CAIRO, Egypt - In a videotape made public ahead of the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s chief deputy claimed mujahedeen, or holy fighters, have taken control of much of Afghanistan (news - web sites) and driven U.S. forces into the "trenches."
With an assault rifle leaning on the wall behind him, Ayman al-Zawahri said "southern and eastern Afghanistan have completely become an open field for the mujahedeen."
The videotape was broadcast Thursday by Al-Jazeera television, which said it received the tape exclusively. It was not immediately clear how or when Al-Jazeera got the video.
Bin Laden and al-Zawahri are believed hiding along the Afghan-Pakistan border. They also issued video and audiotapes around last year's anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, including one on Sept. 10, 2003, that showed the two men walking through rocky terrain. Two taped messages accompanied that video, including one in which bin Laden's praised the "great damage to the enemy" done on Sept. 11.
Bin Laden's al-Qaida network carried out the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, prompting Washington to move against Afghanistan's Taliban regime, which had sheltered bin Laden. The Taliban was driven from power in late 2001.
In recent months, southern and eastern Afghanistan have been wracked by fierce resistance to U.S. military forces, and there have been frequent attacks on Afghan election workers preparing for an Oct. 9 presidential vote.
U.S. military officials in Afghanistan could not be reached for comment on the new videotape, but American commanders insist they have Taliban remnants and al-Qaida on the defensive.
No Afghan provincial government is considered in jeopardy, and Afghan and U.S. forces largely controlled the country.
In excerpts broadcast by Al-Jazeera, al-Zawahri said: "The Americans are huddled in their trenches, refusing to come out to confront the holy warriors despite the holy warriors' provoking them by shelling, shooting and cutting the routes around them, and their defense concentrates on strikes from the air which wastes America's money in kicking up dust."
He also said the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan has been "burnt by the shells of the holy warriors and expect martyrdom operations all the time, with God's help."
The most recent previous statement purported to have been made by al-Zawahri surfaced June 11, when an audiotape believed to be that of the al-Qaida No. 2 was broadcast by Al-Arabiya TV. On it, the speaker said a U.S. plan for reform in the Middle East was really a bid to replace Arab leaders.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said recently that he considers infighting among pro-government warlords a larger threat to his nation's stability than that posed by the remnants of the Taliban regime.
Now why dosnt it suprize me You posting the enemys propaganda?
Prehapes you could get a offical job with them Or teem up with Mr, sung.
Bin Laden's al-Qaida & there taliban need bodys without brains& blind followers to replace those killed by our troops...you would be just the man for the job.
Is it your belief, GA, that the US is hiding while Al Qaeda is out in the opens shelling us? Do you believe that Bin Laden is out in the open, rather than hiding in a spider hole? Are we afraid to get him? What do you believe?
Gee, I'm glad he brought that out into the open. Now CBS, NBC, ABC and CNN can fire all those useless "Journalists" they have there to report on these events. You just can't depend on anybody for correct information anymore.
GA, it's no surprise to me that you'd believe the enemy propaganda! After all, you believe Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw, the rest of all the liberal talking heads, and worst of all, you believe in Heinz-kerry! You really are afflicted, but its not the gobblers I'd worry about!
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You are more gullible than I thought. The cowards of Al-Queida are hiding in Pakistan because they are AFRAID of the US Armed Forces!!! They know they would be killed or captured if they ventured into Afghanistan. If you are foolish enough to believe Al-Jezeehra, you have gone over the top much further than I could ever have imagined. You and JFK, and Kerry is NO JFK, by the way!!!, are both candidates for the wrap-around sleeve jackets.
Bin Laden Deputy: U.S. Losing Afghanistan
