The leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, has appeared in a new 34 minute high-production value video released by the media arm of the terrorist umbrella organization known as The Mujahidin Shura Council. The Jawa Report has obtained a copy of the video. Images from it are shown throughout this post. A translation of a statement released by the Mujahidin Shura Council is posted below.

UPDATE: I've added a transcript of the video below. You can watch the Zarqawi video with English subtitles by clicking here. The MEMRI translation only covers portions of the 34 minute long video showing Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's monologue.

For a copy of the video, please e-mail the author of this post directly at the contact information above. UPDATE: You can view the video here, but it is a mother of a download. UPDATE II: Apparently BKP is banned at some workplaces--alternate video downloading here. Update III: Here is a synopsis video from the MSM. The original is 34 minutes.

Several things are striking about the video. The first thing is that Zarqawi is shown with an American assault weapon, and not the standard AK-47 wielded by terrorists. Second, the high-production value of the video means that it must have been weeks in the making. If it was timed for release to coincide with the Egyptian bombings yesterday, then a great deal of coordination must have gone into it. Last, the high-production value of the video also suggests that it was not a reaction to the appointment of a new PM in Iraq. However, the statement released today by The Mujahidin Shura Council is clear that they are worried about it [statement below].

The video also comes on the heels of several reports which suggested that Zarqawi had a) been demoted from the leadership of al Qaeda in Iraq b) been officially disavowed by the Shura Council. Neither now appears to be the case.

What is not being reported in the media, though, is that Osama bin Laden's voice is also in the video. This suggests that Zarqawi's group was in possession of the audio before its popular release yesterday.

MSNBC:

In a rare video posted on the Internet, al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi accused the West and the United States of waging a “crusader” war against Islam, but said Muslim holy warriors were standing firm.

He also said the formation of a new government in Iraq was an attempt to help the United States get out of what he called the dilemma it faces in Iraq.

“Your mujahedeen sons were able to confront the most ferocious of crusader campaigns on a Muslim state. They have stood in the face of this onslaught for three years,” Zarqawi said on the video.

He is also wearing a suicide vest, which would corroborate statements by Sheikh Abu Omar al-Ansari, who met him in Iraq, that he wears this vest in order to "martyr" himself in this instance that Coalition forces (or angry Iraqis) come very close to apprehending him.

UPDATE: Walid Phares (personal note to Walid: what happened to you at the MPSA?) has a pretty detailed analysis here. Apparently the video was made on the 21st. The bin Laden audio was released on the 23rd.

Wizbang links this analysis from DEBKA:

Our sources reported Monday that the Egyptian authorities are investigating whether a 10-man cell reportedly held ready by Zarqawi in N. Sinai or Gaza for a large-scale attack was responsible for the third Sinai bombing attack in two years.

UPDATE: New York Times shows its brilliance with this headline, "Video Appears to Show Zarqawi Urging on Insurgents". Because, you know, we wouldn't want the NY Times to go out on a limb here. Here's part of the story:

The grainy images in today's video showed him accompanying armed fighters in black vests through sandy terrain in what was an apparent training mission. It also showed him seated on the floor in a room with several fighters with their faces covered in black.

Hat tip: AWOL GI at the forum UPDATE: Transcripts from Terrorist Press Release

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful

Mujahedeen Shura Council of Iraq

Then fight in Allah\'s cause thou are held responsible only for thyself and rouse the believers. It may be that Allah will restrain the fury of the disbelievers; for Allah is the strongest in might and in punishment (AlnisaÂ’a:84)

OÂ’ BannerÂ’s holders stand,
Where are the lions of Anbar?
Where are the lions of Salah Aldeen?
Where are BaghdadÂ’s men?
Where are the knights of Ninawah and the champions of Dyalah?
Where are the courageous of Kurdustan?
Where are you the lions of Monotheism?

Be fully aware of the apostate media sources.

I swear by Allah, that they have nothing with us except the sharp swords, and between them and us will only be the frightened nights.

I swear by Allah that America will be defeated in Iraq.

(Anasheed)

(Field commander is talking):

As for the developing and manufacturing, the brothers, by the grace of Allah have developed and improved two missiles in Alanbar province in particular.

