The Long War Journal: Failure to attack

Written by Bill Roggio on March 17, 2005 3:22 PM to The Long War Journal

Available online at: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2005/03/yakking_but_not.php

Al Qaeda releases another tape calling for Jihad in the Arabian Peninsula. Saleh al-Awfi, AKA Abu Abdullah, the [latest] leader of al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia has issued an audiotape to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and the jihadis in Iraq and the Gulf region (hat tip to The Counterterrorism Blog). Al-Awfi asks the terrorists to “continue in your path of honor”. Perhaps he is referring to the use of children with Down’s syndrome to conduct suicide attacks, or detonating car bombs in the middle of funeral services or outside of mosques, shrines and medical clinics. He did not elaborate.

Al-Awfi then pledges to provide support to al Qaeda in Iraq; “We will send you fighters and martyrs whenever you need them.” Zarqawi’s aide would likely disagree with al-Awfi's claims of an unending supply of volunteers; “his boss, after pondering the absence of attacks in the U.S. in recent years, concluded that a lack of "willing martyrs" was to blame.” This may explain the use of "unwilling martyrs" such as Down’s patients.

Abu Abdullah then exalts al Qaeda in Kuwait and implores members in Gulf (Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait) to rise up against the “cross worshippers”:

“So I ask each one of you to attack every soldier, machine, military base, and aircraft in his country so the crusaders will be undermined. If every bee stings the pig from a different direction then he will die from his wounds.”

Is this another outburst of bluster like Zarqawi’s rant prior to the Iraq election, where he failed to make good on his promise to rain blood upon the voters? Al Qaeda has issued numerous tapes where it has talked big but done little. The most memorable tapes include a call for uprising in Saudi Arabia, threats against the American public prior to Election Day, and a request for a boycott of the Iraq elections. Needless to say, none of these things have happened. Al Qaeda is failing to inspire significant action or support from the Arab Street.

What does it say about the power and influence of al Qaeda that when their hive is repeatedly kicked, instead of the appearance of an enraged swarm, a few angry bees show up now and then, buzz loudly, but rarely sting?