Al Qaida Number 2: Iran Propagated 9/11 Conspiracy Theory

CAIRO, Egypt — Osama bin Laden's chief deputy in an audiotape Tuesday accused Shiite Iran of trying to discredit the Sunni al-Qaida terror network by spreading the conspiracy theory that Israel was behind the Sept. 11 attacks.

The comments reflected al-Qaida's No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahri's increasing criticism of Iran. Al-Zawahri has accused Iran in recent messages of seeking to extend its power in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and through its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon.

The authenticity of the two-hour audio recording posted on an Islamic Web site could not be independently confirmed. But the voice sounded like past audiotapes from the terror leader, and the posting where it was found bore the logo of Al-Sahab, al-Qaida's official media arm.

It was the second of two messages answering questions that were posted to Islamic militant Web sites earlier this year.

One of the questioners asked about the theory that has circulated in the Middle East and elsewhere that Israel was behind the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Al-Zawahri accused Hezbollah's Al-Manar television of starting the rumor.

"The purpose of this lie is clear _ (to suggest) that there are no heroes among the Sunnis who can hurt America as no else did in history. Iranian media snapped up this lie and repeated it," he said.

"Iran's aim here is also clear _ to cover up its involvement with America in invading the homes of Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq," he said.

Iran cooperated with the United States in the 2001 U.S. assault on Afghanistan that toppled al-Qaida's allies, the Taliban.

Answering questions about Iraq in Tuesday's tape, al-Zawahri said the insurgent umbrella group led by al-Qaida, called the Islamic State of Iraq, is "the primary force opposing the Crusaders and challenging Iranian ambitions" in Iraq, he said, referring to the Americans.

As he often does in his messages, al-Zawahri denounced the "Crusader invasion" of Iraq, but in Tuesday's tape he paired it with a mention of "Iranian complicity" or "Iranian agents."

In the latest tape, al-Zawahri was also asked if the terror group had further plans to attack Western countries that participated in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and subsequent war.

"My answer is: Yes! We think that any country that has joined aggression on Muslims must be deterred," he replied.

In response to a question signed by the Japanese news agency Kyodo asking if Japan remains a target because it once had troops in Iraq, al-Zawahri said "Japan provided help under the banner of the crusader coalition ... therefore it participated in the Crusader campaign against the lands of Islam."

Japan deployed non-combat troops to southern Iraq in 2003 to carry out reconstruction work. It withdrew its troops from Iraq in 2006 and now conducts airlifts to help supply U.S.-led forces in that country.

Al-Zawahri spoke on a wide range of issues, even global warming, which he said reflected "how criminal, brutal and greedy the Western Crusader world is, with America at the top."

He predicted that global warming would "make the world more sympathetic to and understanding of the Muslims' jihad against the aggressor America."

Asked if there are any women in al-Qaida, the terror leader answered simply: "No." In a follow-up answer, he said: "There are no women in al-Qaida jihadi group, but the women of the mujahedeen are playing a heroic role in taking care of their houses and sons."

In several parts of Tuesday's audio message, Al-Zawahri claimed that the Taliban took over 95 percent of Afghanistan and is sweeping Pakistan as well.

"The Crusaders and their agents in Pakistan and Afghanistan are starting to fall," he said.

In another answer Tuesday, al-Zawahri said it was against Islamic religious law for any Muslim to live permanently in a Western country because in doing so they would "have permanent stay there under the laws of the infidels."

Al-Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab, announced in December that al-Zawahri would take questions from the public posted on Islamic militant Web sites and would respond "as soon as possible." Queries were submitted on the main Islamist Web site until the cutoff date of Jan. 16.

Comments

[JohnFromCensornati]

Looks like Iran is the winner of the Unintended Consequences trifecta!
They outmaneuvered BushCo, they outmaneuvered Al Qaida, and they get to build their nukes because nobody is in any position to stop them.

[BillOfRaleigh]

It looks like you're the one spreading rumors. Our own NIE stated that Iran is not making nuclear weapons. I believe that's comprised of 16 independent different US intelligence agencys. Evidently you have your own source of info. Please enlighten us.

[JohnFromCensornati]

I personally do not care if they build a nuke or not, but I think it's naive to believe that they do not want to.
They are surrounded by nukes.
Russia, China, Pakistan, Israel, USA in Iraq, and possibly the Saudis.
They'd be irrational to not want them since Iraq was invaded and N Korea and Libya and Pakisan were not.
Further, I did not say that they are making one, I said they get to because nobody can stop them.
Additionally, at this point, I can't imagine why you would believe any "intelligence" that our current government decides to share with us.

[HatingTheGame]

Hmm, so does this mean that AQ and the US are on the same side? Do we have a commonality of interests? Lie-ber-man and McNutjob say that AQ is in Iran, working together. This story says that they are not.

The biggest commonality of interest we have is that both the US and AQ need to discredit the inside job theory -- one to protect Israel, and two to give legitimacy to the horrors of continued killing, terrorism, raping, pillaging, and genocidal insanity -- and that's just US good guys. You should see the other baddies! Man, do they got a mouth on them!

Hmmm...what to believe???

[ibsteve2u]

lolll...this is why I prefer Presidents who are honest.

Got enough liars in the world making up excuses to justify hostilities. Don't need another one at home.

[moderator-jand - Huffpost Blogger]

When are we going to realize that these people will not be happy until every person on the planet has suffered the fate of the people working at the World Trade Center. I lost to many friends that day. I do not know what offends me more. That he has no sorrow for the death of innocents. Or that if given a chance, he would take more lives.