Abu-Muhammad al-Ablaj, al-Qa'ida official in charge of training, has reported in a new electronic message to Al-Majallah correspondent in Dubai, Mahmud Khalil, that the difficult stage has passed and that the stage of shock, meaning the start of the war in Afghanistan, is over. He added that they are now going through the stage of preparation, close examination, and filtration [al-tanqiyah] throughout the nation.

Al-Ablaj noted that Bin Ladin believes that Iraq's hypocrites who have supported the United States by fighting with the Americans or providing bases, administrative backing, or any other types of support and assistance, even if verbal only, to kill Muslims in Iraq must realize that they are apostates who have dropped out of religion and that their blood and property are free to target.

Preparation

Once again, he criticized the Americans, and those who cooperate with them, adding that they wish to squeeze the nation even further until it cannot breathe anymore and until one thinks it's almost dead.

Al-Ablaj pointed out that the Americans want a misfit religion, a "modern Islam" [last two words published in English and transliterated in Arabic], and a Turkish model, as Bush says. They are calling for an end to terrorism and the killing of innocent people. They are now going through a state of fogginess and uncertainty, unable to decide which side the need to be on. He who God has misguided will never find his way.

Al-Ablaj added: It's true that this is the situation that we want. The Americans are spending whatever is in their pockets to find out how Bin Ladin is thinking, planning, and dealing with the events, the time, and the place. They also want to know what he is hiding and whether the war with him will be short or long. This is a major secret.

The Media Snake

Al-Ablaj continued: The enemies will not drag us to what they want, no matter how hard they try and how much they provoke us and inflate and exaggerate things in their media. We will follow our plan and we will drag them. We will let them say what we want. When the corrupt media reaches the peak of its tyranny and lies, surprises will emerge, as you have come to expect from us. Abu-Abdallah (Bin Ladin) is following up the course of events day by day. He follows hears of those US acts of heroism and showoff and smiles.

Al-Ablaj added: Abu-Abdallah wants to deal a crushing blow to the head of the media snake that is running the world media based on US interests and desire. This should not be new to you as a media person. The blood of journalists is still damp as a result of being bombarded by the US Apaches in Iraq to hide the truth.

He added: People want to see one incident after another and one strike after another, and we give them an excuse for this sometimes. However, our plan does not follow their desire. Whether or not we have the upper hand, nothing will change in our plan. Abu-Muhammad al-Ablaj also answered some questions put forward to him by Al-Majallah correspondent on some current issues.

[Khalil] You mentioned that Abu-Abdallah wants to deal a crushing blow to the head of the media snake that is running the world media based on the US desire and interests. Does this mean that it is part of your plan to target the world media institutions?

[Al-Ablaj] My dear brother: The blow here means making them fail and burning all their cards. In other words, let them make statements and lie. Our operations will reveal their lies; that is, expose their vulnerability and falsehood. As regards the journalists who spy for the United States, be they Jews or Americans, they are also targets.

HAMAS Knows Better

[Khalil] What is your assessment of the Sharm al-Shaykh and Al-Aqabah summits? And what about the US threats made by the US President to combat HAMAS? Do you support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state?

[Al-Ablaj] Brother: HAMAS is in a better position to judge its situation and to run its affairs. We not only support the establishment of a Palestinian state but also back the liberation of all of Palestine from the filth of the Jews. All that the Jews have built in Palestine will, God willing, be a booty for our Palestinian people, including Haifa, Yafo, Sidon, Ashqelon, and all these places.

In response to a question if priority is being given to striking at Islamic states rather than the United States in view of the strict security measures adopted by the latter, Al-Ablaj said:

As regards giving priority to striking these states than to striking America, the answer is no. The strikes against America have their time. Crushing and devastating strikes against America will come at the suitable time. In other words, after wearing it out with injuries our strike must be a knockout. This is how a strike ought to be.

As I mentioned earlier, the wings, meaning the wings of the US eagle, must be clipped, and this is the name of the current stage. This stage will be followed by the stage of cutting off the veins. The last stage will be the stage of slaughtering according to the Islamic method, and it will be a major surprise for the entire nation.

Internal Differences

[Khalil] Does this mean there are differences within your organization between a current that calls for focusing on striking at the United States and another current that calls for striking at the Arab states that are allied with America?

[Al-Ablaj] Dear brother: The Arab states will not witness harm or aggression; only the US and Israeli targets and those who protect these colonialist interests [will be targeted]

Let me emphasize here that there are no differences, disputes, or anything of the sort. The organization is under the command of leader Abu-Abdallah. As I mentioned earlier to you, we are talking about several fronts and about the clipping of wings, but all of this serves the interests of the world Islamic jihad.

Iran and the Negotiations

[Khalil] What is your comment on reports that Iran has detained the organization's official spokesman? Are any of your detainees in Iraq senior officials?

[Al-Ablaj] Dear brother: The question of Iran is not ready for negotiation yet. The issue is too big to talk about it in a marginal way in the media. Yes, there are pressure cards on Iran, but let Iran find out where its interest is and, God willing, this issue will prove to be a headache for America and dissipate its diplomatic efforts. The Iranians are Muslims and America is an infidel and Crusade state that is trying to undermine the regime in Iran. The issue is a lot bigger than the arrest of a few individuals from the jihad youths. It's a long story, my brother.

A New Strike

[Khalil] What about the major strike that you have been saying for long that you are planning to carry out against America?

[Al-Ablaj] I swear to you, my brother, that the strike is coming. As I said earlier, you don't use the winning card at anytime. The strike must be well prepared. This means that it must be timed to occur when the giant starts staggering in his blood. At that time, he is ready for the fatal strike.

New Weapons

[Khalil] Are you in the organization prepared to cooperate with Saddam in what is being attributed to him at present in terms of preparations to fight America? And have the secrets of Iraqi weapons industry been leaked to you through members of the former regime, particularly since you said that they reached at no price? And are Saddam's supporters in Iraq trying to contact you to coordinate the resistance against America? And do you have more lethal and effective weapons than the ones you talked about, and if they are available are you planning to use them in your future operations?

[Al-Ablaj] Saddam's current situation is reassuring and there is coordination and cooperation among all the resistance factions in Iraq. We have an independent brigade. As regards the more lethal weapons, you can rest assured. We will certainly use them in our future operations. Woe to the west from the approaching danger. Woe to those who set foot in our territory.

[Khalil] Did you have anything to do with plane that hit a Jewish building in Los Angeles or was it an accident?

[Al-Ablaj] I have no knowledge of this because of my position. However, we have supporters everywhere and those who sympathize with us are even more.

[Khalil] Is it possible for you to target the US President and is it part of your plan to target senior US officials?

[Al-Ablaj] Brother: They have received advance fortifications [as published]. The truth is that I do not wish that Bush would be killed. I wish he would live to die a thousand times as he sees America collapses in front of his eyes. We want to kill him a thousand times every hour. We want the Americans to hang him and leave him dangling from their Statue of Liberty for being responsible for the destruction of their alleged civilization.

[Description of Source: London Al-Majallah in Arabic—London-based Saudi-owned weekly; sister magazine of Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper providing independent coverage of Arab and international issues]