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Pakistan: Proposed law to improve women’s rights causes “uproar”

"The proposal has prompted widespread opposition in the Islamic world."

And why is that? After all, isn't Islam and Islamic law supposed to "elevate" women? The problem is, that "elevation" is not established by standards outside of Islam, where there can be no higher "elevation" than to act in lockstep with Allah's will. Hence, anything beyond what is spelled out in the Qur'an and Sunnah is liable to be denounced as bida, or innovation. Thus, attempts to increase women's rights in society beyond that will not be seen as generous, but dangerous, and sharia will remain the chief obstacle to improving the condition of women wherever it is the basis for a society's laws.

Sharia Alert. "Islamabad, law in parliament to give 'equal' rights to women," by Qaiser Felix for AsiaNews, November 21:

Islamabad (AsiaNews) - There's an uproar over proposals by the council for Islamic ideology (CII), to reform Islamic law concerning the family, in order to provide greater rights for women in the case of divorce. Current law recognizes divorce declared "verbally" by the husband, in private, and grants few economic rights to the wife.

The CII (a significant constitutional group with a legal consulting role in parliament and the government, set up in 1962) is also proposing that the wife should be able to ask for a divorce, in writing, with an obligation for the husband to accept the request within 90 days. After this period of time, the marriage would be dissolved anyway, unless the woman withdrew the request. It is also advised that women should declare their property at the time of their marriage, because after divorce many husbands strip their wives of their own property.

Asma Jahangir, president of the Pakistani commission for human rights, explains to AsiaNews that, in any case, women have a legal right to divorce, but the real problem is that often the husband does not provide any economic support for her or her children. She recalls that many husbands throw their wives and children out of the house, without even divorcing or giving them anything.

Muslim lawyer Hifza Aziz adds that today, the man can remarry without even telling his new wife about his previous divorce.

The proposal has prompted widespread opposition in the Islamic world, and the mufti Munibor Rehman, a prominent religious leader, accuses the CII of "wanting to invent a new sharia" and "to create anarchy and chaos in the country."

Hanif Jalandhry, secretary general of the alliance of organizations of Islamic schools, accuses the CII of "exceeding its constitutional role, with the proposal to introduce non-Islamic reforms into the law." Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, president of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami, says that the council "is sowing confusion among the people, with mistaken interpretations of sharia."

These accusations are rejected by S.M. Zafar, president of the Pakistani society for human rights, who reiterates that "the right of the woman to ask for a divorce is already practiced under the principle of the Khula, and the CII only wants to formalize this practice."

The CII is not withdrawing the proposed law, which will be examined by parliament. On November 18, Hamid Saeed Kazmi told the national assembly that the government "does not support" these proposals, which are being advanced by the CII on its own initiative. The minister for law and justice, Farooq H. Naek, has specified that parliament will not approve a law that is in contrast with the holy Qur'an and the Sunnah.

Another controversial point is the CII's proposal to allow women to make the pilgrimage of the Hajj (which Muslims must make at least once in their lives) without a Mahram ("guardian"), in respect of the constitutional right to travel without restrictions.

Note from JWR:

A special note of thanks to the anonymous pharmacist on the East Coast that has set up a very generous 10 Cent Challenge subscription via an automated weekly payment. These voluntary subscriptions are greatly appreciated, especially now that our hosting and bandwidth expenses exceed $450 per month. (Daily downloads from our site now regularly exceed 20 Gigabytes per day. Last month alone, we burned through a whopping 660GB!)

Letter Re: Is the US Residential Real Estate Market Nearing the Bottom?

Hello Mr. Rawles:
Seeing that houses are pretty much dirt cheap right now, would it be a good decision to buy one? what would happen to our debts (including the mortgage) when/if the Amero comes? would they disappear like they claim the American debt will? I hear radio advertisements about the IRS giving you up to [a] $7,500 [interest-free loan] on your 2008 taxes if you buy a house in 2008. So, again, would it be a good idea? would the Dollar amount be converted into Ameros?

Thanks in advance for your response. As always, congratulations on and thank you for your blog, simply the best. - Luis S.

JWR Replies: The $7,500 incentive offered by the IRS must be paid back over the next 15 years. It is an interest-free loan, not a tax credit. People who claim this "credit" must pay it back at $500 per year for the next 15 years.

