Dr. Walid Phares
Al Qaeda-Iraq's Message
to the New ‘Rulers of the White House’
November 12, 2008

As reactions to the election of a new US President are fusing from across the Arab and Muslim world, reflecting the fundamental interests of the various regimes and movements, the most radical groups including al Qaeda have been sending messages in different directions. While we will come back later to draw a wider map of these attitudes, hopes or worries, let's note a particular declaration made by al Qaeda's central figure in Iraq (or so he is projected) in which he outline his conditions to deal with America in the new era.

A Jihadi outlet, Al-Furqan released two days ago an audio speech by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi self described as "emir of the Islamic State of Iraq." The less than half hour internet broadcast was titled "Message to the New Governors of the White House (and Other Christian Leaders)." It can also be translated as "to the new rulers," i.e. the President and Vice President elect. After a mandatory "theological" segment taking on Christians and Jews and apostate Muslims, the speech wondered erratically between issues high on the Jihadist agenda worldwide, particularly the necessity for the United States to call it a quit in the region and pull out.

In essence al Baghdadi, one of al Qaeda's most lethal "generals" on the battlefields of the Middle East, asked the United States under the new Administration to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan and pull its military presence from the Muslim world. Interestingly, his message to whom he described as the new "Governors or technically masters" of the White House, connect with a dominant theme throughout not only al Qaeda's command but also the Jihadist forces and regimes around the world. Ideologically, despite their divisions and diverse strategies the Salafists and Khomeinists have a common approach on how to deal with the United States. And this attitude has been embodied by multiple speeches, statements, and declarations since the early 1990s. From the powerful doctrinal positions of Sheikh Yusuf al Qardawi on al Jazeera, al Qaeda's Usama Bin laden and Ayman Zawahiri, to President Ahmedinijad, the "agenda" is one: The United States must pull its forces outside the region and keep them inside its own borders. 

Al Baghdadi and many other Jihadist commanders, commentators and activists see the big picture as an effort, or a Jihad, against all Kuffar (infidel) forces in the region. In his speech addressed to the new US leadership, al Qaeda's Iraq "emir" also warned France and Russia from interfering inside the borders of his Caliphate to come. He specifically asked the "White House, the Elysee and the Kremlin" to back off Iraq, Afghanistan and Chechnya. Listening to the audio would make you understand the mind set of the Terrorists we're dealing with: They have a one world view even if they are "local," which contradicts the recent assertion by many experts in the field. 

And to underline the Jihadist historical view of the world, "Abu Omar" reminds America that a century ago, it was a "neutral" nation, growing peacefully until it began intervening in foreign wars, including the conflicts with empires, fascists and the Soviets. And as I argued in my book Future Jihad, he revels that the US menace is really about provoking changes within Muslim countries. Changes of course which would encourage democracy against Jihadism. Increasingly, observers of this global movement must see the overarching dimension of the conflict with the Salafists and Khomeinists. It is not about Bush or Obama, nor about Chirac or Sarkozy, Yeltsin or Putin. It is about pushing for a Jihadi agenda. "Get your troops out and be neutral in this conflict," has become the main slogan of Jihadi propaganda for many years now. If anything it clearly indicate to analysts that the Salafist agenda for example wants to settle scores with local societies, read seize power in Arab and Muslim lands, without being delayed by US power. This is the core of their contemporary confrontation with Washington's policies. They want to establish Taliban regimes in as many countries they can, including but not in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

Al Baghdadi ends his summations by revealing his conditions for a "new stage." In addition to pulling out and not interfering with the action of his movement, he wants an immediate release of all prisoners. Even more informative was his offer to sell Oil to the US at a fair price and authorize commerce with America. Stunningly to many, al Qaeda acts as of "it is" already the forthcoming Caliphate setting the agenda for the entire region. Not surprising to me, for I have for decades argued that democracies are dealing with a force possessing a political agenda of its own, not with individuals who are reacting to Western -or American- foreign policies.