(When missile was fired):
Against the make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. (Alanfal:60)

(Anasheed)

A message for Mankind

(Sheikh Osama)
I focus this call to the young men of Islam; gather together in fighting the crusades and the Jews, and remember Allah at all times repeatedly, by Allah, itÂ’s either victory or martyrdom. No one will surpass his fate, and he who ever turns out to be a martyr, his sole will freely be flying around the paradise as it wishes, close to the throne of Allah; what a great difference between being near his family and/or near his lord.
OÂ’ young men of Islam every where, especially those near the battles, where the obligation is further; OÂ’ young men in Aljazeera, Egypt, and Sham; OÂ’ siblings of Salah Aldeen, OÂ’ knights of Mohammad Alfateh, continue your support to your brothers in Iraq, whereby the gravest of the wars is continues, and its fire is on the rise, the crusades have invaded them, killed thousands of them, and abducted thousands, whishing to eliminate them. And they are instead, by the grace of Allah, fighting the crusades patiently, giving up all theyÂ’ve got for the sake of Allah and in order to defend themselves. May Allah be with them and those who support them.

(sheikh Abu Musaab)
All praise be to Allah granting might to his religion with his victory, lowering the infidels with his supremacy. Sorting circumstances by his order; Plotting for the disbelievers with his arrangement; He who alternated the days with his divine justice.
And peace be upon who Allah raised the minaret of Islam with his sword.

My treasured nation,
I am conversing to you not with falsehoods, hoping to find with you open ears and prudent hearts, for the honest man does not deceive his family.

The crusade enemy, when invaded Iraq, meant to control this nation and reinforce the Zionist state, from the Nile to the Euphrates. However, Allah granted your sons the Mujahedeen by standing firm before the strongest crusaders attack to the Islamic land.
They stood strong against this attack for over three years, disbursing their soles and their wealth. They stood against this massive military, media, and economical attack not for anything except to defend you, your religion, your sons, and your honor.
Allah dispersed the enemiesÂ’ gathering and their defeat became clearer to who ever has eyesight and prudent heart.
Here are your sons, by the grace of Allah, indulging into one battle after another, and attack after attack; they by the will of Allah hold the upper hand in the battle field now.

If it wasnÂ’t for the continuous and ongoing media muting, you wouldÂ’ve seen the astonishing. By Allah itÂ’s the championships and the victories coming to us, and you my nation should thank Allah for this great bounty, that Allah prepared a group of your sons the Mujahedeen defending you and protecting your honor, otherwise the Sunnah in Iraq wouldÂ’ve been in between a revulsion crusade and a betraying Shiite. And the women of the Sunnah wouldÂ’ve been on the laps of the revulsion crusades and the betraying Shiites; Abu Ghraib and the interior ministry jails remain memorable.

My treasured nation,
We are in Iraq a stone throw from the Masjed Alaqsa, we fight in Iraq and our eyes are on Alqsa which will never be freed except with a guiding Quraan and a prevailing sword; “but enough is thy Lord to guide and to help” (Alforqan:31)

The history and experience had showed that you have no one after Allah except your Mujahedeen sons; they are your protection, your strong shield, and your beating heart. They become happy to your happiness and sad to your sadness; they stay up all night for your protection and have jealousy for you. Their hearts burst in sorrow for your state, and their tongues never stop chanting: OÂ’ Allah elevate the state of humiliation and defeat away from my nation, OÂ’ Allah bring back victory to my nation.

As for the American administration, and to its chairman the cross bannerÂ’s holder Bush, we say to him and to whoever is swimming in his space from the Jews and the crusades and form the Shiites and others, we say that you will never be safe in the Islamic land, and by Allah you will never feel secured so long we still have a beating nerve and a moving eyelash.
Previously, our leader Osama Bin Laden may Allah protect him, had offered you a long truce. It could’ve been better for you and those who are with you if you’d have accepted, but your arrogance pushed you to refuse. Here you are today, running from east to west trying to find solutions “will not stand except as stands one whom the evil one by his touch hath driven to madness” (Albaqarah:275). You turned to be a grave liar, betraying your own people that everything is under control, and then soon everyone finds out about your lies and so on. You became like the one who’s treating himself from alcohol by alcohol. You were never at any time truthful with yourself or your people, although it’s found some truth in your great grandparents you are fully detached from.
Why donÂ’t you show the truth about your soldiers and their inferior state of struggle?
Why donÂ’t you tell your people about the continuous suicides amongst your soldiers?
Why donÂ’t you tell your people that your soldiers can never go to sleep unless they take the hallucinating and drugging pills? So they become like cattle driven by your war generals, the Neozionists, to the killing fate.
Why donÂ’t you tell your people about the congregational escape and the defiance among your troops?

