Religion of peace thirsts to kill again...

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Al Qaeda video serves new warning

On the fourth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the United States has received a chilling reminder that al Qaeda still has the country in its sights.

ABC News has acquired a new videotape featuring the self-proclaimed "American al Qaeda." Officials say his name is Adam Gadahn, a well-known al Qaeda operative believed to be living in Pakistan.

On the tape, apparently reading from a script, he delivers a very pointed threat against Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia.

"Yesterday, London and Madrid, tommorrow Los Angeles and Melbourne, Allah willing," he says. "And this time don't count on us demonstrating restraint or compassion. We are Muslims, we love peace, but peace on our terms."

The 11-minute long diatribe appears to have the same graphics and production techniques recognized by U.S. officials as part of a standard al Qaeda video.

Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said U.S. authorities were trying to verify the tape but "there's no specific intelligence to verify or substantiate" the claims and threats in it.

This most recent tape is aimed at American and British audiences.

"Don't believe the lies of the liars at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and 10 Downing Streets," the tape says. "They have dispatched your sons and daughters to die lonely deaths in the burning deserts of Iraq and the unforgiving mountains of Afghanistan."

Gadahn's family says just a few years ago, Gadahn was a southern California teenager who was interested in heavy metal music and the environment. But, his family says he converted to Islam at an Orange County mosque where he came under the influence of militants who took him to Pakistan.

Now he appears to be an al Qaeda spokesman warning Americans an attack is coming unless the U.S. stops its actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also attempts to dispel as rumours reports that Osama bin Laden is dead. He closes the tape by invoking the names of the 9-11 suicide bombers.