Al-Qaida's 'final' warning

Something different about al-Zawahiri's videotape message

There was something different about al-Qaida's videotape communique delivered by Osama bin Laden's No. 2 man, Ayman al-Zawahiri, say intelligence analysts and terrorism experts.

"What you have seen in New York, Washington and Afghanistan, are only the initial losses," he said, referring to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States for which al Qaeda claimed responsibility. "If you continue the same hostile policies you will see something that will make you forget the horrors you have seen in Vietnam."

Though it is not unusual for al-Qaida statements to suggest attacks more fearsome than 9-11 are coming, the reference to Vietnam suggests bin Laden and al-Zawahiri believe they can either wear down the U.S. in a protracted conflict in Iraq or demoralize the U.S. public with a continuing barrage of terrorist attacks.

But the next sentence contained a word, omitted in some Western translations of the speech, not seen or heard in previous al-Qaida messages.

"Our message to you is clear, strong and final: There will be no salvation until you withdraw from our land, stop stealing our oil and resources and end support for infidel, corrupt (Arab) rulers," he said.