UPDATE: A copy of the letter is below.

Zarqawi is depressed....so...so...sad. Newsday:

U.S.-led forces have recovered a letter they believe was addressed to Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi complaining about low morale among his followers and the incompetence of leaders in his terror network, the military said Tuesday.

The Pentagon said it may be an indication of growing weakness and dissension among al Qaida in Iraq, the terrorist organization that al-Zarqawi leads, but warned that the network remained capable of carrying out significant attacks.

The letter was seized during a raid Thursday in Baghdad, which also yielded an undated document listing targeting information and sketch maps for kidnappings and bombings, the U.S. military said in a statement.

The military said it was written by Abu Asim al-Qusaymi al-Yemeni, whom they identified as a member of Al-Qaida in the Land Between the Two Rivers, a former name used by al-Qaida in Iraq.

The letter, dated Wednesday, is addressed to "the sheik," a title used by al-Zarqawi's followers to refer to their leader, the military said.

In Washington, Bryan Whitman, a spokesman for the Pentagon, said the letter was believed to be authentic.

"The letter gives the indication that his (Zarqawi's) influence and effectiveness are deteriorating," he said. "It describes low morale and weak and incompetent leadership."

But Whitman said Zarqawi's organization can still carry out significant attacks and said this letter should only be regarded as once piece of data suggesting weakness in his organization and dissension in the ranks.

The author, Abu Asim al-Qusayami al Yemeni, was believed to be a close associate of Zarqawi and a veteran of the fighting in Fallujah, Whitman said. The "Sheik Abu Ahmad" referred to Zarqawi.

The letter advocated a jihad, or holy war, and praised "the sheik" for being "a thorn in the mouth of the Americans," the military said. But it also described low morale, weakening support for the insurgency, and the incompetence of many militant leaders, the statement said. The author also reportedly admonished the "the sheik" for abandoning his followers since Fallujah -- an insurgent stronghold that was hit hard by a major U.S.-led assault in November.

Translation of a letter from Abu Asim al-Qusaymi al Yemeni to “the Sheik.”
Date: April 27, 2005

In the name of God the most merciful, the most compassionate.

A special message to the Sheik Abu Ahmad [ed. note: better known as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi], may God protect and save him.

Thank God, God of the Universe who stated in his generous book I assure the believers a guaranteed victory; he who honors those who obey him and he who disgraces those who disobey him until the judgment day; may peace be upon the messenger that was sent as a mercy to the world, the prophet who had submitted the message and had struggled for the sake of God until the last moment of his life. So may God bless him with peace on his family, friends and followers until the judgment day; thereafter.

The Almighty God said “those who are believers beware of God and do not die unless you are Moslem.” And, the Prophet had stated “the religion is an advice, we asked him, to how may it be? He replied, for the sake of God, the Prophet, the Holy Book, the Moslem Imams and the public.” He said “if you leave Jihad then God will take away the mercy from you.”

I advise myself firstly then I advise you [Sheik] to beware of God in secret and in the open. Do not be afraid of anybody. I advise you not to be stopped by anything from practicing Jihad for the sake of God and that is by depending absolutely on God. Whoever satisfies God rather than people, God will satisfy. All the Moslem nation is waiting to have an Islamic state implementing the rules of God, and are waiting for those men who are going to protect their dignity that are being abused everyday.

What has happened between myself and my brothers is a crime that cannot be forgiven, but God will eventually punish the oppressor. I could swear by God that you are asking about us and our situation in here; the morale has weakened and lines of the Mujahidin have become separated due to some leadersÂ’ actions, God does not accept such actions, and that will delay the victory. We do have big mistakes where some of us have been discarded.

To conclude what has happened with us, he said either you carry out a martyr operation or go back to your family. After, we were told this was an order from the Sheik. Indeed, some of the brothers had returned back, some were recorded as martyred and the rest were hanging around and did not know what to do, besides they were humiliated and immorally treated. Who is to blame, should it be the oppressor or the oppressed? We have brothers that were tortured and jailed. They are harmless and nobody is meeting with them or asks about them. It is unlike the case in Fallujah where you used to come and visit us, and we enjoyed your party. The situation has changed dramatically and that is not acceptable to God. The most important thing Sheik, is your existence is a thorn in the mouth of the Americans as well as the traitors, and may God protect you.

The most important issue here is, do not hear from just one side, even if that person was close to you. But hear from all sides so the facts will become clear to you.

We have leaders that are not capable of being good leaders. We are not accusing them without reason but we have tested them and found them incapable.

Thank God, Sheik, please test those who are underneath you. Some of them are in a rush, some are unfair and some have other issues.