Listen you grave liar and insolent one; your dreams will never come true, our blood and bodies are between you and your imaginings. And what is coming your way is much greater than what passed by the will of Allah.

The game of rotten democracy that you brought to Iraq, after you gave hope to people about freedom, happiness, and the economical/personal security; all of these lies went with the winds and will never come back by the will of Allah.

There we see you today, trying with all what you got to bring together the clusters, the parties, the partners from your tails to bring about a handicapped government that it might pull you out from your crucial pitfall.

We believe that any government you place in Iraq, whether be it from the betrayal Shiites or Zionist Kurds, or your tails from the Sunnah; it will only be an apostate government that will aid the crusades, and it came only to be a poisoned dagger stabbed in the heart of the Islamic Nation.

America learned today that its planes, tanks, momentous troops, and its tails from the Shiites army will never be able to finalize the battle with Mujahedeen. Therefore, itÂ’s trying to surround the Jehad by pushing its tails from those who are counted to Sunnah, those who accepted to play the role and be a rope that tightens around the SunnahÂ’s necks and pull the Americans from their defeat. They used those who use the Islamic slogans as a mask to spread their mastersÂ’ propaganda on the importance of organizing the military and the police, and confuse the Muslims with their mixed messages injecting poison in honey, forgetting intentionally or not that every occupier through out history used a cover up face from the occupied to use them in order to establish a solid base and embezzle the wealth of the country and its people.
Allah has said: “And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them” (5:51)
That is by constituting for this life and the hereafter.
And Allah has said: “for Pharaoh and Haman and (all) their hosts were Men of sin” (28:

Therefore, we repeat our warning to whoever is trying to reorganize and spread the military and the police forces, which was established only to be a tool for the occupier in their bigger plan, and to implement laws other than the law of Allah.
Be extremely aware, those who join these apostate forces have nothing with us except the sharp swords, and between them and us will be nothing except grave days and nights.
Allah has said;” Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject faith fight in the cause of evil: so fight ye against the friends of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan” (4:76)

Having said the previous, and having mentioned the defeat of the enemy and his paraphernalia. The enemy is trying today to seduce two kinds of people to the alleged parliamentary game to harvest the fruits of the Mujahedeen whom only trying to make the word of Allah prevails.
The first kind of which is the one trying to attach oneself with the Mujahedeen, although they never lived the Mujahedeen life nor they ever supported them at the occupation time. The second of which is those who had at the beginning the honor of fighting the crusades, however what counts is the end; their efforts wonÂ’t be accepted by the law of Islam unless they strive with action to make the word of Allah prevails, using what Allah lawfully guided us with, the clean means, not by using evil parliaments striving to have the word of Allah mixed with other man made constitutions and laws. The aim does not justify the means here.
Although these two kinds, and whoever follows their footsteps, allege that they are trying with these parliaments to implement the law of Allah. However, the actions and the historical experiences oppose their myth. Anyone that is following the political map in Iraq knows that the majority of the parliamentsÂ’ members are from the Shiites and the atheists of Kurds and Sunnah, not to mention those of the mixed motion believes. Therefore, the heavy side in the balance of the parliaments will always be in the hand of evil.
Allah has said: “beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching) which Allah hath sent down to thee” (5:49)

And Allah has said: “Fast thou not turned thy vision to those who declare that they believe in the revelations that have come to thee and to those before thee? their (real) wish is to resort together for judgment (in their disputes) to the evil one, though they were ordered to reject him but Satan\'s wish is to lead them astray far away (from the right” (4:60)

As for you patient truthful Mujahedeen, may Allah accept from you and us the best of deeds, and may Allah bless your Jehad. You were able by the will of Allah and his support to stop this crusadesÂ’ attack and youÂ’ve bounded him with injuries. Thus, continue your Jehad and operations, and elevate your hits, itÂ’s only the sign of victory and itÂ’s the last breath of the cross worshipers in the land of two rivers. The low fighting self-esteem of the crusadesÂ’ soldiers is an only obvious sign in Iraq. Therefore, renew your intentions, and correct yourselves, and carry on together against your enemy. Your enemy is uncovered, by the will of Allah, weakened, unprotected, and broken in pieces. Do not give him a chance to take its breath, continue your stabbings one after the other, OÂ’ BannerÂ’s holders stand,
WhereÂ’s are the lions of Anbar?
Where are the lions of Salah Aldeen?
Where are BaghdadÂ’s men?
Where are the knights of Ninawah and the champions of Dyalah?
Where are the courageous of Kurdustan?
Where are you the lions of Monotheism?
OÂ’ siblings of Khaled and Muthananh, Saad and Meqdad and Salah Aldeen.
Where are the immigrants? Where are the supporters?
Where are the people of Surat Altawbah and Alanfal?
Where are the people of Alfath and Alqital?

