New Zawahiri Videotape

And while we're waiting for the outcome of the cloture vote (still in progress), there's that new Zawahiri videotape, broadcasted by Al-Jazeera today.

Walid Phares has a translation and analysis. The lede:

The new Zawahiri videotape released by al Jazeera today shows a sophistication in the propaganda war waged by the Jihadists worldwide against the US and its allies. Designed to "crumble" the morale of the American public and "boost" the commitments of the Jihadi forces, the tape is another attempt to score points in the War of ideas and media. The results were immediate in the West. The Associated Press immediate leads were stunning: 1) Zawahiri proves he wasn't killed by the US strike, therefore he scored one point against the US. 2) He labeled his enemy, the US President, as "butcher of Washington," hence attempting to rally the widest anti-American axis as possible AP lead. But the tape is not just that, another message from the number two in al Qaida. It is a very well orchestrated political offensive aimed at the nervous centers of the "enemy's public. A shot that may preceed action or asking for it.

Interesting reading, to say the least. Al Qaeda knows information warfare. They see our strings and are very adept at pulling them. Too bad the Western media plays along.