Al Zawahiri: Much Ado About Nothing

It still amazes me how after seven years, the U.S. media is still suckered by what al- Qaeda leaders have to say or preach. The interesting thing is that hardly anyone in the Middle East these days pays close attention to their speeches.

Arab broadcasters such as Al Jazeera, once heavily criticized by their counterparts in the U.S. for broadcasting bin Laden's speeches and interviews, have devoted little time and attention to the No. 2 man in al-Qaeda, Ayman al- Zawahiri's recent message. Thanks to CNN, FOX and others you can read the entire propaganda on their websites.

By invoking Malcolm X, al-Zawahiri is trying to drive a wedge between Barack Obama and Muslims, but this will not work. American Muslims have voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama; millions of Muslims across the globe were excited by his election as president of the United States.

Finally, for G'd's sake, FOX, CNN, AP, and al-Qaeda video translators -- if you're going to translate this propaganda, at least hire better translators. "Abed" means slave, and is not "negro" (which is "zunji" in Arabic.)

Note: Peter Bergen looked dumbfounded on CNN (Anderson Cooper 360) when an excerpt of al-Zawahiri's tape was played in Arabic without an English voice-over. Bergen an "expert" on al-Qaeda does not understand Arabic.

Jamal Dajani produces the Mosaic Intelligence Report on Link TV

Follow Jamal Dajani on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jamaldajani

Comments

[alexa07]

Good thoughts! Please keep up your excellent work on Link TV's Mosaic! Any American who wants to see what is really going on in the Middle East needs to watch your broadcast EVERY night! When are you going to expand to the weekend?

[Jamal Dajani - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you. We would like to expand to the weekend...­it's a matter of resources.

[newsjunkie5]

Great article!

This is so true. Bush and his administration have had one success since they came to the White House. That is that they have successfully scared the crap out of the American public...s­o much so that they convinced them that we should invade Iraq, get involved in Afghanistan, and even toyed with the idea of attacking Iran.

I can't wait for Bush, his cronies, and his color coded alert system to leave Washington.

If he needs help moving out I will gladly volunteer!

[ToonMoene]

I think it is rather telling they have to praise a *dead* Black Muslim leader like Malcolm X.

Surely they know about a live one (hint, hint - his name starts with an F).

[justice2008]

Pleeeese don't compare Farakhan to Malcom X!

[TakeNoNeoConPrisoners]

The long term strategy that Obama brings to the table is defusing their radical arguments about the US. Bush threw gasoline on the fire, Obama throws water and sand on it. Think about it. If the US can reverse the al-Qaida recruitment successes and actually see it dry up, Al Qaida's goose is cooked. After so many suicide bombings, they will run out of warm bodies to carry out their plans for world domination. Obama is the best thing to happen to the US since sliced bread.

Obama-Biden 2012

[newsjunkie5]

I AGREE!

[lucylou]

As our last Pope said, "If it didn't happen on TV, it didn't happen". When are we just going to freeze these lunatics out? For the sake of 'New', the media provides free platforms for their insanity. I say black ball 'em.

[Casey Gane-McCalla - Huffpost Blogger]

Good post. I agree with you on how they're trying to drive a wedge between Obama and blacks.

We ain't dummies tho.

Here's Where Al Qaeda Was Wrong About Malcolm X and Obama
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/nation/obama-and-malcolm-x-far-from-opposites/

[MadDog]

Regardless, President-elect Obama really needs to get rid of bin Laden and al-Zawahiri once and for all. Even if they're not functionally relevant at the moment, they're still highly symbolic and after all, are the primary criminals responsible for 9/11.

[justice2008]

The obsession with al Qaeda in US media is remnent of the Bush Administrations tactics to scare the hell out of us. How come we do not hear about the color coded alerts anymore? Are we safer?

[newsjunkie5]

I really hope that Obama's administration gets rid of the ridiculous color coded system!

What a joke.

Just a leftover of the idiotic current administration. They had to color code the alerts not for the public but to make it easier for Bush to understand.

[Van Sieve]

Al Zawahiri is a hate-monger and a cancer to the people of the earth. Despite your claim that most people in the Arab world no longer listen to him, there are still suicide bombings on a regular basis.

I've written an open letter to Al Zawahiri to express my distaste for his poliitcs, tactics and companions:
http://mezzemuff.com/2008/11/dear-ayman-al-zawahri/

-Van

[leonardox1]

"there are still suicide bombings on a regular basis" what this have to do with Zawaheri. There were suicide bombings also before Zawaheri.

[Van Sieve]

I'm saying that some people in the Al Qaeda organization must still be listening to his demands for violent action against "the west" because there continue to be suicide bombings and Al Qaeda claims responsibility for some of them.

Naturally he isn't the only threat or the only voice ... but it seems that he is still an active influence.

[joz22]

This is absolutely right! Why are we devoting too much time to what this loser is saying?

[jad114]

Al Zawaheri, Bin Laden etc. are feeling neglected since their favorite buddy George Bush is leaving office soon; therefore, they need to stir some sh*t to attract some attention.