OÂ’ leaders of this nation; who is for the crying women, who is for the jailed dignified women, who is for the purified women in the jails of the Shiites.
OÂ’ Allah, there is no life except the life of the hereafter, OÂ’ Allah grant victory to immigrants and their supporters.

Be very aware from the embezzlers, with their masters the crusades, trying to surround you. Be aware and extremely aware from putting down your weapons, and then you will harvest nothing but the defeat, beat and crush in this life and the hereafter.
You were always supplicating to Allah day and night to ease the way for you to join the Jehad in Afghanistan and Chechnya or other places. After that, Allah chose you for the trade of Jehad at your own land, and opened for you the doors of paradise. Be extremely aware of closing these blessed doors, be aware “And be not like a woman who breaks into untwisted strands the yarn which she has spun, after it has become strong”(16:92)

Do not let the trade of Jehad depart your land; otherwise you will be disgraced and you’ll be only ruled by the scum; “they set you hard tasks and punishments, slaughtered your sons and let your women folk live” (2:49)

“If ye turn back (from the Path), He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not be like you” (47:3

Finally, I glad tied the nation by establishing the Mujahedeen Shura Council of Iraq, which will be by the grace and will of Allah as the kernel for the establishment of an Islamic State, in which, the word of Allah prevails. All praise be to Allah, the efforts are being joined, and the hands are being extended and shaken for the obedience of Allah and his messenger and the Jehad in the cause of Allah. And this Council will be, by the will of Allah, an umbrella for every truthful Mujahed. I am honored to be one member of this blessed Council under its blessed leadership. At the same time remaining the Ameer ( leader) of the Alqaeda Organization in the land of two rivers ( Iraq).

The servant of Jehad and Mujahedeen, glorifying Allah, your brother Abu Musaab Alzarqawi.
Friday, 23 Rabii Awal 1427,
April 21, 2006.

All praise be to Allah.

(Anasheed)

(One of the commanders in Anbar speaking)

In the name of Allah the most gracious the most merciful, and peace be upon our prophet Muhammad his family and companions.

I welcome our beloved sheikh in the land of Anbar, the land of Jehad. And we ask Allah to keep it a thorn in the eyes of the disbelievers.

I would like to inform about the great victory in the battles of Ramadi, killing many of the disbelievers and taking over the center and headquarter of the infidels.
Taking over the city for several days, preventing the crusades from even coming near it.
And this operation was a clear message against the visit by the infidelsÂ’ ambassadors ( Rice and Straw).
In general, the self esteem of the Mujahedeen is high, in opposite to the infidels whom are always in continuous deterioration.

As for the developing and manufacturing, the brothers, by the grace of Allah have developed and improved two missiles in Alanbar province in particular.
, that will be used soon, one has the ability to travel 40km with a 50kg warhead, hereÂ’s a picture of itÂ…

Then fight in Allah\'s cause thou are held responsible only for thyself and rouse the believers. It may be that Allah will restrain the fury of the disbelievers; for Allah is the strongest in might and in punishment (AlnisaÂ’a:84)

And the other is anti armored vehicles, is carried on the shoulder and has been internally modified to penetrate armored vehicles, and hereÂ’s a picture of it.

(Anasheed)

فبما رحمة من الله لنت لهم ولو كنت فظا غليظ القلب لانفضوا من حولك فاعف عنهم واستغفر لهم وشاورهم في الأمر فإذا عزمت فتوكل على الله إن الله يحب المتوكلين}

“It is part of the mercy of Allah that dost deal gently with them. Wert thou severe or harsh hearted, they would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (their faults), and ask for (Allah\'s) forgiveness them in affairs (of moment). Then when thou hast taken a decision, put thy trust in Allah. For Allah loves those who put their trust (in him” (3:159)

{إن ينصركم الله فلا غالب لكم وإن يخذلكم فمن ذا الذي ينصركم من بعده وعلى الله فليتوكل المؤمنون}
If Allah helps you, non can overcome you: if he forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? in God, then, let believers put their trust (3:160)

Sheikh Ayman AlzahahreÂ’s voice:
OÂ’ Islamic Nation, the turf of Iraq now is the most dangerous field of Jehad in this century. Therefore, the nation must support the courageous Mujahedeen that are fighting in the very forefront defending the honor of Islam and its dignity.

