Right on Time: 'Al-Qa'eda releases new video on fifth anniversary of Sept 11'

The Telegraph
Sep. 11, 2006

Al-Qa'eda has released a new video on the fifth anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks in America warning that its next victims will be Israel and the Gulf Arab states.

Ayman al-Zawahri, al-Qa'eda second in command, said in remarks apparently addressed to Western leaders: "I tell them do not bother yourselves with defending your forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. These forces are doomed to failure.

"You have to bolster your defences in two areas ... the first is the Gulf, from which you will be evicted, God willing, after your defeat in Iraq and then your economic doom will be achieved," he said in the video broadcast in part on the Arabic al-Jazeera television channel.

"And the next (target) is Israel. The current of holy war is closing on it and your end there will put an end of the Zionist-crusader supermacy."

Zawahri's warning of attacks in the Gulf, the world's top oil exporting region, follows previous calls by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to target oil facilities to cripple the West.

In the video, Zawahri urged Muslims to step up their attacks against the United States and the West, according to excerpts aired by CNN television network.

The video was released as ceremonies were taking place across the United States to mark the attacks that triggered Washington's global "War on Terror".

President George W Bush will address the nation tonight after visiting the sites where the airliners hijacked by al-Qa'eda crashed – Ground Zero in Manhattan, the Pentagon, and the field in Pennsylvania where United 93 came down after a passenger revolt.

His address, to a restive nation increasingly disillusioned with his policies, in particular the war in Iraq, will be the climax to 24 hours of national reflection which will include a service in Washington attended by Lady Thatcher, the guest of Vice-President Dick Cheney.

Mr Bush has already begun commemorations with a wreath-laying ceremony at the site of the World Trade Centre.