In my estimation, suburban houses have another 25% to fall nationwide, and another 40% to fall in the over-bought markets. I recommend that you wait for at least two years, until the market is closer to the bottom. And FWIW, according to The Chartist Gnome, the absolute bottom may not be until around 2016. There will be plenty of pain and angst ahead!

The widely-rumored advent of the Amero is far from a sure thing. I recommend diversifying out of dollar-denominated assets and into practical tangibles. At present, my favorites are alloy, steel, and polymer, and hold lots of cartridges. With well-chosen tangibles, you will shelter yourself from the worst effects of any currency swap or formalized devaluation. Yes, land is a tangible too, but the only real estate that I would consider buying these days is productive farm or ranch land. This should be land that could double as a survival retreat, and that is located in a region that was not part of the Big Bubble.

Letter Re: Comments on Two of the Three Bs: Bullets and Band-Aids

Greetings Jim,
With [the] November 4th [US presidential and congressional election] behind us, many of us are wondering how to proceed with our preps. With regard to the bullets in the "Three B's" consider this; your firearm will function with one magazine, most with even no magazine, but they all require ammunition. As a prep (as opposed to investment), I put forth that a good supply of ammunition is a higher priority than spare magazines, after purchasing the firearm, of course! In selecting a firearms battery, ammunition availability is a common selection criteria. You should own firearms that ammunition can be purchased readily at any country store in the middle of nowhere. Good choices are .308,.223, .30-06, 12 gauge, 9mm, .45 ACP, .40 S&W, .22 LR, and possibly 7.62x39. A post-November 4th trip to our local Wal-Mart found them cleaned out of the Federal brand 100 round white boxes of both .223 and 9mm.

Esoteric calibers should play only a limited role in the defensive battery and be supported by more common calibers. A couple of notable exceptions are .50 BMG, and .338 Lapua Magnum. These calibers are in limited use by various military units for very-long range engagement of medium and hard targets. If you own weapons chambered in these cartridges then be sure to obtain a large supply ASAP. These weapons can be very useful for special purposes, and typically represent large financial investments, but are useless without ammunition. If ammunition is hard to find now, it will only be more difficult and expensive later. From that point consider purchasing a quantity of ammunition, in each caliber, that you maintain a commitment to not to use any of it. It's reasonable to start with calibers that you or your group have the most firearms for, and work down from there. After reserves in each caliber are built up, purchase ammunition for training, target practice, or barter, using the same (most guns to least guns) philosophy. Some people may choose to start with rifle ammunition and work towards pistol ammo. As my favorite Front Sight instructor says, "Your pistol is only to fight your way to a rifle!" A thousand rounds in backstock, of each caliber, is a good place to start (case lots are psychologically harder for me to break open). One needs only to hear of the purported attempt to ban imports of 7.62x39, or the ammunition "registration" bill being pushed in Arizona to realize that there are many magazines, etc. available on the market, but ammunition is a one-time use product. Bans, taxes, or "registration" of loaded ammunition, or components would eventually make gun control a moot point! So stock up now.

With regard to the band-aids in the "Three B's", on another blog I happened onto a discussion of first aid kit components. The pre-hospital care giver was advocating obtaining all sorts of advanced tools like IV fluid and sutures. As Josh (hat-tip to my fellow Montanan) pointed in an earlier SurvivalBlog letter ,there are many training, and medical-legal issues with having/using this type of equipment. And as many sources like Ragnar Benson, and Where There is No Doctor point out, these interventions have only a limited role in all but a full of TEOTWAWKI situation. One excellent product that everyone should have in their medical bag that requires no prescription or specific training is a hemostatic agent like Quickclot. Here is a YouTube link to the military report on Quickclot (one specific brand, there are other good ones also) should demonstrate it's effectiveness. The 6th edition of the NAEMT's Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) textbook identifies hemostatic agents as most useful in a "delayed transport" scenario, that is, typically greater than one hour to definitive medical care, like what you would find in a wilderness or"grid down" type emergency.

Having the equipment without the proficient skill in its use is exactly like having a firearm in the nightstand and thinking you are good to go. Here are some ideas on medical training in addition to the WRSA, and Medical Corps suggestions that you've made. Start out with an American Heart Association (AHA) CPR Healthcare Provider class (Healthcare Provider is the prerequisite for most other training, and much more detailed than the AHA's Friends and Family CPR class.) The AHA offers other basic medical training as well. Many community colleges offer excellent Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) classes, they last about one semester, and may equal up to four college credits). If you are currently enrolled in college this is a great class that offers immediate job opportunities with varied schedules, and may expose you to a career track that you hadn't considered. Many volunteer fire and ambulance services provide this same training for free with a time commitment to the service after course completion.

