Reports indicate merger between terrorist groups

WASHINGTON Dec 28: Exiled Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect behind the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, speaks in this 1998 file photo at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan. In an audiotape broadcast Monday, Dec. 27, 2004 by Al-Jazeera satellite television, a man purported to be Osama bin Laden endorsed Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi as his deputy in Iraq and called for a boycott of next month’s elections there.

Terrorism experts say an audiotape purportedly from Osama bin Laden suggests the al-Qaida chief has accepted Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi’s offer to unite the world’s most famous terror group and the bloodiest insurgency inside Iraq.

The former C-I-A counter-terrorism chief, Vince Cannistraro, says this alliance would benefit al-Zarqawi the most. He says it would give the notorious leader of the bloody Iraqi insurgency more financial and logistical support. But, while bin Laden would benefit from joining with the Jordanian fighter, it would also make him a more vocal enemy of Shiite Muslims. Bin Laden is a Sunni Muslim. Another expert, Roger Cressey, who served in the White House counter-terrorism office, says the alliance helps bin Laden reach “fence sitters” Muslims who are sympathetic but haven’t endorsed Al Qaida.

Hoffman, whose company is known for its problem-solving research, agreed that both men benefit from the alliance.”I think bin Laden wants to leverage off of Zarqawi’s cachet and popularity amongst radial jihadists,” he said. “Zarqawi realizes that his association with al-Qaida and bin Laden - perhaps not in tangible terms in the fighting in Iraq - but in terms of support and assistance can pay vast dividends.”

The speaker on the tape said, “In the balance of Islam, this constitution is infidel and therefore everyone who participates in this election will be considered infidels. Beware of henchmen who speak in the name of Islamic parties and groups who urge people to participate in this blatant apostasy.”