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New Al Qaeda Video Seeks Americans to Convert to IslamBy Jeffrey Imm
As anticipated in Andrew Cochran's previous posting, Al Qaeda released a new video today of Al Qaeda Deputy Leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and American Al Qaeda Islamic convert Adam Gadahn (aka "Azzam the American"). The new video by Al Qaeda's production wing As-Sahab features Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri and "Azzam the American" is entitled "Invitation to Islam" has been released today on various Arabic language message boards. Laura Mansfield's Strategic Translations web site has the video for download. Gadahn and al-Zawahiri did not appear together in the footage but were each featured on a split screen. Both wore white turbans and robes. "To the American people and the people of the West in general... God sent his Prophet Muhammad with guidance and the religion of truth... and sent him as a herald," al-Zawahiri said in an introduction to Saturday's video. Gadahn spoke with his face uncovered, resembling FBI photos, with his name and Jihadist name "Azzam the American" written in titles in Arabic and English next to him. Gadahn is a 28-year old Islamic convert from California who is wanted by the FBI in connection with possible terror threats against the USA. Gadahn indicated that he wants to change the image that Americans have of Islam "We invite all Americans and unbelievers to Islam," Gadahn said, sporting a long, thick black beard with a computer terminal in the background. Gadahn described the West as "the civilization which enslaved Africa, slaughtered native Americans, fired bombs at... Tokyo and (the Iraqi city of) Fallujah and nuked Hiroshima and Nagasaki." Gadahn said America shows more concern for archaeological sites, like statues of Bhudda destroyed by Afghanistan's former Taliban rulers, "than it shows of the people of Afghanistan and Iraq." Gadahn previously appeared in a video with al-Zawahiri in a July 7 video commemorating the anniversary of London tube bombings in which he stated that no sane Muslim should shed tears for them. Gadahn is believed to be a masked figure who appeared in two previous videos not officially from Al Qaeda, given to ABC News in Pakistan in 2004 and a few days before Sept. 11, 2005. Counterterrorism Blog experts have posted on "Azzam the American": Evan Kohlmann, "MSNBC: 'American greases al-Qaida media machine'" and "American Al-Qaida Operative Surfaces Again in Bin Laden Video Release"
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