Al-Qaida leader mocks new Iraq strategy

The deputy leader of terror group al-Qaida mocked US President George W Bush’s plan to send 21,000 more troops to Iraq, in a new videotape broadcast tonight.

The video from Ayman al-Zawahri was intercepted by the Washington-based SITE Institute – which tracks al Qaida messages – before it was posted on Islamic militant websites.

In an excerpt of the video al-Zawahri said the US strategy for Iraq, outlined by Bush in a speech on January 9, was doomed to fail and he challenged him to send “the entire army”.

“I ask him, why send 20,000 (troops) only – why not send 50 or 100,000?, said al-Zawahri.

“Aren’t you aware that the dogs of Iraq are pining for your troops’ dead bodies?”

In an excerpt of the video released by SITE, which tracks al-Qaida messages, the terror chief added: “So send your entire army to be annihilated at the hands of the mujahideen (holy warriors) to free the world from your evil, because Iraq, land of the Caliphate and Jihad, is able to bury ten armies like yours, with Allah’s help and power.”

The video showed al-Zawahri, wearing a white turban, in front of a black backdrop.

The message was the first reaction from al-Qaida’s leadership to the new Iraq strategy.

The US has said the extra troops aim to crack down on al-Qaida fighters and other Sunni Arab insurgents in Iraq, as well as Shiite militiamen blamed in the country’s spiralling sectarian violence.