Tape Shows Al Qaeda Threatened By Obama: Experts

National Security Network reports on the upshot of the tape in which No. 2 Al Qaeda Ayman al-Zawarhri calls Barack Obama a "house negro":

Experts agree that the release of a new tape by Al Qaeda's second in command Ayman al-Zawahri indicates that Al Qaeda feels threatened and is on its heels after Obama's resounding victory. President-elect Obama's diverse background, along with his pledge to reverse many of the policies and approaches of the Bush administration on issues such as detentions at Guantanamo, torture and the war in Iraq has served to dramatically improve America's image, especially in the Muslim world.

Counter-terrorism expert Richard Clarke explained, "Most of all, by returning to American values the world admires, Obama sets al Qaeda back enormously in the battle of ideas, the ideological struggle which determines whether al Qaeda will continue to have significant support in the Islamic world." Having thrived on the decline in America's world image, the impact of Obama's victory provides a direct challenge to Al Qaeda's negative depiction of the United States. Additionally, Obama's emphasis on shifting US attention from Iraq to Afghanistan represents a direct physical threat to Al Qaeda's leadership. America's improved global image and the new administration's focus on Afghanistan threatens Al Qaeda and has led to what experts see as a confused, racist, and off-kilter response reflective of an organization on the defensive.

Meanwhile, experts tell CNN that Obama is poised to restore America's image in the international community.

Comments

[Yarrr]

Maybe Al Qaeda could join forces with the Republicans, they share a lot of the same ideals.

[CheshireCat2]

This could be accurate. Wait and see. I was wondering how AQ would spin the election since there is a different tone with O.

I was afraid the appointment of Rahm would draw the bulls eye around his administration.

[beerguy]

I think Richard Clarke gives Obama way to much credit here in how AQ sees him. These are religious fanatics. We'll see how this plays out.

[CheshireCat2]

Pretty much a wait and see. Ideology aside, he is our next president and needs success in this crucial area.

[SanityForOnce]

It's not how AQ seems Obama that matters, it's how the rest of the arab speaking world see him. If Obama restores the image of America in their eyes, then it's a major blow to AQ, who has been winning the propaganda war. Obama winning the presidency is a monkey wrench in their propaganda machine.

[Fongenie]

Al Qaeda is only as strong as its influence on the Arab and Muslim world.

[tomjones44]

hahaha it looks like Al Qaeda has the same problem that the Republicans do with regards to Obama

[CheshireCat2]

What is that?

[tomjones44]

they have no idea what to do now that he's elected

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

confusion!

[macbabe]

I am LOVING OUR NEW BOSS!! :)

[sammy cole]

I think Obama loves HIS bosses.....the American people!!!!

[Bigbard]

Unbelievable !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew this would happen. Bush doesn't put any fear in Al queda.

[FACINGREALIT]

The Bush family is VERY CLOSE FRIENDS with the Bin Ladens. Daddy Bush continues to maintain a friendship/business relationship with Osama's brother Salem Bin Laden. Reagan CREATED Osama. So the GOP has NEVER hunted for Osama or Al Queda nor Saddam, who was a FRIEND of both Reagan/Rumsfield until he put a contract on Bush 1 - that is when that relationship soured. They are all interconnected. And with the republicans (and Clinton, who when Osama was captured refused to take him in as a prisoner) it is all about the money - always has been and always will be, and they all kept the public in the blind to do their dirty deeds. However, Obama has no ties to the money but to the peopleat home and abroad so YEA Al Queda is afraid. That fear propoganda is GONE!

[candlepower]

Hedonist88
Have to disagree, slightly, it is Obama's election that represents a collapse of their narrative as that of "the oppressed."
Furthermore, by such blatant racial epithets they have reversed roles and are looking like the mean-minded oppressors that they really are.
It is odd that they now have more in common with the intolerant bigots in our own country who we know have spouted the same and worse in relation to our president elect.
I think it is more to suggest they should all get together and work-out their hatreds as fellow travellers.

[Hedonist88]

Yes interesting isn't it?

The fundamentalist, uneducated fanatics in America looking so much like the fundamentalist terrorists in the east.

[bongogirl]

A CHANGE HAS COME TO AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!--------OBAMA---------!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[candlepower]

That's my kind of asymmetry!!!!

[Hedonist88]

This first round against the bad guys was won by the American people voting for change.
It's not Obama they are afraid of as much as the resurgence of the American people taking back their country. AL Qaeda doesn't have a game plan for this and has been reduced to petty name calling.

[Polyphant]

Good guys and bad guys? John Wayne? Time to grow up.

[candlepower]

ohYeah!
That's exactly what it shows.
Those horrible zealots in the hills are mighty desperate at this point.
And this latest salvo shows they haven't got a clue how to handle it. What is more- with this posting they've managed to do our PR for us.
By taking shots at Obama they are actually diminishing their own position.
It is in fact the opposite of what the last eight years has been.
For the last eight years the tail has wagged the dog, most of Bush's reaction to Al Qaeda has reinforced their position and now we got Obama the dynamic is reversed.
GO GO GO OBAMA!!!

[Coinyer101]

barack should let gates go away with bush! put wes clark in there! you need at least one good cabinet pick!

[PoorRussianBoy]

Here's the true word on Malcolm and Barack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svDcjqOq-kQ&fmt=6

[LEODELEONJR]

Way to go BAM..We believe in you

[InfinteShibumi]

I have never been prouder of the American electorate. Talk about Soft Power!

[robiform]

This just proves what many have said for the past eight years--Al Qaeda (i.e. OBL and his cronies) depended on Bush and HIS cronies as a mutual support system. I wonder--were any ot those family membes of bin Laden who were allowed to leave the U.S. on or about 9/12/01 ever questioned by U.S. authorities?? Didn't think so.