by the alliance, cooperation and gathering of all leaders of opinion and influence in the Iraqi arena. . . . [Y]ou and your brothers must strive to have around you circles of support, assistance, and cooperation, and through them, to advance until you become a consensus, entity, organization, or association that represents all the honorable people and the loyal folks in Iraq .â€Â
· Zawahiri’s letter to Zarqawi reveals continued points of weakness in Pakistan-based al-Qaida senior leaders and what they need to operate and survive:
o Financial shortages: Zawahiri asks for a payment of approximately 100,000 of an unspecified currency until “new lines†– likely with donors – are opened. Moreover, he makes this request in the context of Abu Faraj al-Libi, intimating that his capture adversely affected al-Qaida’s ability to transfer funds.
· Quote: “The brothers informed me that you suggested to them sending some assistance. Our situation since Abu-al-Faraj is good by the grace of God, but many of the lines have been cut off. Because of this, we need a payment while new lines are being opened. So, if you’re capable of sending a payment of approximately 100,000 [units of currency] we’ll be very grateful to you.â€Â
o The CT efforts of our partners: Furthermore, Zawahiri notes that while they may have limited the consequences of Abu Faraj’s capture, al-Qaida is wary of the Pakistani army’s presence in the tribal areas where its leaders have found sanctuary. This highlights the importance of continued Pakistani efforts in the War on Terror. As partnerships and partnership capacity expands, so shrinks the space in which terrorists can operate.
· Quote: “[T]he real danger comes from the agent Pakistani army which is carrying out operations in the tribal areas looking for Mujahidin.â€Â
o Isolation of senior leadership. Zawahiri appeals to Zarqawi for information about the situation and activities in Iraq .
· Quote: “Likewise I would like you to inform us about the Iraqi situation in general and the situation of the Mujahidin in particular in [sufficient] detail. . . . At the least, we should know as much as the enemy knows.â€Â
(Thanks to SPC Richardson, CENTCOM Public Affairs)
Yup. And we’re losing the war, huh?
Too bad the only place to find this information will be on right wing blogs. Or in the final paragraph (on page C-18) of a story about body counts, American ineptness, and a general lashing of the Bush administration.
BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING THE WAR!!
Funny how the NYT missed that little tidbit in their coverage.
You’re so right, B Moe. Gonna add those lines to the title to highlight them.
“more than half the battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media.”
Wishful thinking on Al-Zawahiri’s part? Because if it were true, he’d be winning. I think that as they continue to lose in the real world, not even the media will be able to ignore it.
Sounds to me like Zawahiri’s just trying to find something positive to talk about in a letter that is otherwise a catalog full of criticism, recriminations, and defeat.
From I have read the terrorist leadership pool is dwindling rapidly. As more of this occurs, look for dramatic suicide bombings on more civilian targets so the MSM can sensationalize how brazen the terrorists are….This will in turn translate into
“WE ARE LOSING THE WAR”!!!!!!!!!
Just as the latest TIME issued promised… The bastards…….
Executive Summary:
We are getting our asses kicked and you are out there pissing off our recruitment base. Remember that the masses are morons and can’t understand the nuance in terrorism that you and I are plainly aware.
Where is the dam money, bitch!
After reading this letter, I believe we have the bastards on the run. Too bad the MSM will read the same letter and conclude that the “insurgents are better organized and more astute than had been thought”.
To probably no one’s surprise, I’ve already seen a few comments from lefties on a couple of blogs claiming the letter was written by the CIA.
Overheard in an Afghan cave:
OSAMA:
“Right. Now, uh, item four: attainment of world supremacy within the next five years. Uh, Ayman, you’ve been doing some work on this.”
AYMAN:
“Yeah. Thank you, Osama. Well, quite frankly, siblings, I think five years is optimistic, unless we can smash the American empire within the next twelve months.”
OSAMA:
“Twelve months?”
AYMAN:
“Yeah, twelve months. And, let’s face it. As empires go, this is the big one, so we’ve got to get up off our arses and stop just talking about it!”
AMERICANS THEY GO HOUSE!!!!
Check this nutcase out:
http://cosmotata.blogspot.com/2005/10/al-zawahiri-letter-authentic.html
When there are no more retards willing to blow themselves up for Allah will there be journalists willing to blow themselves up for news?
Look, clearly these are religious guys.
As such, shouldn’t the MSM be referring this ‘communique’ as an ‘epistle’?
I’ll try to find the link.
Couple of weeks ago, a reporter (AP I think) was writing from a position that I can only call ‘embedded’ with the jihadi’s. The reporter actually quoted one of the leaders that the war was waged for /in the US media. I think this was at Roger L or Wretchard. If I remember correctly, the US version of the piece did not include this info, only the one printed in Australia.