Wilderness Medical Associates, and NOLS offer a variety of non-urban setting EMS classes. One of the best educational opportunities that is often overlooked is the National Ski Patrol's Outdoor Emergency Care Technician program. It closely mirrors the EMT curriculum but emphasizes care in the outdoor setting, and improvisation. Think about this; take the class, learn important skills, and then ski for free! Lastly, as Ragnar Benson points out in some of his books, even doctors use reference materials. In addition to the well known titles like Emergency War Surgery, and Where There is No Doctor, some people may consider purchasing EMT, Paramedic, or the OEC textbook. Gray's Anatomy or other texts on anatomy/physiology, and pathophysiology are also important references . The key is not just to have the texts, but to learn them as well. Some people may try a self-study program of these resources. This last route is the least desirable, because so many skills like assessment, splinting, etc. require significant practice and experience. As a side note, the first aid kit in your latest auction from Cajun Safety and Survival certainly seems to be well equipped to deal with a variety of emergencies.

Thanks for all you do. Keep up the great work. - J. in Montana (A 10 Cent Challenge subscriber)

Letter Re: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Retreat Locale

Jim,
I've been following the letters about living in Michigan;'s Upper Peninsula (UP) with interest. For those that aren't familiar with Michigan geography, there are two peninsulas. For the most part, most consider Michigan the 'mitten' [landmass], and that's all. The rest forget that there is still more to the state, and that's okay with me! The UP is 1/3 the land mass of the state, with only 1% of the total population. There are more people in Detroit, than there are in all of the UP. another very nice statistic!

Personally, I was born and raised in Detroit (please don't hold that against me), moved to the outer 'burbs for several years, and moved to the UP 14 years ago. I will never go back. Never. Here, the water is clean (I get my drinking water from a free-flowing artesian well, with no filtering whatsoever), the air is clean and the crime is minimal. There is so little air pollution that on a moonless night (preferably in August) you can sit on any number of beaches along Lake Superior, and see the curvature of the distinct edge of the Milky Way galaxy. The stars are uncountable. Many find upon moving here that their respiratory allergies disappear--discovering that they were allergic to the smog of the cities.

Sounds like heaven? it is. Are there drawbacks? of course, but there are downsides to every location. I feel the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. I might have to drive 30 miles to get to a sizeable town to shop, but along the way, I might see deer, coyote, and an occasional other vehicle :) When I do go to town, I will shop extensively for my preps, and then not drive that direction again, sometimes for weeks.

Five years ago I purchased my current retreat. Ten acres that backs up to hundreds of acres of logging land, large parcels on either side of me. I have a small house, barn, two wells and a creek. I paid $45,000 for it. Cash. My taxes every year are just $750, in total. I'm off the main road (those prices are higher), but my road still gets plowed if there's over 6" of snowfall. It's incredibly private, the neighbors know each other, but don't interfere with anything. I even set up my own shooting range, no one cares. Some of the best fishing is within a ten minute drive, and the hunting is great.

One other letter mentioned the bugs. Yep, they sure are annoying. Ticks, blackflies, mosquitoes, beach flies, they all bite. Fox, raccoon, pine marten, fishers, even coyotes will get into the chickens. So I take precautions, what's the big deal? Some of these nuisances are what keeps the riffraff away! They don't want to deal with them. they're soft, pampered, and want everything either handed to them or ready for them to take. The UP is not for the soft or pampered--at least not the woods of the UP, where I live.

It's said that there really are four seasons here:" June, July, August and Winter." Spring is typically two weeks of meltdown followed by two weeks of mud, then it's summer. And those summers can be glorious! With the exception of this past year, we have consistently hit over 100 degrees in late July. Great for the gardens, because, yes, the growing season is short, so I adjust what I grow to fit that. Fall is breathtaking!

