Al Qaeda answers your questions online

Extracts from the transcript

Zawahiri appealed to the world to send him their queries last December. He posted his responses on various online forums in a ninety minute audio recording.

I sought guidance from Allah and chose from them 90 questions

I hope that those who sent in their questions have not become upset by the passing of some time between the posing of the questions and the giving of the answers. Allah knows that I did my best to make the answers come close after the questions, but there are circumstances which impose themselves, including - for example - the insistence of the brothers in charge of security that certain procedures be followed in communication.

I found that the brothers honored me with a flood of questions which cannot possibly be replied to in their entirety. So I sought guidance from Allah and chose from them 90 questions (...) And the listener or the reader will notice that I have given more room to the opposing questions, despite them being less than the supporting questions, and that is in order to encourage the opponents to bring their objections to light.

We don't kill innocents

...we don't kill innocents: in fact, we fight those who kill innocents. Those who kill innocents are the Americans, the Jews, the Russians and the French and their agents.

...about my being a sonic phenomenon

Muhammad Sameer asked me the following question: "Don't you agree with me that the frequency of your appearances on the satellite channels confirms what Doctor Fadl said about you: that you are no more than an [sic] sonic phenomenon who loves to show off and be famous, or so the doctor claimed?"

I tell the noble brother: leave my intention alone, because only Allah knows it, and look at my words, and if you find in them goodness, then follow it, and if you find in it something else, then explain it and advise me.

Egypt: this corrupt, rotten regime cannot possibly continue

About Egypt: As for the police-state nature of the state and the severity of the repression, it might delay change, but it can't prevent it. Change is coming - with Allah's permission - without a doubt, for this corrupt, rotten regime cannot possibly continue, and the Communist empire in Russia and its colonies and allies collapsed despite its police-state nature and repression the like of which history has never seen, because the ways of history sentenced it to death. The important thing is getting ready for change and being patient in that and preparing to accept sacrifices, then making use of the opportunities.

The possibility of America striking Iran is a real possibility

The dispute between America and Iran is a real dispute based on the struggle over areas of influence, and the possibility of America striking Iran is a real possibility. As for what might happen in the region, I can only say that major changes will occur in the region, and the situation will be in the interest of the Mujahideen if the war saps both of them. If, however, one of them emerges victorious, its influence will intensify and fierce battles will begin between it and the Mujahideen (...).

There is no doubt that the American collapse has begun

There is no doubt that the American collapse has begun, and the myth of unipolarity has ended. And the raids on New York and Washington were identifying marks of this collapse, but I point out that the collapse of empires doesn't come in a single moment, but rather, may take decades, and the collapse of the Soviet Union is the nearest example of that.

Usama bin Laden is healthy and well

Shaykh Usama bin Laden is healthy and well, by the grace of Allah. The prejudiced ones always try to spread false information about him being ill, but even if Usama bin Ladin doesn't become ill, he must die one day, whereas Allah's religion will remain until Allah inherits the earth and everything on it.