A story that won't be on CNN this morning

UPDATE: The AP originally reported that this letter was new. It now appears that it is a new translation of an older letter, written about eight months ago.

It is still worth a look, though.

Iraq Holy War in Danger

CAIRO, Egypt - A leader of militants in Iraq (news - web sites) has purportedly written to Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) saying his fighters are being squeezed by U.S.-led coalition troops, according to a statement posted Monday on Islamic Web sites.

It was not possible to authenticate the statement allegedly from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian whose insurgent group claimed responsibility for the videotaped beheading of American Nicholas Berg.

Titled "The text of al-Zarqawi's message to Osama bin Laden about holy war in Iraq," the statement appeared on Web sites that have recently carried claims of responsibility for attacks in Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

"The space of movement is starting to get smaller," it said. "The grip is starting to be tightened on the holy warriors' necks and, with the spread of soldiers and police, the future is becoming frightening."

Yes, it is.

Zarqawi sees with clarity something that liberals cannot discern: the free and open exchange of ideas is toxic to the militant Islamic idea of Jihad.

The important question is this: is the Arab world - with its biases, suspicions and ancient loyalties - toxic to the free and open exchange of ideas?

- posted by total @ 6/15/2004 04:52:00 AM .