New Zawahiri Tape Ridicules Bush Plan

The DC-based Site Institute has just revealed the existence of a new videotaped speech by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri. The video has yet to appear on any Islamist websites, and SITE has declined to publicly release the full tape or to reveal how they got a copy of it, though there is no reason to think it inauthentic.

The tape is Zawahiri's response to Bush's announcement of the deployment of 20,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq. Zawahiri scoffs at the American plan, stating: “Why send 20,000 only? Why not send 50 or 100 thousand? Aren't you aware that the dogs of Iraq are pining for your troops' dead bodies?." Zawahiri invites the president to deploy the entire American army to Iraq, claiming that the mujihideen are capable of destroying ten armies.

Zawahiri also exhorts al Qaeda followers to take up arms and fight jihad wherever Muslims are oppressed, listing Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Palestine, and Algeria.

The full text and/or a link to the video will be posted here when they become available.