Al-Qaida Leader Uses Racial Abuse to Attack Obama
Ayman al-Zawahiri also claimed US president-elect formed ties with Jewish organizations for political purposes
Al-Qaida delivered its first response to America's election today in a video that used racial abuse against Barack Obama, and said the president-elect did not represent a genuine force for change.
The message from Ayman al-Zawahiri, the number two to Osama bin Laden, appeared to be aimed at persuading its own followers that the election of an African-American president whose middle name is Hussein does not really represent a break with the George Bush presidency.
"America has put on a new face, but its heart full of hate, mind drowning in greed, and spirit which spreads evil, murder, repression and despotism continue to be the same as always," Zawahari said.
He resorted to racial slurs to make his point, calling Obama a "house slave" in Arabic who just did the bidding of his white masters. Subtitles supplied by al-Qaida translated the term as "house negro".
The video, which ran more than 11 minutes, called Obama the "direct opposite of honorable black Americans" such as Malcolm X.
It showed footage of Malcolm X using the term "house Negroes" to describe people who did the bidding of whites. There was also footage of Malcolm X kneeling in prayer at a mosque.
The pictures of Obama showed him in a skullcap at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Zawahari accused Obama of betraying his father, who was born a Muslim, and of cultivating ties with Jewish organizations to further his political ambitions.
"You have reached the position of president, and a heavy legacy of failure and crimes awaits you. A failure in Iraq to which you have admitted, and a failure in Afghanistan to which the commanders of your army have admitted," the message said.
Zawahiri issued no specific threats, and US officials said there was no indication of a heightened threat against Obama or American interests.
The al-Qaida leader criticized Obama's plan to move more forces into Afghanistan. "Be aware that the dogs of Afghanistan have found the flesh of your soldiers to be delicious, so send thousands after thousands to them," he said.
Despite his argument that Obama did not represent a force for change, he said the elections showed that Americans now believed the policies of George Bush had failed.
The video referred to US air strikes on Afghanistan on November 5, which suggests it was produced after that date.
The message from Ayman al-Zawahiri, the number two to Osama bin Laden, appeared to be aimed at persuading its own followers that the election of an African-American president whose middle name is Hussein does not really represent a break with the George Bush presidency.
"America has put on a new face, but its heart full of hate, mind drowning in greed, and spirit which spreads evil, murder, repression and despotism continue to be the same as always," Zawahari said.
He resorted to racial slurs to make his point, calling Obama a "house slave" in Arabic who just did the bidding of his white masters. Subtitles supplied by al-Qaida translated the term as "house negro".
The video, which ran more than 11 minutes, called Obama the "direct opposite of honorable black Americans" such as Malcolm X.
It showed footage of Malcolm X using the term "house Negroes" to describe people who did the bidding of whites. There was also footage of Malcolm X kneeling in prayer at a mosque.
The pictures of Obama showed him in a skullcap at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Zawahari accused Obama of betraying his father, who was born a Muslim, and of cultivating ties with Jewish organizations to further his political ambitions.
"You have reached the position of president, and a heavy legacy of failure and crimes awaits you. A failure in Iraq to which you have admitted, and a failure in Afghanistan to which the commanders of your army have admitted," the message said.
Zawahiri issued no specific threats, and US officials said there was no indication of a heightened threat against Obama or American interests.
The al-Qaida leader criticized Obama's plan to move more forces into Afghanistan. "Be aware that the dogs of Afghanistan have found the flesh of your soldiers to be delicious, so send thousands after thousands to them," he said.
Despite his argument that Obama did not represent a force for change, he said the elections showed that Americans now believed the policies of George Bush had failed.
The video referred to US air strikes on Afghanistan on November 5, which suggests it was produced after that date.
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