“Al-Zarqawi successor vows to keep fighting,” from AP:
CAIRO, Egypt – The new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq vowed to defeat “crusaders and Shiites” in Iraq, and he said “holy warriors” there were stronger than ever, according to a Web statement posted Tuesday “” the first from the new terrorist leader.
The statement appeared one day after the group announced that a man identified by the nom de guerre Abu Hamza al-Muhajer would succeed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as its leader….
“It’s no secret the ferociousness of the battle that is going on between the soldiers of right and the soldiers of wrong “” the crusaders, the rejectionists (Shiites) and apostates in Iraq,” the statement said.
“Apostates” are those Muslims who cooperate with the Americans. This is the approach the mujahedin have consistently taken, and Westernized, secularized Muslims have formulated no effective response.
Al-Muhajer said the fighting in Iraq was at a crucial point.
“The holy fighters have made the enemy taste the bitterness of defeat and humiliation. With God’s permission, your sons have reached the decisive moment,” the statement said.