This passed in the blogosphere night, overcome by the next day’s events.
It deserved a blogstorm on par with anything I have ever read from the media.
For some reason the link to the article at Wrethard is blacklisted.
Go to Belmont Club here
and search for the article news-magazine-of-mysteries-2
Iraq is the biggest front in the war on terror?
Has someone told Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the Dems? Seems like this is the sort of thing they should know…
Pelosi and Reid think that the White House is the biggest front in the war on terror.
Colossus,
Don’t underestimate the media. They can, and do, ignore anything they want to. Without Fox News and the internet, this war would be over and done with, and Al Queda would own Iraq.
If it takes losing this war to harm Bush, then the Media and the Democrats will do whatever it takes to try and lose.
What about Hekmatyar Gulbuddin and the HIG? I still owe that $#@%*& and his lads for shooting 107mm rockets at me and getting away…but good to hear things are not going well in Iraq for AQ.
Yeah, we’ve got these jokers on the ropes. Now all we need is a good, old-fashioned election in Iraq to inspire confidence in democracy and perhaps the genie of democracy will come so far out of the bottle that it can never go back in again.
Me? I can hardly wait for the general wailing and gnashing of teeth from the left….Worthless shits.
“I say to you: that we are in a battle, and that more than half this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media. And that we are in a media battle in a race for the hearts and minds of our nation.â€Â
If I didn’t know any better, this almost was a quote word from word from the Kerry camp or Dean Machine.
Todd;
Yea I saw the TIME cover, they also had a cover with a tired bloody Marine with “What’s it going to take?” they put out two days before the statue of Sdaam was pulled down in Baghdad.
Ah, the good old days of “operational pauses”, “supply problems” “shock and awe” and “Baghdadgrad”.
I question the timing of this.
My favorite part of the letter is the section where he speaks about plans to take over Iraq and use it as a base to grow an Islamist nation-state in the Middle East. I can’t see how the Dems would want to pull out knowing full well that as soon as we do we’re fucked.
Your assuming the Democrats don’t want us to lose. Once you realize they do, it makes sense.
Shank –
BECAUSE OF BUSHITLERMcHALLYBURTONFASCIST!!
The second stage: Establish an Islamic authority or amirate, then develop it and support it until it achieves the level of a caliphate over as much territory as you can spread its power in Iraq, i.e., in Sunni areas
If this is CIA product, it’s brilliant. Sunnis demanding concessions need only have this letter shoved under their noses.
“See, we can’t let that happen. If it turns out you’re not on board, there’s nothing we can do for you. If the situation dissolves in to ethnic strife or civil war, we’d have to sit by and watch the slaughter of the Sunni population. We cannot afford to allow AQ to take root here.”
Looky! al-Qaeda agrees with GW
“You’re with us or you’re with the terrorists.”
Wonder if Mommy Sheehan ever thought how she is gonna look in a burka?
After considering it, I would have to say “Better”.
Jeff,
Congrats on being featured in PJ Media today. Charles has you up on Little Green Footballs.
Legacy media glossing over/omitting a bit of good news? The hell you say!
I spoke with my brother on Tuesday, live and direct from beautiful Mosul. A bit of our conversation:
He: So I guess you heard about our big find last week?
Me: Heard what now?
He: The monster weapons cache my patrol found? An entire storehouse filled with C4, det cord, grenade detonators, mines…you know the one?
Me: Hasn’t made the news here.
He:
Me:
He: Are you serious? Cause this was big. When we blew the cache, the blast almost knocked me over, and I was 500 yards away. It was big big.
We better hope that half the war isn’t in the media, because our media evidently want us to lose that part of the war.
Your trackback is not working. I tried two different system
http://donsingleton.blogspot.com/2005/10/what-extremists-are-saying.html
That is actually the best argument for withdrawal I have heard yet. Whose side are you on, Darleen?
If the media is like a drunk waking up in his own barf, then Zawahiri’s communique is his wake-up call!
Get a jar of aspirin, start a pot of coffee and put the cat out. This is going to be ugly.
-Steve
Everyone’s been so busy talking about the content of the letter that they forgot to see what Zawahiri’s handwriting tells us about himself.
Nobody can seem to explain a line on page 12 of the letter from Zawahiri: “if by chance you’re going to Fallujah, send greetings to al-Zarqawi”. Basically…tell Zarqawi to say hello to Zarqawi. Whoops! What happened there?
Do you think these guys are going to leave a 13 page letter laying around that outlines their comprehensive strategy for Iraq given the obvious propaganda value to the Bush Administration?
The letter is a fake!