Al-Zawahri said Obama’s election has not changed American policies he said are aimed at oppressing Muslims and others.

“America has put on a new face, but its heart full of hate, mind drowning in greed, and spirit which spreads evil, murder, repression and despotism continue to be the same as always,” the deputy of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden said. He said Obama’s plan to shift troops to Afghanistan is doomed to failure, because Afghans will resist.

“Be aware that the dogs of Afghanistan have found the flesh of your soldiers to be delicious, so send thousands after thousands to them,” he said.

Al-Zawahri did not threaten specific attacks, but warned Obama that he was “facing a Jihadi (holy war) awakening and renaissance, which is shaking the pillars of the entire Islamic world; and this is the fact which you and your Government and country refuse to recognise and pretend not to see”.

He said Obama’s victory showed Americans acknowledged that President George W Bush’s policies were a failure and that the result was an “admission of defeat in Iraq”. But Obama’s professions of support for Israel during the election campaign “confirmed to the Ummah (Islamic world) that you have chosen a stance of hostility to Islam and Muslims”, al-Zawahri said.

Zawahiri also warned Obama against sending more troops to Afghanistan. “What you have announced before... that you will withdraw (US) troops from Iraq (and send them) to Afghanistan is a policy that is doomed to failure,” Zawahiri said in the message made available by the SITE Intelligence Group.

... contd.