The worst winter I've experienced, was in 2002, where in the woods, I got thirty feet of snow. It was the only time that I had 6 feet of snow on the ground at one time. It was a tough winter, but, I never had to worry about those 'roving hordes' trying to take my supplies! They couldn't get there! and I think that's one of the biggest draws of the UP: It's lack of accessibility, it's anonymity, and it's isolation. - Deborah in the UP

Letter Re: Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

Hi.
The Chinese say that if proficiency is desired a skill must be repeated "10,000 times." Well, if you don your concealment rig and practice weapon presentation and dry firing 30 times, every day, you will have done it over 10,000 times in just one year. Repetition builds muscle memory and with muscle memory comes speed. Speed is not a matter of quick reflexes. It comes from eliminating extraneous motion. It doesn't matter how "fast" you practice. If done right, every time, even in slow motion, when needed in reality you will be amazed at the effortless speed that results. My twenty bucks (two cents ---adjusted for inflation) worth. - Doug R.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Michael G. sent this great link: The The King of Scrounge and His Castle

   o o o

Erik mentioned that US military personnel with proper identification can shop at Sam’s Club without a membership for two days in December. The company will also waive its 10 percent non-member service fee. The military open houses will be held Monday, Dec. 1 and Monday, Dec. 15 at 598 Sam’s Club locations in the U.S., during regular club hours. This is a good opportunity to stock up! BTW, if you need to know exactly what food products, hygiene items and sundries to buy at a "Big Box" store and details on their shelf lives, then study my "Rawles Gets You Ready" preparedness course.

   o o o

Eric also this: 30 reasons for Great Depression II by 2011

   o o o

Doc Gary sent us a tip that Alamo Tactical still has a few MagPul brand "MagLevel" (cartridge counter window) polymer magazines ("PMAGs") for AR-15s still in stock (in just one remaining color--"Foliage Green") for under $18 each. Well, that is until today, when the readers of SurvivalBlog will undoubtedly clean them out.

   o o o

The latest news and commentary from The Economatrix: Dow Falls 430 on Economic Bad News -- Senate Cancels Vote on Doomed Auto Bailout -- Dow Slips Below 8,000 on Growing Fear of Deflation -- Asian Shares Fall as Recession Sets In -- Heading for Recession and the Crime Wave that Goes Along with It --A Sea of Unwanted Auto Imports

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." - Nahum 1:7

FOCA wipes away nation wide restrictions on abortions

The Freedom of Choice Act would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

• Bans on Partial Birth Abortion
• Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion
• Only licensed physicians can perform abortions
• Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter's abortion

It would also erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

Get involved. http://www.fightfoca.com/about/

Not “a shred of evidence” that al-Qaeda suspect Aafia Siddiqui was tortured

The similarities between Aafia Siddiqui and Safia Jilani continue: both appear to be making up stories of suffering, and both are receiving "treatment" for (fictitious?) traumas "suffered." Of course, claiming torture is an old jihadist strategy. And if that doesn't work, you can always insist on wanting to "get on with your life," to get sympathy from infidels.

"Prosecutor: No sign al-Qaida suspect was tortured," from the Associated Press, November 20 (thanks to Jeffrey Imm):

NEW YORK (AP) - A prosecutor says the U.S. government hasn't found a "shred of evidence" that a Pakistani woman accused of trying to kill a U.S. soldier and FBI agents was abducted or tortured in the five years before her arrest.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Raskin said investigators looked for information to support reports that Aafia Siddiqui (ah-FEE'-uh see-DEE'-kee) was detained in 2003 and held for years. He says it was more likely that Siddiqui disappeared in 2003 because she went into hiding after marrying an al-Qaida operative and because she knew 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed.

Raskin says the U.S. was responding to repeated allegations in published reports and found "zero evidence" that Siddiqui was abducted, kidnapped or tortured.

He spoke at a hearing in New York yesterday on a psychologist's conclusion that the 36-year-old Siddiqui is mentally unfit for trial.

Siddiqui is a former Boston-area resident who was educated at MIT and Brandeis University. She's confined to the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth facility after she was brought to the United States in August to face attempted murder and assault charges.

Hindu Groups in India Offering Rewards to Kill Christians

Iran said to have enough nuclear fuel for one weapon

James White vs. Abdullah al-Andalusi: Is the Doctrine of the Trinity Unbelievable?

James White on the Inconsistency of Shabir Ally

Egypt minister: Niqab is not Islamic

Zaqzuq says in his book he will absolutely not allow spread of face veil culture in Egypt.
 

