In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Praise be to Allah who says, If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Allah loves not the wrong-doers, and says, "As for those who heard the call of Allah and His messenger after harm befell them (in the fight); for such of them as do right and ward off (evil), there is great reward."

Our dear friends are asking themselves why release the tape now? Here is our reply:

1. Al-Haznawi's tape is a slap in the sickly face of the US which wishfully thinks it has finished off Al-Qaida and the Taliban. For Allah with His bounty has assisted Al-Qaida to rearrange its ranks, redistribute its forces, and to cooperate with the Afghan Mujahideen. Serious work has begun in Afghanistan. As to exterior activity, such arrangements have been made that should one cell, however well organized, fall the organization will not be critically affected. New apparatuses have been formed and invested with certain roles, in such a manner as to restrict intelligence only to the leadership. As a result, the US will have to toil for decades to find out whom it is up against. In fact, we challenge them to succeed in extracting any useful information from Abu Zubaidah.
   
   
2. We emphasize that Al-Qaida, ever since it was established, has never adopted the view of achieving power. No, all of its causes are only those that pertain to the Muslim nation in Afghanistan, Somalia, Bosnia, Chechnya. The operations have been primarily motivated by the wish to defend the holy Muslim sites (the noble Al Haramain and the Al Aqsa mosque,) and the lands and honor of Muslims; and to support whoever holds up a pure banner of Jihad on the path of Allah regardless of the color of that banner; and to lower the enemy and raise up the resolve of the Ummah. Those operations were carried out by small numbers of its youth and Allah caused them to succeed.
   
   One could only imagine the effect were the entire Ummah was involved! The recent endeavors came to confirm our previous commitment to the blessed Jihad in Palestine against the Jews: The USS Cole strike, we said at the time, was the first serious attempt to boost the Palestinian Intifada. More is to come, God willing.
   
   Then our promise was further materialized by the blessed September 11 events. The World Trade Center was hit because it was one of the major Jew-backing financial centers, whereas the Pentagon, the mention of which causes Arab leaders to shudder in fear, was struck both for being the principal source of the Jewish military machine and for being its foremost supporter.
   
   So why are people at a loss? The US administration certainly does not blush in shame as it declares Sharon a man of peace. Spineless Arabs are condemning this blessed strike so that we don't lose the few Westerners who sympathize with us, although I really fail to see what potential benefit those can bring. It seems that those cowards have forgotten history and the massacres the West committed in our Arab and Muslim land: Have you forgotten Dinshway, people of Egypt? With whose blood was the Suez Canal built? Have they forgotten the Italian slaughterhouses in Italy? Or the French massacres in Syria and Algeria? Or the Belgians who used to place Somalis on burning grills not long ago? Was not Al-Qaida, with Allah's bounty and guidance, the main reason why the US and the UN left Somalia? All the above are historical facts, so why do you not review them? As for that (sympathetic) minority, it is but part of a division of roles naive Arabs can harp upon. So why is there all this timidity and blushing in front of the US and European aggressors?
   
   We stress to the entire Ummah that the course of Jihad is the only way in these times to uphold the religion of Allah everywhere, as negotiations and seeking International backing means we settle for crumbs. The Ummah therefore must take heed of this, refrain from knocking at their doors, and instead rise to perform the duty of Jihad that is incumbent upon it in Palestine and elsewhere. For the West understands but the language of force, so let the so-called wise grasp that well as they prepare their backs for the Jews to flog them.
   
   
3. To clarify The United States represented by its government, people, and army, launched a barbaric attack that targeted Al-Qaida and the Taliban's lines. Having been so ineffectual in shaking them that none of us was hit, the US increased its brutality by bombing Afghan Muslim civilians in villages and cities, and destroying land and life, all the while entirely missing the Mujahideen. Using this tactic in addition to some mistakes that could not be rectified at the time, the US was able to create a large enough opening, and consequently events soon got out of hand. Nonetheless Allah assisted us in saving most of the Arab forces who numbered at the time 1600 Mujahids (fighters) from all over the Muslim world, and who were spread over four principal fronts; North of Kabul, Kabul, Kandahar, and Jalalabad. 325 Mujahids were martyred, approximately 150 were captured, and upwards of 1000 reached safety. Furthermore, more than 300 families were evacuated, although 9 women and 10 kids were martyred.
   
   What is the nature of the Afghan government that was created? Does it not contradict with Islam? They have indeed replaced virtue with depravity, chastity with decadence, security with insecurity, and Islam with disbelief. O Wise, is the plan of the US and its underlings in Afghanistan that which the Muslim Ummah hopes for?
   
   
4. We emphasize that the work of Jihad is still continuing and that it never stopped either in Afghanistan or outside it. In fact, there were operations at both the Khost and Kandahar airports, as well as the latest strike that resulted in the death of 20 soldiers, although the US military admitted the demise of only three. God willing, we will have more rendezvous in Kabul, Jalalabad, and other major cities in Afghanistan. Abroad in Tunisia, the bombing of the synagogue in the town of Jerba was undertaken by a single individual; brave Nizar- aka Saifuddeen Al Tunisi. The media ignored Al-Qaida's claim of this attack.
   
   Al-Qaida will stay the course and constantly follow the road of blessed Jihad, defending our Islamic sacred sites and supporting the Jihad of our Muslim brothers across the world. And to uplift you, there are missions that we have divulged, and there are also missions that we will disclose in due course.

And last but not least, we say to the Americans, we are here, so where are you? While you have won a round, war consists of several rounds, and we will surely meet again in Afghanistan and outside it.

As to our Ummah and the heroic people in Palestine, we remind them of that which Allah Most High says, "Allah has promised those who believe and do good work that He will surely make you succeed (the present rulers) in the earth even as He caused those who were before them to succeed (others); and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has been approved for them, and will give them in exchange safety after their fear. They serve Me. They ascribe no partner to Me. Those who disbelieve henceforth, they are the miscreants."