“I will start by saying that I miss you — I miss you, my beloved ones, although I am amidst you and within your ranks.
“But you are aware, my brethren, sons and beloved ones, that it is no longer as easy as it was in the past to get taped messages to you, and we did try to do so before.
“Yet, you are right in what you are saying, hence I am addressing you today, as well as honorable Arabs and all believers in our nation and in the world.
“I told you before and during the latest battle, in my name and on behalf of the leadership, that, God willing, we will not let you down and we will not anger God or do that which does not fully please Him by bowing to US-Zionist threats and accepting that they impose on Iraq whatever they wish and occupy it without a fight — humiliating (its people, usurping their) right to live in freedom, and closing the doors of the future to them — in exchange for retaining power under their infidel, colonial control.
“We have lived up to our promises to you. We sacrificed what we sacrificed, except the great faith and honor. We sacrificed power but did not renege on our pledge to God and did not stab the people and the nation in the back by surrendering. We thank God for everything.
“I bring you the glad tidings, o brethren, sons and heroes, that the cells and brigades of jihad and sacrifice have been formed on a large scale, comprising male and female mujahideen, and launched their honourable battle against the enemy.
“You have certainly heard of them, although what you are hearing, especially with regard to the losses they are inflicting on the infidel invaders, is a fraction of the truth.
“What will come in the days ahead will, God willing and with His help, be tough on the infidel invaders and honorable for the believers.
“They (US and its allies) saw that Iraq had become a threat to their illegitimate interests and plans to control the world once they have tightened their control over the (Arab) nation and the region, God forbid.
“(They saw that) Iraq’s policy foiled the ambitions of America, Zionism and their allies. Accordingly, they sought to punish Iraq and they intended their evil deed to be the key to controlling the region.
“This is because Iraq’s leadership does not take orders from them, is not lured by what they are used to luring others with, and is not frightened by what they are used to frightening the others with.
“Hence they sought to destroy Iraq, and the so-called weapons of mass destruction were no more than a cover, like the other covers they used against Iraq and Palestine, and which they will use against others if they deem this necessary to achieve their objectives.
“Now that everything has become clear, is it not your right to ask the invaders: where are the weapons of mass destruction which they claimed Iraq was hiding and on this basis engaged in their buildup for war and aggression before carrying them out?
“I want to inform everyone that my comrades and brother members of the command are actually in Iraq now. Hence I salute them and salute you and salute the mujahedeen in the occupation’s jails and in the battlefields.
“I pay tribute to their steadfastness, jihad and sacrifices, and I pray Almighty God to give them patience and enable them to become an example for the Iraqis and the sons of their nation and to be fair in their behavior.” —AFP