al-Zawhiri comments in his new Video

[Ozy_Flame]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/....ap/index.html

I thought this was an interesting commentary, as it contained some rather interesting global developments.

To sum up, he basically states that Japan should brace themselves for a terrorist attack. I do believe this is the first time in decades that a threat has been made verbally against Japan by a non-Asian entity, and has the capacity to do something about it (although North Korea has been waxing poetic about war since the 1950's). Will be interesting to see how Japan's SDF responds, considering Article 9 in their Constitution states that they cannot go to war.

Secondly, he verbally assaults Iran, which is an interesting development since many thought Iran was sheltering al-Queda members and operations. I think this might play a big hand in how the West handles relations with Iran, the nuclear question non-withstanding.

They also talk of taking over 95% control of Afghanistan. This is definitely open to debate, as NATO forces ahve definitely made inroads into some of the most notorious regions in the country.

Finally, by saying that any Muslim living permanently in a Western country is violating Islamic Law, he's pretty much alienating all Muslims residing in Canada, US, Britain, Australia, France, etc.....That's a pretty strong assertion to make for a fledgling group trying to garner support among Muslims, especially those living in the West, and those who don't but have family members in these countries.

Thoughts?

[FireFly]

He talks awfully big and has just poked a lot of hornets nests.

He's done nothing to help his cause with this. He's further dividing those within his own religion, and with the last bit, trying to say that Muslim casualties from terror attacks on Western nations is okay... I'm sure the families of those you kill would not agree, buddy.

Telling Japan they should brace themselves for an attack will only serve to speed up their development of offensive capabilities... something they HAVE been working on for a while. The US WANTS Japan to have offensive capabilities as they can no longer afford to 'police' SE Asia. Heck, Japanese leaders are even considering getting their own nuclear arsenault, something unheard of even 5-10 years ago.

The guy is obviously not very bright.

[Muta]

If Japan gets pissed off and starts developing combat-offensive machinery, such as Battlemech Warriors, flying juggernaut aircrafts and super-human robotic soldiers, look out.

If anybody can do that, it's Japan.

[Jiggy]

Some of these terrorists are really pissing me off. I hope the entire world puts a JIHAD on their ass! Start bombing these a$$h###$!

[HotHotHeat]

The Bush Boogeymen!

While I think to a degree terrorism has to be on the radar, it also gets blown way out of proportion.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

The Bush Boogeymen!

While I think to a degree terrorism has to be on the radar, it also gets blown way out of proportion.

A friend of mine was saying the same thing until bombs were put on a train in Spain, since then he has moved away. These terrorist will go at no expense to destroy everything that is well with the world.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

The Bush Boogeymen!

While I think to a degree terrorism has to be on the radar, it also gets blown way out of proportion.

Yeah, thats what the US was saying until 9/11 happened.

[peter12]

It's a bad thing, certainly. I'd say things like environmental degradation should be higher on our priority lists.

A lot of it is simply a security issue and the real solution to the problem lies with Western Muslim populations figuring out this problem in their own communities. The democracy-building agenda of some Western nations, like Canada, is good in a limited sense, but is obviously not working to the extent we had hoped.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Secondly, he verbally assaults Iran, which is an interesting development since many thought Iran was sheltering al-Queda members and operations. I think this might play a big hand in how the West handles relations with Iran, the nuclear question non-withstanding.

I don't think anybody credible ever thought this. Iran is a e country, Al Queda is a Sunni organization.

The two don't really get along.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

Start bombing these a$$h###$!

Start?

Anyway...

I do find it interesting that he says Muslims living permanently abroad are breaking the rules. I know a pretty strict Muslim or two and if I asked them about moving back to Pakistan or Egypt they'd laugh in my face.

"Why would I do that? They don't even have my job there! I'm not moving back to Pakistan, believe me".

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by blankall

I don't think anybody credible ever thought this. Iran is a e country, Al Queda is a Sunni organization.

The two don't really get along.

BS. Iranian-provided weapons are being used in Iraq, even if the connection is discreet. Iran harboring terrorists is not a new or unproven issue.

[HOZ]

Does anybody notice that they never threaten China. Must be because they are so nice

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

BS. Iranian-provided weapons are being used in Iraq, even if the connection is discreet. Iran harboring terrorists is not a new or unproven issue.

Iran harbors terrorist and provides weapons, but not to Al Queda. They arm Hezbollah, the shi-ite fighters in Southern Iraq, and most likely various other splinter groups.

In Iraq, Iran has allied itself w/ Muqtada al-Sadir who heads the Mahdi army. My guess is that Iran is just waiting for the Americans to leave. At which points elements within the shi-ite (who make up most of the non-Kurdish population, and about 60% of the population as a whole) will attempt to form some sort of theocracy similar to the one in Iran.

Iran and Al-Queda are both fighting a war in w/in Iraq opposition to eachother in attempts to set up religious theocracies under opposing versions of islam. There is no way one is arming the other.