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053. Al Qaeda Bin Laden Message Declares War on Pakistan President Musharraf
September 20, 2007
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/09/obl_pakistan.php

Al Qaeda Bin Laden Message Declares War on Pakistan President Musharraf

By Jeffrey Imm

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Images from Laura Mansfield

UPDATE - 3:30 PM ET:
Bin Laden Message Transcript -- from Laura Mansfield

Complete message video link - from Laura Mansfield

Jihadist web site monitoring groups and media organizations report that Osama Bin Laden has released a new message declaring war on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Laura Mansfield, the SITE Institute, Reuters, AFP, AP, ABC News, CNN, FOX News, and others have reported on this.

ABC has provided a short video excerpt of the latest Bin Laden message.

Laura Mansfield reports on the new Bin Laden message:
"This morning's video release from As Sahab features the audiotaped voice of Osama bin Laden over a video montage of older footage showing the terror leader in various activities. The message, entitled 'Come to Jihad', is directed to the people of Pakistan. However, the simultaneous release of transcripts in English, Pashtun, and Arabic indicate the terror group is looking at a wider audience, including the English-speaking world. Much of the message builds a legalistic case under Islamic shari'ah justifying why Muslims in Pakistan should take up arms against Pakistani President Pervez Musharaff. He cites numerous quotes from the Qu'ran to document Musharaff's alleged violations of Islamic law culminating with the recent events at the Lal Masjid, as well as several fatwas from clerics justifying action against Musharraf."

SITE Institute reports that the new Bin Laden message addresses Muslims in Pakistan asking them to "rebel against the government of President Pervez Musharraf and declaring al-Qaeda’s intent to retaliate for the blood spilled of 'champions of Islam', in a 23:36 minute audio speech produced by as-Sahab. Old footage of bin Laden and Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri touring a Mujahideen training camp and traversing a mountainside is shown in the center, the screen surrounded by the visages of four deceased jihadists: Abdul Rashid Ghazi, Nizamuddin Shamzai, Nek Muhammad and Abdullah Mahsud."

SITE reports that:
"Bin Laden’s speech presents justification on the grounds of Islamic Shari'a for the overthrow of Musharraf, citing his cooperation with the United States and recent actions against the Red Mosque (Lal Masjid) and Jamia Hafsa for this purpose. Echoing the sentiments of other al-Qaeda leaders, Zawahiri and Abu Yahya al-Libi, he condemns Musharraf and states: 'So Pervez, his ministers, his soldiers and those who help him are all accomplices in the spilling the blood of those of the Muslims who have been killed. He who helps him knowingly and willingly is an infidel like him'. Bin Laden advocates dismissing elections and other 'futile actions', arguing that force is required and jihad is the way. Further, in the name of al-Qaeda, Usama bin Laden declares that it will retaliate for the death of the aforementioned individuals, including Nek Muhammad and Abdullah Mahsud in Waziristan, and praises the people of Waziristan for their sacrifices against the 'international Kufr [disbelief]', America."

Laura Mansfield provides the following quotes from the new Bin Laden message:
-- regarding Pakistan's nuclear weapons program: "How is the nation benefited by these weapons and tests of yours? The same goes for the nuclear bomb itself."
-- in conclusion: "And we in al-Qaida Organization call on Allah to witness that we will retaliate for the blood of Maulana Abd al-Rashid Ghazi and those with him against Musharraf and those who help him, and for all the pure and innocent blood, foremost of which is the blood of the champions of Islam in Waziristan – both North and South – among them the two noble leaders, Nek Muhammad and Abdullah Mahsud. May Allah have mercy on them all."

Earlier this morning, AP reported that Jihadist web sites on Thursday had banners stating that such a new message would be "Soon, God willing: 'Come to Jihad (holy war)', from sheik Usama bin Laden, God protect him... Urgent, Al Qaeda declares war on the tyrant Pervez Musharraf and his apostate army, in the words of Usama bin Laden".

On Thursday, September 19, Al Qaeda's Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri also spoke in a separate video entitled "The Power of Truth"calling for Jihad in Pakistan and around the world. Zawahiri released a previous message "The Aggression against Lal Masjid", calling for Jihad in Pakistan on Wednesday July 11, 2007.

SITE Institute has reported on the Thursday, September 19 video, released by As-Sahab and entitled as "The Power of Truth". Per the SITE report, among other subjects, in the September 19 video, Zawahiri threatens "Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf that the death of Abdul Rashid Ghazi and the actions at the Red Mosque and Jamia Hafsa in Islamabad will not go unpunished".

AP also reports that, in the Thursday video "The Power of Truth", Zawahiri also stated that the Lal Masjid counterterror operation "revealed the extent of the despicableness, lowliness and treason of Musharraf and his forces, who don't deserve the honor of defending Pakistan, because Pakistan is a Muslim land, whereas the forces of Musharraf are hunting dogs under (President) Bush's crucifix." Zawahiri made similar comments in his July 11, 2007 video to Pakistanis, where he called Pakistanis to take action: "Muslims of Pakistan: your salvation is only through Jihad."

SITE also reports that, in the September 19 "The Power of Truth" video, "the 'truth', as given in the documentary, is that al-Qaeda and the Mujahideen have been accumulating victories in its war against the United States and the West, despite allegations to the contrary", and that Al Qaeda's Zawahiri "reiterates the call of Usama bin Laden for jihad in Sudan. Calling to Muslims everywhere to abandon those movements that seek alliance or treaties with the enemy, such as the Palestinian Authority and Omar al-Bashir in Sudan, and unite, Zawahiri declares Muslims as strong and never to be subservient to any people, opting for jihad rather than obedience. He states: 'This is what the two blessed raids embodied in the truest of representations, and that is their message to the Crusader West: that the criminal must pay the price for his crimes.' "

Laura Mansfield provides a video link of the September 19 "The Power of Truth" video. Laura Mansfield reports that the "Power of Truth" video "has a total running time of 1 hour, 20 minutes, 34 seconds".

In addition, AP reports that in the Thursday video, Zawahri called for attacks on French and Spanish interests in North Africa and on U.N. as well as African peacekeepers expected to deploy in Darfur.

AFP reports that Pakistan is dismissing the anticipated Bin Laden threat, according to chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad: " 'We are already committed to fighting extremists and terrorists -- there is no change in our policy". Last month, President Musharraf made an outreach to the Taliban to become a "mainstreamed" political organization.

Two weeks ago, CNN reported on a poll of more than 1,000 Pakistanis, which concluded that Osama Bin Laden is more popular than President Musharraf. The poll was taken for the group Terror Free Tomorrow in August 2007. The poll results showed that only 4 percent believed that there was a good motivation in the "war on terrorism" with 66 percent viewing it is as a war against Islam, 74 percent said they opposed U.S. military action against al Qaeda and the Taliban inside Pakistan, and 33 percent supported Al Qaeda (only 43 percent said they opposed Al Qaeda).

Pakistan is increasingly facing internal strife on the issue of its military actions against Jihadist groups, amidst increasing violence and death toll among Pakistan's military. The Daily Telegraph reports that more than 1,000 Pakistani soldiers have died fighting their own countrymen in the US-led war on terror, including 18 ambushed on Sunday, with some having their throats cut. On Wednesday, the bodies of 15 Pakistani soldiers were found mutilated, and 250 Pakistani soldiers continue to be held hostage by Jihadists. The Daily Telegraph report states that "an increasing number of analysts have questioned the soldiers' will to fight what many Pakistanis believe to be 'someone else's war'. Talat Masood, a retired lieutenant-general wrote in a newspaper column earlier this week "[f]or all practical purposes, the state has lost its authority and is in full retreat especially in Waziristan and Bajaur".

Media have reported on desertions from the Pakistani army, and belief that some members of the Pakistani army have been infiltrated by Jihadists for attacks. AKI reports that 6 soldiers deserted the Pakistani army yesterday, and the Times of India has reported that "[s]cores of Pakistan soldiers desert forces". In the Times of India report, a deserting Pakistani soldier told reporters "I did not desert the force because I feared death, but I was not sure whether the fighting in tribal district Waziristan was Islamic or not".

In addition to the widely reported Lal Masjid mosque uprising (where it was reported that Al Zawahiri was involved in planning), there have also been individual cases of Pakistani pro-Islamist mobs attacking police to free Jihadists, as well as pro-Jihadist rallies. In July, Gulf News reported that the top cleric in Waziristan would "wage Jihad" if the US attacked Waziristan. Moreover, Pakistani Islamist press has been calling for Jihad against India.

Pakistan's government has also seen rising Islamist sentiment. Last month, the Gulf Times reported that in the Pakistan government, ruling coalition legislator and parliamentary secretary for defense Syed Tanveer Hussai has called for the Pakistan government to recognize the Taliban, use Jihad to "liberate" Kashmir, and reject US aid stating "[t]he aid that forces us to mistreat our own people should be spewed out". A month ago, on August 21, Dawn reported that Pakistan Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niaz called for ending Pakistan's involvement in fighting in the "war on terror", refusing US aid for the Pakistani military, stated that the "events which followed the 9/11 incident proved that it was the brainchild of Jews", and claimed that the Qur'an demanded Islamic enmity against Christians and Jews.

Sources and Related Documents:

September 20, 2007 - Laura Mansfield: New Bin Laden Message calls for jihad against Pakistan

September 20, 2007 - SITE Intelligence Group - "Come to Jihad" – Audio Speech from Usama bin Laden Addressing the People of Pakistan, Declaring War on the Pakistani Government

September 20, 2007 - Reuters: Bin Laden vows revenge against Pakistan president

September 20, 2007 - AP: Bin Laden urges Pakistanis to revolt

September 20, 2007 - ABC: Bin Laden: Armed Rebellion Against Musharraf 'Obligatory'

September 20, 2007 - AFP: Bin Laden declares 'war' on Pakistan in new tape

September 20, 2007 - CNN: Al Qaeda calls for 'jihad' against Pakistan's Musharraf

September 20, 2007 - FOX News: Bin Laden Declares War on Musharraf in New Audiotape

September 20, 2007 - Reuters: Fight the U.S., al Qaeda's Zawahri tells Muslims in video

September 20, 2007 - AFP: Pakistan dismisses Bin Laden war threat

September 19, 2007 - SITE Intelligence Group: "The Power of Truth" - Video Documentary from as-Sahab on the War Between Islam and the United States and the West