Al-Qaida No. 2 al-Zawahri says US options in Iraq all bad

By PAKINAM AMER and KATARINA KRATOVAC, Associated Press Writers

CAIRO, Egypt – Al-Qaida‘s No. 2 said in an audiotape released Friday that the United States will lose whether it stays in Iraq or withdraws, and he sneered that President Bush just wants to pass the problem on to his successor.
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The message from Ayman al-Zawahri released early Friday on a militant Web site appeared to be one of the most quickly prepared tapes produced by al-Qaida — referring to Congressional testimony only last week by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, in which he recommended a halt to further U.S. troop withdrawals until after July.

Al-Qaida’s deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, is seen in this image made from videotape posted on Internet in 2005.(AP Photo/AP Television News/ho)

Bush said last week he would give Petraeus all the time needed to reassess U.S. troop strength in Iraq after the current drawdown of U.S. troops ends in July.

“The truth is that if Bush keeps all his forces in Iraq until doomsday and until they enter hell, they will only see crisis and defeat by the will of God,” said al-Zawahri, the deputy of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden.

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zawahri;_ylt=Akm
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Tags: al-Qaeda, al-Qaida, al-Zawahri, Bush, Iraq, Osama bin Laden, U.S., U.S. Army, U.S. military