Al-Qaida No. 2 taunts Bush in new videotape

CAIRO, Egypt -- Al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri said in a videotape aired Monday that President Bush was a "butcher" and a "failure" because of a deadly U.S. air strike in Pakistan targeting the bin Laden deputy, and he threatened a new attack on the United States.\nAl-Zawahri, shown in the video wearing white robes and a white turban, said a Jan. 13 air strike in the eastern village of Damadola killed "innocents," and he said the United States had ignored an offer from al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden for a truce.\n"Butcher of Washington, you are not only defeated and a liar, but also a failure. You are a curse on your own nation and you have brought and will bring them only catastrophes and tragedies," he said, referring to Bush. "Bush, do you know where I am? I am among the Muslim masses."\nThe air strike hit a building in Damadola, where U.S. intelligence believed al-Zawahri had been attending an Islamic holiday dinner. The strike killed four al-Qaida leaders -- including a man believed to be al-Zawahri's son-in-law -- but intelligence officials said later they believe al-Zawahri sent his aides to the dinner in his place.\nThirteen villagers also were killed in the strike, angering many Pakistanis.\n"The American planes raided in compliance with Musharraf the traitor and his security apparatus, the slave of the Crusaders and the Jews," al-Zawarhi said, referring to Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.\n"In seeking to kill my humble self and four of my brothers, the whole world has discovered the extent of America's lies and failures and the extent of its savagery in fighting Islam and Muslims."\nThe video was al-Zawahri's first appearance since the air strike and came 11 days after the latest audiotape by bin Laden. IntelCenter, a contractor working with U.S. intelligence agencies, said the video of al-Zawahri is new.\nThe last video from al-Zawahri came Jan. 6, when he called the U.S. decision to withdraw some troops from Iraq a victory for the Islamic world.\nAn Al-Jazeera newscaster said Monday the network was airing excerpts, and it showed two short segments. It was not immediately known how long the entire tape was.\nIn the video, al-Zawahri spoke before a black background. No automatic weapon was visible, unlike in past videos by the al-Qaida deputy in which a gun often appeared leaning next to him. In the bottom left corner, the video had the logo in Arabic and English of Al-Sahab, an al-Qaida video production company that made some past videos by bin Laden and al-Zawahri.\n"My second message is to the American people, who are drowning in illusions. I tell you that Bush and his gang are shedding your blood and wasting your money in frustrated adventures," he said.\n"The lion of Islam, Sheik Osama bin Laden, may God protect him, offered you a decent exit from your dilemma. But your leaders, who are keen to accumulate wealth, insist on throwing you in battles and killing your souls in Iraq and Afghanistan and -- God willing -- on your own land."\nAl-Zawahri then vented more fury at the United States and Britain, its main coalition partner in Iraq.\n"Your leaders responded to the initiative of Sheik Osama, may God protect him, by saying they don't negotiate with terrorists and that they are winning the War on Terror. I tell them: You liars, greedy war mongers, who is pulling out from Iraq and Afghanistan? Us or you? Whose soldiers are committing suicide because of despair? Us or you?" he said.\n"You, American mother, if the Pentagon calls to tell you that your son is coming home in a coffin, then remember George Bush. And you, British wife, if the Defense Department calls you to say that your husband is returning crippled and burnt, remember Tony Blair"