Bin Laden Aide Warns U.S. to Alter Policies

Failure to Cooperate With Muslim Nations Will Lead to Conflict, Zawahiri Says

In a videotape broadcast on al-Jazeera television, Ayman Zawahiri warned the United States, "We will continue fighting you until the last hour." (Al-jazeera Via Reuters Television)

BERLIN, Nov. 29 -- Al Qaeda's chief ideologue said in a videotape broadcast on Arab television Monday that the United States needed to change its policies toward Islamic countries or "we will continue fighting you until the last hour."

The statement was the third issued since September by Ayman Zawahiri, an Egyptian physician and the top deputy to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. It was aired on al-Jazeera, the Arab satellite television network, one month after bin Laden delivered a similar video message four days before the U.S. presidential election. Zawahiri's message contained references that suggested it was recorded some time ago.

In one excerpt shown on al-Jazeera, Zawahiri warned Americans that it did not matter who they chose as president. "Vote for whoever you want: Bush or Kerry or the devil himself," he said on the tape, echoing a line from bin Laden's pre-election speech. "This does not concern us. Our concern is to purify our countries from aggressors and to stand up to whoever attacks us."

Al-Jazeera did not disclose how it acquired the video.

Although they have been in hiding since al Qaeda carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, Zawahiri and bin Laden have become more vocal in recent months, releasing eight other audio and video tapes this year -- twice as many as in 2003.

"Just the fact that we've heard from the both of them in such a short period of time -- that in itself is significant," said Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism researcher and director of the Washington office of the Rand Corp. "They are going out of their way to make their presence known. . . . They are trying to behave as if they are not being hunted or harassed around the world."

Wearing glasses and a white turban, Zawahiri could be seen in the video sitting in front of a light brown background with a blanket draped over his shoulder. A gun was propped next to him. The backdrop was similar to one used by Zawahiri in a video that al-Jazeera broadcast on Sept. 9, just before the third anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Zawahiri addressed his comments to the American people and said he wanted to give them "one last advice" on their dealings with the Muslim world.

"You must choose between two methods in dealing with Muslims," he said. "Cooperate with them based on mutual respect and interests, or deal with them as if they are spoils of war. This is your problem, and you must choose. And you should know that we are a nation of patience and we will continue fighting you until the last hour."

He made references to the U.S.-sponsored elections held in Afghanistan last month and those scheduled for January in Iraq, as well as to the presidential contest between Bush and Kerry.

"These days America is playing the election game in the United States, Afghanistan and Iraq," Zawahiri said. "As for the American elections, the two candidates are competing to win the satisfaction of Israel."

Zawahiri has served as bin Laden's top deputy and ideological adviser for nearly a decade. While his past speeches have been filled with quotations from the Koran, the excerpts broadcast Monday were notable for their lack of religious imagery. Bin Laden took the same approach in his video last month.

"They don't want any ambiguity," Hoffman said. "Both messages are remarkably clear and to the point. They are stripped of the flowery rhetoric."

U.S. officials have said Zawahiri and bin Laden are both believed to be somewhere along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The United States has offered a $25 million reward for each man's capture.