Ayman al-Zawahri's Islam and American Culture: Common Ground, Almost

Another message from Al Qaeda: Ayman al-Zawahri released another video today. Part of it, at least, seems aimed at Americans. The bottom line is pretty much the same as always: convert or perish.

That's a familiar offer. Considering what the loudest Islamic voices have been saying - and doing - it's very easy to assume that Islam offers non-Muslims a choice:

• Convert to Islam
• Pay taxes to Muslims if you're a Jew or Christian
• Die

Rather broad-minded of them, in a way, acknowledging the other children and foster-children of Abraham.

Not quite the way the rest of us do things, though.

Ayman al-Zawahri had more to say, of course, including:

1. America will fail in Iraq
2. Those pesky Iraqi Awakening Councils won't be accepted
   1. They're Sunni, Iraq's Shiite
3. The economic crisis is America's fault, for
   1. Being greedy
   2. "Wading in Muslim blood"
   3. Wasting money on war
4. Al Qaeda doesn't kill innocent civilians
   1. That's western propaganda
5. Americans should "embrace Islam" and live a life free of
   1. Greed
   2. Exploitation
   3. Forbidden wealth

Today's Message From Al Qaeda: Haven't We Heard This Before?

If that sounds familiar, it should. It's pretty much what al-Zawahri and others like him have said before.

If you're around my age, and think you heard pronouncements like al Zawahri's before 9/11: you're probably remembering your college years. Actually, judging from what comes out of places like Berkeley, anyone who's passed through the halls of ivy may find this familiar:

• 1. America will fail (except maybe in civil rights and related movements)
• 3. a. & c.Things are America's fault, for being greedy and wasting money on war
• 5. Americans should reject greed, exploitation, and forbidden wealth

There are differences, of course: Zawahri, being a sort of ultra-Muslim, probably doesn't approve of hooch (I haven't confirmed that, though). In American culture, it's some of the super-conservative Protestant groups that regard drinking alcohol as a terrible sin, while booze is a rather central part of most American college campuses.

Except for that implied false note, though, I'd say that al Zawahri's message is in line with much of what's been said by American academia's best and brightest ¹ over the last few decades. Just the same, if Al Qaeda succeeded in converting America, I doubt that they would tolerate having another group telling people what to think and believe.

In the news:

• "9 die in attack in Shiite mosque"
  CNN (November 28, 2008)
• "Al-Qaida No. 2 to US: Overcome meltdown with Islam"
  Associated Press (November 28, 2008)
• "Qaeda says U.S. wars behind financial crisis"
  Reuters (November 28, 2008)
• "TIMELINE-Messages attributed to al Qaeda's Zawahri"
  Reuters (November 28, 2008)
• "Would-be suicide bombers surrender in Iraq"
  CNN (November 26, 20008)
• "Al Qaeda leader mocks Obama in Web posting"
  CNN (November 19, 2008)
• "Al Qaeda's No. 2 says end of West imminent, video shows"
  CNN (July 5, 2007)
• "Muslims urged to make West 'bleed for years' "
  CNN (March 6, 2006)
  (Western countries have been "stealing" Mideast oil - who knew?)

Related posts, on censorship, propaganda, and freedom of speech.

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¹If you're not sure whether the liberal intellectuals are the best and brightest of all: just ask them.