CAIRO - The Egyptian ministry for religious endowments has weighed into the debate on whether a Muslim woman should wear a face veil with a book arguing that it is not Islamic, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

The independent daily Al-Masry al-Yom published extracts of the book, entitled “The veil is a custom, not worship” by Religious Endowments Minister Mahmud Hamdi Zaqzuq, which the ministry will distribute to mosques.
(more…)

Turkey in the Middle

International Islamic organization attempts to criminalize criticism of Islam at the UN

This is a key element of the Stealth Jihad: the attempt to silence those who speak about the ideological underpinnings of jihad terrorism. Most Americans probably aren't aware that there are serious discussions at the UN about criminalizing discussion of the motives and goals of Islamic jihadists, and even fewer probably realize what the implications of this are for the United States and the First Amendment in the coming years.

"The OIC & the UN: Islamophobia and 'defamation of religion,'" by Elizabeth Kendal for the WEA, November 15 (thanks to Paul):

Durban I -- the UN's first World Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance -- which was held in Durban, South Africa, in early September 2001 ended with a walkout over its virulent anti-Semitism. Yet sadly it now seems clear that the Durban Review Conference (or Durban II), which will be held in Geneva in April 2009, is shaping up to be even worse.

As a prelude to Durban II, a Second Preparatory Session of the 20-state Preparatory Committee -- of which Libya has been elected chair with Cuba, Pakistan and Iran as vice-chairs -- was held in Geneva from 6 to 17 October 2008. The resulting "Draft Outcome Document for the Durban Review Conference 2009" is now available on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) website at LINK 1.

It is clear from the draft document, as well as from reports emanating from the subsequent 63rd UN General Assembly meeting held in Geneva during the first week of November, that a central focus of Durban II will be "Islamophobia", which is being presented as "a new form of racism".

Muslims, the draft declaration asserts, are at dire risk of a racial "holocaust" due to "a new form of racism" -- "Islamophobia" -- which is incited through "defamation of Islam".

What race is Islam again?

The draft declaration recommends that local, national and international laws and human rights covenants be reviewed and amended as necessary so that "defamation of Islam" is made a criminal offence, losing the protection it has long enjoyed under the "pretext" of "freedom of expression, counter terrorism or national security". It recommends that legal instruments be established to punish offenders -- that is, those who "defame" Islam by associating it with violence, human rights abuses or terrorism....

I trust, then, that among the first to be prosecuted for "defaming Islam" will be the likes of al-Zawahri, Omar Bakri, Anjem Chaudry, Abu Bakar Bashir, et al.

US airstrike deep inside Pakistan kills six jihadists

Just as Pakistani officials meet with NATO brass to "discuss" these strikes within Pakistan. Friend and Ally Hanging By a Thread Update: "Suspected U.S. Airstrike Kills 6 Fighters in Pakistan," by Candace Rondeaux for the Washington Post, November 20:

KABUL, Nov. 19 -- A suspected U.S. airstrike deep inside Pakistani territory Wednesday killed six insurgent fighters and wounded several others, according to a Pakistani security official.

The airstrike in the district of Bannu in the North-West Frontier Province appears to be the first such attack outside Pakistan's tribal areas. It came as the country's top military officer met with NATO officials in Brussels to discuss the cross-border missile strikes, which have been increasingly frequent in recent months and which the United States considers necessary for combating al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The attacks have stoked tensions in Pakistan and drawn public rebukes from the government.

An unmanned U.S. Predator aircraft fired at least two missiles early Wednesday at a house near North Waziristan, one of seven semiautonomous tribal territories that line Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. A Pakistani security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly said the six who were killed were thought to be foreigners suspected of links to al-Qaeda.

Details about those killed could not be confirmed. A Pakistani military spokesman declined to comment. The United States generally does not acknowledge such attacks and has not issued any public comments on the use of Predator airstrikes on Pakistani soil....

Somalia’s prime minister affirms sharia is law of the land, dodges question on whether stonings would take place under new constitution

He said: "I don't want to anticipate any points on that. This I leave for the constitutional experts engaged in the draft. It will be submitted to the population and they will be the ones deciding."

Here is proof again that "democracy" alone (in the sense of collective decisions made by a head-count) is not a cure-all; the success of a democracy in securing civil liberties and improving the lot of its people depends on the values of its constituents.

"Somalia's prime minister defends government," by Edmund Sanders for the Los Angeles Times, November 19:

Reporting from Nairobi, Kenya -- Islamic insurgents already controlling most of southern Somalia now stand on the outskirts of the nation's capital, Mogadishu. Despite the presence of 20,000 Ethiopian troops for security, President Abdullahi Yusuf has stated that the government could collapse. And suspected Somali pirates repeatedly draw international attention for hijacking ships off the East African coast.

