This provides yet another golden opportunity for “moderate” Muslim spokesmen to explain exactly how their jihad differs from Zawahiri’s. Honest Ibe? Brave Ahmed? Anyone? Anyone? “Zawahiri Urges Jihad in Speech Marking 9/11 Anniversary,” by Robert F. Worth in the New York Times, September 15:
DAMASCUS, Syria — Ayman al-Zawahiri, Al Qaeda’s second in command, released an audio message on Wednesday to mark the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, urging Muslims to embrace jihad….
In the 44-minute speech Mr. Zawahiri also says that the past nine years have made clear that there are two “orientations” for Muslims: the path of jihad, and the path of surrender and defeat. The latter, he said, is exemplified by Mohamed ElBaradei, the former director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who has been campaigning for reform in Egypt.