Al-Qaeda threatens Obama in new statement

Brunei News.Net
Tuesday 22nd September, 2009

A new video has been release by al-Qaeda, predicting President Barack Obama's downfall at the hands of the Muslim world.

The Arabic-language video, entitled "The West and the Dark Tunnel," was released on Tuesday on an Islamist Web site.

The message features comments by al-Qaeda figures interspersed with news footage from the past year.

In the video, al-Qaeda’s second in charge, Ayman al-Zawahri, speaking of the US president says: "America has come in a new, hypocritical face. Smiling at us, but stabbing us with the same dagger that Bush used. God willing, your end will be at the hands of the Muslim nation, so that the world and history will be free of your crimes and lies."

The message also features several appearances of Adam Gadahn, also known as Azzam al-Amriki, an American who grew up in southern California.

Gadahn converted to Islam and joined al-Qaeda before 2006 when he was charged by the US in absentia with treason.

There is a $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction.

The message also includes a section on US prisons and torture.

It shows footage of what appears to be an American torturing an Afghan for information by pushing his head into a bucket of water.

Analysts researching the tape have said they believe it was released because of President Obama's popularity in the Middle East, especially following his landmark speech to the Muslim world in Cairo in June.

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