Amid the chaos, Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, part of the United Nations-recognized transitional government formed in 2004, sat down Tuesday with The Times to discuss the troubled Horn of Africa nation.

[...] Are you worried that insurgents might attack Mogadishu?

   Absolutely not. Mogadishu is well protected.

And if you believe that, read on!

[...] Are you prepared to sit down with Shabab leaders or Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, an influential Islamist who has rejected peace talks and whom the U.S. has accused of supporting terrorism?

   Our doors are open for peace and reconciliation. We are not excluding anyone to join us.

What about those people the U.S. considersterrorists or who have pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda?

   Well, terrorists will not join us. The people linked to terrorists are using innocent young people, by offering them money. We have to do our best to attract these young people and create for them a secure environment with jobs and training.

Some would like to see Sharif, who was often called a moderate inside the Islamic alliance that briefly controlled southern Somalia in 2006, become prime minister. Are you prepared to step down?

   I've repeated many times that my position as prime minister is not important. I'm ready to step down when it is in the interest of the country.

Do you think Yusuf should step down?

   Yes, I agree that the president remains the problem of this country. If the transitional institutions are not delivering, it is because of the obstacles our president is creating. Instead of leading us to peace and stability, he wants to keep the country a hostage of the current situation.

Is that why the government has failed to accomplish any of the key benchmarks established under its charter, such as a new constitution, an election commission, election laws and a census? The election is scheduled for next year.

   The constitution draft is almost ready. The process is continuing, but slow because of the crisis.

What role will Islamic law or Sharia play in the new constitution?

   Sharia is very important in Somalia. The Somali people are 100% Muslim and believe normal life is based on Sharia. So our constitution will be based on Sharia law. Any article in the constitution not in line with Sharia law will be null and void.

Actually, if the constitution were to be ratified and adopted, that stipulation would install a ticking time bomb in the document in that any government that is not sufficiently Islamic will be fair game to be overthrown, with the right to govern becoming associated with how strictly sharia is enforced. And that is precisely the situation they are in now.

How strict an interpretation do you envision and how will you balance that with human rights? For example,will a woman accused of adultery be stoned?

   I think there would not be any problem because the constitution respects human rights and Sharia respects human rights.

So would a woman be stoned?

   No, no. I don't want to anticipate any points on that. This I leave for the constitutional experts engaged in the draft. It will be submitted to the population and they will be the ones deciding.

ZAWAHIRI: JIHAD WILL CONTINUE DESPITE OBAMA

(Co-Editor's Note: Walid Phares was interviewed on C-SPAN on November 20 about this tape - watch here.)

As observers were awaiting the release of the "official" al Qaeda position regarding the election of Barack Obama as the new President of the United States, seasoned experts on the Jihadist movement had little doubts as to the substance of the main message. As I have outlined in my appearances on Arabic television channels since November 4, Bin Laden or his second in command was expected to declare that their "Jihad" will continue despite the election of an African American President and despite Obama’s intention to withdraw from Iraq. Ayman Zawahiri did just that on Wednesday in his latest message to his supporters and his enemies: even if the war ends in Iraq, the global war will continue everywhere.

The tape was expected to appear a couple weeks after the election because of al Qaeda's method of monitoring the reactions of the international community, of the Arab and Muslim world and also of other Islamist authorities. The Bin Laden-Zawahiri style is to give the "last word," like a Caliph would. The points raised in the tape were almost all predicted by experts familiar with the Jihadi-combat mind set: Although a new president was elected - one who would reverse some of Bush’s policies, the new president will devise new strategies to defeat al Qaeda.. Zawahiri isn't buying the version proposed by other anti-American critics of Washington's War on Terror. Most of Europe's left, the Arab authoritarian regimes, and the Islamist fundamentalist establishment have all welcomed the news of an Obama victory and are tailoring new proposals for the region's future (of course to their advantage). But not al Qaeda. That's why this Zawahiri message is important. It is telling the world and allies that there will be no respite in the conflict.

The al Qaeda’s number two had to address the election of a Black President of the United States because of the two massive changes this choice has brought to the Jihadist agenda: On the one hand, Obama is very popular in the eyes of international public opinion; on the other hand the President elect is planning on withdrawing from Iraq and pushing forward in Afghanistan. All this changes al Qaeda's game. Zawahiri's tape had to address these "challenges" as pressure was mounting among Jihadists to deal with this election. Hence, the main points presented by the audio message are as follows: