October 7, 2005

Zawahiri to Zarqawi: Your Lifestyle's Too Extreme

Hatched by Sachi

When the number-two guy in al-Qaeda tells you that you're over the top, you might want to sit down and do some serious rethinking.

The United States recently intercepted a copy of a "letter of instructions and requests" sent in July, 2005 from bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. In it, Zawahiri first articulates the al-Qaeda vision of the future:

The letter of instructions and requests outlines a four-stage plan, according to officials: First, expel American forces from Iraq. Second, establish a caliphate over as much of Iraq as possible. Third, extend the jihad to neighboring countries, with specific reference to Egypt and the Levant -- a term that describes Syria and Lebanon. And finally, war against Israel.

For al-Qaeda, kicking the "crusaders" out of Iraq is only a means to an end. Zawahiri understands that in order to realize this grand vision, al-Qaeda needs to win hearts and minds in the Moslem world, starting with the Iraqis; yet he fears that Zarqawi's brutal treatment of hostages is alienating the entire ummah. His sadistic bloodthirst is unhelpful, to use a Rumsfeldism.

Ayman Zawahiri… warns Abu Musab Zarqawi against alienating the Islamic world, and virtually reprimands the Iraqi branch of al Qaeda for beheading hostages and then distributing videotapes…

[H]e rebukes the leader of Iraq's insurgency for its brutal tactics -- noting that hostages can just as effectively be killed with bullets rather than by beheading.

Zawahiri the moderate! Zarqawi does not seem much perturbed by this warning though; he beheaded more hostages only two weeks ago, two months after presumably receiving the letter.

In a perverse way, Zarqawi’s insane urge to torture and kill has actually helped us. Because of his brutishness, no American soldier will ever surrender; they know that, unlike when we fight civilized people, surrender to Zarqawi means disgrace and a horrible death without honor. This makes for very determined warriors indeed.

Even though some Iraqis still cooperate with al-Qaeda, either through fear or powerlust, no one in Iraq, not even the Sunnis, wants to be ruled by Zarqawi; the cost in blood and freedom is too high. In economic terms, al-Qaeda has priced itself right out of the market!

Against this blood-red backdrop, even to the Sunnis, self-rule must seem a real bargain.

Hatched by Sachi on this day, October 7, 2005, at the time of 6:32 PM

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Comments

The following hissed in response by: hunter

I think our guys ahve some specific lifestyle changes in store for Zarqawi that will moderate his behavior.....to an extreme degree.
I think the word is getting out about what a town Zarqawi takes over is like to live in, and that word is not not good. The heads he takes on video are just the head of a long line. When his bands of terrorists show up in an Iraqi town, the heads fly from necks day and night. Zarqawi, like his mentor and boss, Osama bin Laden, have a death wish they are happy to see others fulfill. Time and hardwork, something Al Qaeda would like to think are good at but aren't but we are, will lead to their eventual destruction. While the Al Qaeda franchisses focus on mayhem and do it as well as anyone, they have completely missed the boat since they got blasted out of puppeteer position in Afghanistan as far as having a safe political base. They think they are going to fix that by taking over Hamas in Palestine, but I am certain the Israelis will not let that long fester.
Bush's vision of democracy, and his strategy of supporting and enabling local talent to develop it is taking root. Unless the UN scuttles the upcoming election by getting it voted down by a minority of concentrated voters, the momentum in Iraq in a few days will become unstoppable and the war of Al Qaeda against the people of Iraq will be seen for what it is except by Michael Moore, Ma Sheehan and some deomcrats in Congress. And the French.
Freedom is cool, and stopping Zarqawi is a great way to see it get done.

The above hissed in response by: hunter [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 7, 2005 9:58 PM

The following hissed in response by: KarmiCommunist

"Zawahiri to Zarqawi"...reminds humble me of a David Bowie song...

Ground control to Major Tom Your circuit’s dead, there’s something wrong Can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you....

Then again, al-Qaeda's Zawahiri doesn't have a real point when one takes a look at what al-Qaeda has been doing to Arabs, Muslims, and Islamists in the Moslem world for at least a decade. It's like "the pot calling the kettle black"...so to speak whilst quoting.

A Lady Friend of mine, Lady Zahida, tells me that the Women in the Moslem world would like some rights besides the right to be stoned-to-death, some rights besides the right of being the victim of "Honor Violence" (AKA "Honor Killing"), just some real rights.

Karmi

The above hissed in response by: KarmiCommunist [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 8, 2005 4:44 PM

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