Previous here. Look at that huge beard! This guy is morphing into something far removed from the days he spent on his parents’ goat herding farm.

An article written by Doug Hagmann, Director of the Northeast Intelligence Network and Judi McLeod, Founder & Editor, Canada Free Press, entitled “Al Qaeda Video Warning Message Expected” was posted at NEIN on August 31, 2006. You can read it here.

1 September 2006: In classic al Qaeda fashion, As Sahab Productions, the media (propaganda) arm of al Qaeda announced yesterday that a new video featuring the terror group’s second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri along with Adam Gadahn, also known as Azzam the American (or Azzam al-Amriki), will be released shortly. The message, reportedly titled “An Invitation to Islam” is causing concern among intelligence analysts in the United States and Canada, according to our friends within the intelligence services inside both countries.

Read the rest, it’s instructive that NEIN was ahead of the curve on this one. It’s also terrific that someone in Canada would team up with Doug in order to join forces in a stand against terrorism which provides a unique Canadian perspective as well as the American one provided by Doug. The video has been released, and is being analyzed. Although the reality of converting to a religion that would have people killed for NOT converting, that would have people killed for leaving the muslim faith, that would have women beat by their husbands and other males in their family in addition to the idea of honor killings committed by these men against women in their families for the smallest infractions has me incredibly doubtful that people would willingly submit to Islam or actually clamor to bring this kind of totalitarian ‘paradise’ to America.

Yet, that’s what Azzam the American and Al-Zawahri actually urge us to do in this tape. From Fox News:

“Instead of killing yourself for Bush … why not surrender to the truth (of Islam), escape from the unbedlieving army and join the winning side. Time is running out so make the right choice before it’s too late,” he said.

Al-Zawahri gave only a brief introduction to the video, calling on Americans to convert to Islam. “To the American people and the people of the West in general … God sent his Prophet Muhammad with guidance and the religion of truth … and sent him as a herald,” he said.

I can’t understand how an American kid, having been raised here, would turn out looking like the picture above–a bearded, turban-wearing muslim, working as a spokesman for Al Qaeda, inciting hatred of America. He obviously subscribes to the Islamist ‘America is a terrorist state’ rhetoric of his fellow jihadis.

That “Bush is a terrorist” line and similar lines against America-are the very same lines that organizations like International ANSWER, Code Pink, United for Peace and Justice and all the rest spew–even the Revolutionary Communist Party who stand at protests with big “The World Can’t Wait: Drive out the Bush Regime” signs.

From the Site Institute:

Zawahiri, regarding Gadahn, states: “And as our brother Azzam the American talks to you, he talks to you as one concerned about the fate which awaits his people, and as a perceptive person who wants to lead his people our of darkness into the light. So listen to him, because what he is talking to you about is serious and significant. He is talking to you about the fate which awaits every human, an extremely grave issue in which there is no joking, procrastination or backtracking.”

The majority of the video, nearly forty-five minute, features Azzam the American explaining the perceived benefits of Islam over Judaism, Christianity, and other religions, and criticizing Western leaders for their alleged presentation of Islam as barbaric and Muslims as bogeymen. He believes that Jews and Christians have no right to criticize Islam for being violent, as Judaism and Christianity contain brutality themselves. He states:

“A civilization such as this cannot honestly or credibly accuse the Muslims and their divine book and revealed religion of barbarity and brutality… The civilization which permits the filing of lawsuits against those who slander and libel celebrities, politicians, and other public figures of ill-repute. A civilization such as this cannot then hide behind the excuse of freedom of expression after it desecrates copies of the Qur’an or defames, with unquestionably malicious intent, the chief and master of Adam’s children and the embodiment of high morals and good character, our prophet and messenger Muhammad, may Allah’s peace and prayers be upon him.”

“Freedom of Expression” is not an “excuse”, although Arabs might feel it is in their twisted view of the world.

