Notes on the New Zarqawi Video

By Evan Kohlmann

In the last few weeks, the sudden silence from Al-Qaida in Iraq gave rise to a wave of wild speculation over the whereabouts and condition of most wanted Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Comments from the son of Dr. Abdullah Azzam in Jordan--along with other similar rumors--caused some to doubt whether Zarqawi was still in charge. Today, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi issued his response to those skeptics, in the form of his first ever videotaped message carried to the world via the Internet. Aside from the content of Zarqawi's speech, there were a number of other important aspects to this video:

1.) Though Zarqawi refers frequently to his new coalition with Iraqi jihadists known as the Mujahideen Shura Council (MSC), he nonetheless continues to identify himself as chief of "Al-Qaida's network in Mesopotamia." This is a further indication of how the MSC is more or less a propaganda front to mask activities actually being carried out by Al-Qaida.
2.) Video footage of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi reviewing his "troops" in Iraq bears striking resemblance to past videos filmed by Al-Qaida of Usama Bin Laden touring his training camps in Afghanistan. The similarity is so clear that it hardly seems coincidental. [SEE FIGURE 1]. There is increasing evidence that lessons drawn from the Afghan jihad served as the primary model for the development of Zarqawi's movement. Indeed, a recent press release from foreign fighters in Iraq emphasized how the early anti-coalition mujahideen had sought inspiration directly from the story of Bin Laden's struggle against Soviet forces at the legendary Al-Massada Camp in Afghanistan.
3.) The new Zarqawi video has also touched on the hot-button issue of mobile shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile launchers (MANPADS). While Zarqawi tours his fighters, other militants stand guard--including several armed with what appear to be Russian-made MANPAD systems. [SEE FIGURE 2]. This is the first hard evidence proving that Zarqawi's inner circle has access to these weapons, which pose a significant threat to commercial aircraft. In 2002, Al-Qaida tried and failed to shoot down an Israeli airliner over Kenya with a similar MANPAD system.

Click to view Figures 1 and 2

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