(Anasheed)

Sheikh Abu Musaab: by Allah, American will be defeated in Iraq, by the will of Allah, and itÂ’ll leave Iraq humiliated, crushed, and defeated by the will of Allah.

Do not forget us from your supplications.

Your brothers in the Media Committee.

Here is a rough translation of the statement released by the Shura Council today. More images from the video posted below:

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful

All Praise and thanks are AllahÂ’s, the Lord of all that exists. And peace be upon our prophet Muhammad, his family and companions in entirety.

After the failure of the crusaders and their massacre in iraq they hurried to seek protection from sunnites by their introducing in the political operation – polytheist—for forming a government which will be responsible of execution rules of the constitution of infidelity made by their leaders, maybe they could retreat back from the battleground and making those facing the mujahdeens hits. [continued below]

And every muslim should know that the base of his belief and monotheism is (walaa and baraa) and without this nothing will be accepted by Allah, Allah says : [22] You (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) will not find any people who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad (peace be upon him)) even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Rûh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And He will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow to dwell therein (forever). Allâh is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allâh. Verily, it is the Party of Allâh that will be the successful.

This is why the necessity of comlete faith is loving and supporting believers and hate and enemity of infidels even though they were relatives.

Allah says:
[1] O Prophet (Muhammad (peace be upon him))! Keep your duty to Allâh, and obey not the disbelievers and the hypocrites (i.e., do not follow their advice). Verily! Allâh is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise. [2] And follow that which is revealed to you from your Lord. Verily, Allâh is Well-Acquainted with what you do. [3] And put your trust in Allâh, and Sufficient is Allâh as a Wakîl (Trustee, or Disposer of affairs).
[4] Allâh has not put for any man two hearts inside his body. Neither has He made your wives whom you declare to be like your mothers' backs, your real mothers. (az-Zihâr is the saying of a husband to his wife, "You are to me like the back of my mother" i.e. You are unlawful for me to approach.), nor has He made your adopted sons your real sons. That is but your saying with your mouths. But Allâh says the truth, and He guides to the (Right) Way.

For those who sliped we say: both of savant and ignorant knew that this government is delusive not real, they can do nothing without approval of their american leader who gave them chairs in this government but prevent them from freedom of action?.!

And which religion can they establish , in spite of the fact that they became infidels by accepting the constitution in replacement of the quran?.!

So the Mujahedeen Shura council of Iraq is innocent of this government and call the sunnites inside and outside of iraq to annouce their innoncence of this government and disbelieve in it, and to support the mujahdeens untill the Allah word is the supreme or we die for it , and be prudent of being in the rank of the enemies of Allah the conspirators against your jehad the base of your religion and the sumit of your islam, and say like Allah order you:

[1] Say (O Muhammad (peace be upon him) to these Mushrikûn and Kâfirûn): "O Al-Kâfirûn (disbelievers in Allâh, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar.)! [2] "I worship not that which you worship, [3] "Nor will you worship that which I worship. [4] "And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping. [5] "Nor will you worship that which I worship. [6] "To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islâmic Monotheism)."

And you should know that the signs of victory appear highly – by Allah willing- , and the sunnah of Allah predestined that there is no victory unless the distinction between the two sides, and the separation of the two ranks, Allah says: ([17] He sends down water (rain) from the sky, and the valleys flow according to their measure, but the flood bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface - and (also) from that (ore) which they heat in the fire in order to make ornaments or utensils, rises a foam like unto it, thus does Allâh (by parables) show forth truth and falsehood. Then, as for the foam it passes away as scum upon the banks, while that which is for the good of mankind remains in the earth. Thus Allâh sets forth parables (for the truth and falsehood, i.e. Belief and disbelief).

So wait, we too are waiting with you : ("Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience and make us victorious over the disbelieving people."

And peace be upon our prophet Muhammad, his family and companions in entirety.

Allah is great,

“Honor, power and glory belong to Allah, to his messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.”
The media committee of Mujahedeen Shura council of Iraq

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