My last request to you Sheik is that I need to meet with you to share a lot of unknown issues. And, to be honest with you, I really do not trust anyone anymore that says he is coming from your side. We have suffered a lot, but thank God. I ask the Great God to make the religion victorious and to bless the Mujahidin anywhere in the world and to disgrace the infidels, destroy America and its allies soon without any delay.

May grace be upon Mohammed and his family and friends until the judgment day. I attest that there is one God and I ask for his forgiveness.

Signed by
Abu ‘Asim al-Yamani, al Qusaymi
Al-Qaida Organization, Iraq Division

Posted by: Rusty at 12:02 PM | Comments (20) | Add Comment
Post contains 1124 words, total size 7 kb.

1 Well, kidnapping a bunch of children and forcing their fathers and brothers to carry out suicide attacks should do just the trick needed to raise morale. Onward Muslim Soldiers...

Posted by: Editor at May 03, 2005 01:19 PM (adpJH)

2 Or placing machine guns behind your own troops, like the Soviets did in WW2. Oh, wait, that did work. Nevermind.

Posted by: Bill Dautrive at May 03, 2005 01:30 PM (G95Uf)

3 "U.S.-led forces have recovered a letter they believe was addressed to Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi complaining about low morale among his followers and the incompetence of leaders in his terror network, the military said Tuesday." "The Pentagon said it may be an indication of growing weakness" "In Washington, Bryan Whitman, a spokesman for the Pentagon, said the letter was believed to be authentic." "The letter gives the indication that his (Zarqawi's) influence and effectiveness are deteriorating," he said. "It describes low morale and weak and incompetent leadership." "But Whitman said Zarqawi's organization can still carry out significant attacks and said this letter should only be regarded as once piece of data suggesting weakness in his organization and dissension in the ranks." Believe, May, possibly, not sure, could be, we really don't know anything, we're speculating. This really explains why bombings and attacks are back to over 400 a week. The White House has been spewing this line of BS for over a year now. sniff, sniff, do you smell that?

Posted by: David Eccles at May 03, 2005 01:42 PM (UCtX/)

4 Sounds like a bad "Dear Apu Letter"

Posted by: Ob Snooks at May 03, 2005 01:47 PM (yBHNA)

5 Another unlikely story. Maybe if we keep making up these ridiculous stories and click are red slippers three times it'll all just go away.

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 01:49 PM (/+dAV)

6 Greg the Hitler has red slippers. Figures.

Posted by: Ob Snooks at May 03, 2005 01:58 PM (yBHNA)

7 Now Greg we all know how evil the Wicked witch of the West was but was the Wicked Witch of the EAST not worse

Posted by: sparky at May 03, 2005 01:59 PM (F1nba)

8 Sparky, What's a nice Bonnie Lass like you doing supporting this disgusting war?

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 02:14 PM (/+dAV)

9 Greg I just support the people who need our help

Posted by: sparky at May 03, 2005 02:18 PM (F1nba)

10 You mean like the Palestinians?

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 02:38 PM (/+dAV)

11 Yes

Posted by: sparky at May 03, 2005 02:45 PM (F1nba)

12 Well, good for you.

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 02:49 PM (/+dAV)

13 David, Of course it's BS. I wouldn't bet my dinner on its authenticity. Either they planted the letter thinking they can fool us or we planted the letter thinking we could fool them. Either way it's a dumb idea. If only MSM (including al-Jazeera) would lay off the reporting for a while it would weaken them considerably. They thrive on the coverage for recruiting purposes and morale more than anything.

Posted by: Oyster at May 03, 2005 03:21 PM (fl6E1)

14 shorter greg: Please god don't let this be true! waahaa!

Posted by: Carlos at May 03, 2005 05:16 PM (paKD6)

15 Oyster, The Al Jazeera line doesn't work anymore. They were bought out buy the Neocon News Network, otherwise known as FOX in February of this year. Now Rupert can swill his crap to the people he hates the most.

Posted by: deccles at May 03, 2005 06:44 PM (UCtX/)

16 So greg, what does "click are red slippers" mean? Don't tell me that an elite member of the intelligentsia like you can't differentiate between the words "our" and "are"? Dumbass.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at May 04, 2005 08:22 AM (0yYS2)

17 Oops. My mistake.

Posted by: greg at May 04, 2005 08:24 AM (/+dAV)

18 What? just an "oops"? No threats? No propaganda? No hate-filled diatribe against the ignorant proles? Are you sick or something? And where did you find ruby slippers in your size?

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at May 04, 2005 08:38 AM (0yYS2)

19 There's nothing sadder than to watch a man who thinks he's being funny when he's not. I'm embarrassed for you.

Posted by: greg at May 04, 2005 08:55 AM (/+dAV)

20 http://roulette.chefare.org/rnrrovdsm/ camdenjawspecker

Posted by: island at September 16, 2005 06:30 AM (4TwQo)

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