Azzam is brainwashedl. Only when CAIR is involved should slander and libel suits be acceptable, heh? Even though the law doesn’t back it up because libel isn’t defamation when it’s based on fact. Nobody desecrates copies of the Qu’ran unless you’re talking about the terrorists at Gitmo who whine about it when it was their own urine that touched those pages, and not of the guards who are ever careful and mindful of the Islamic sensitivities. High morals and good character as far as I’m concerned are those who defend the innocent; not those who hide behind innocents and kill themselves for jihad. Both of those are terribly wrong, in my estimation. But that’s not where it ends-high morals and character are not those who feel al-takeyya (lying for the sake of Islam) is acceptable or war = deception, which are two of the ruling principles underlying the concept of their extremist version of Islam.

It is significant that the release of this tape by Al Qaeda would come this close to the anniversary of 9/11, and seems to be serving as a warning to Americans; although they don’t say ‘convert or die’, the timing of it seems to be conveying that unspoken message.

From CNN:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) — A new videotape has surfaced featuring Osama bin Laden’s second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and an American member of al Qaeda wanted by the FBI, according to a counterterrorism expert.

The tape, called “Invitation to Islam,” runs 48 minutes, expert Laura Mansfield said. Al-Zawahiri speaks for about 4 minutes on the tape, and the American narrates the rest.

Californian Adam Gadahn, wearing a white robe and turban, introduces the message by calling on Westerners to convert. (Watch Gadahn accuse President Bush of not caring about U.S. troops — 5:42)

I think the fact that Azzam the American is a very young American and the fact that the message is directed at America is somewhat instructive, considering the generation of college-age students who seem to be carrying the mantra of these killers:

On a field trip to the city of Baalbek less than a week before Hezbollah picked an unwinnable fight with Lebanon’s southern neighbor, my classmates thought it would just be so cool and different to stock up on Hezbollah t-shirts from the local street vendors. Only $10 apiece!

I was unhappy, to say the least, when my fellow Americans failed to grasp that wearing the Hezbollah logo, complete with AK-47, was not “cute.” They were not milling around the mall food court sporting that oh-so-rebellious Che shirt. They were in a foreign country putting together hot outfits by endorsing an armed militia that represents the largest obstacle to Lebanese freedom and democracy — and that $10 was actually a cash donation to Hezbollah.

Tip o’me tam to Red Hot Cuppa Politics for that one.

From Laura Mansfield:

The anticipated tape from As Sahab featuring Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri and Azzam the American entitled “Invitation to Islam” has been released in the last few minutes on the various Arabic language message boards.

We will be forwarding updates shortly as we review the tape.

The tape is 48 minutes 1 second long, and begins with Azzam the American in English introducing Zawahiri. Zawahiri speaks for approximately 4 minutes, and then introduces Azzam the American.

The segments in Arabic have English subtitles. Much of Azzam the American’s portion includes Arabic subtitles.

Zawahiri specifies that this speech is directed to the American people.

The tape makes reference to the war between Israel and Lebanon.

The tape can be downloaded here.

Also, read Dr. Walid Phares’ brief preliminary analysis of the content of this tape here at the Counterterrorism blog.

Big Dog’s Weblog has a piece up about this call to Islam in the video, and so does Outside the Beltway.

Update: Wow, here’s a little more from Michelle Malkin which I find somewhat amusing:

Watch the new al Qaeda video to see what an “invitation to Islam” sounds like. I’ve transcribed a sample of American al Qaeda Adam Gadahn’s rant:

“Islam is the only religion acceptable to God and came with the revealed book, the Koran, which abrogates all previous revelations, like the Torah and Evangel… God recognizes no separation between religion and state…”

“To Americans and the rest of Christendom we say, either repent (your) misguided ways and enter into the light of truth or keep your poison to yourself and suffer the consequences in this world and the next…”

“If the Zionist crusader missionaries of hate and counter-Islam consultants like Daniel Pipes, Robert Spencer, Michael Scheuer, Steven Emerson, and yes, even the crusader-in-chief George W. Bush were to abandon their unbelief and repent and enter into the light of Islam and turn their swords against the enemies of God, it would be accepted of them and they would be our brothers in Islam. And we send a special invitation to all of you fighting Bush’s crusader pipe dream in Afghanistan, Iraq, and wherever else W. has sent you to die.”

Congratulaions to Daniel Pipes, Robert Spencer, Michael Scheuer, Steven Emerson, and President Bush (who does it every time)-who made their list with distinction!

Laura Mansfield now has the entire transcript and also the actual video here for download.