“I sacrifice myself for my religion.” Yeah, give that man a few food stamps, and he’ll calm down. More details on the Zarqawi video, from Reuters:
The sophisticated footage includes scenes such as a suicide bomber heading off on a mission, waving goodbye to his chanting colleagues as he climbs into the cab of a truck packed with explosives.
“I sacrifice myself for my religion,” he says before leaving.
Moments later an explosion can be heard and a massive ball of fire fills the screen as the suicide bomber reaches his target. …
“This video speaks of a danger more organised than the one viewed through the snippets of the intelligence and glimmers of insight the public has previously seen,” wrote Michael Ware, the Time reporter who obtained the tape. “It does not bode well for the immediate future of Iraq’s fledgling government nor the ultimate exit plans for the 130 000 US troops still (in Iraq).”
Ware, who has interviewed a number of insurgents over the past year, said the tape was intended to send a very clear message to coalition troops and foreigners: “We can get you. You cannot stop us.”
Ware also said the video, like a corporate recruitment product, was designed to lure new fighters – and funding – to Zarqawi’s network.
“It is a very, very sophisticated part of Zarqawi’s information campaign, stamping him as the star of the new global jihad inspired by Osama bin Laden,” said Ware.