Al-Jazeera interviews
al-Qaida leader

By WND Staff

A top al-Qaida operative told Al-Jazeera television that U.S. intelligence agencies were responsible for the Sept. 11 destruction.

In only the second television interview since Sept. 11 with an al-Qaida leader, translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute, Abu Hafs told Al-Jazeera’s correspondent in Kandahar, Yussef Al-Shuli, that he was overjoyed by the sight of the World Trade Center crumbling.

Hafs’ real name is Mahfouz Walad Al-Walid and is also known as Khaled Al-Shanqiti. He is accused by the FBI of having connections to the bombings of the American embassies in Africa and is on the U.S. list of terrorists and terrorist groups.

“In the U.S., there are [agencies] legally responsible for safeguarding the security of America and the Americans,” Hafs said. “It is they who should be held accountable. The biggest budget of all the intelligence apparatuses in the world is spent on American intelligence. The FBI, with offices everywhere and dozens of other apparatuses, is entrusted with safeguarding America’s security. … Where were these apparatuses when these things occurred?”

Hafs said every American should call the U.S. administration to account “for its oppressing, tyrannical policy that incited those people to do what they did. The intelligence, security, and defense apparatuses should be held accountable for their failure and their inability to deal with these attacks. The heads of these apparatuses must, at the very least, submit their resignations and apologize to the American public — but instead of doing this, instead of acknowledging their responsibility, they blamed others, sought a scapegoat, and found one in Afghanistan.”

Nevertheless, Hafs said he, along with hundreds of millions of Muslims throughout the world, could not contain the joy felt watching the devastation wrought by the crashing commercial airliners Sept. 11.

“Our battle with the Americans has not yet begun,” he added. “We, as a military force, have not yet used the forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the al-Qaida forces, and other forces. Not a single bullet has been fired. We are still waiting for the day the Americans come to fight on land. On that day, the real war with the Americans will begin.”

Hafs claimed to be certain of victory because Allah has promised it.

“In our opinion, America has entered the phase of the beginning of the end,” he said. “America is talking about wanting to uproot terrorism in Afghanistan, but the truth is that those in Afghanistan have succeeded in uprooting America from its fortresses and bases and have dragged it, humiliated and shame-faced, to Afghanistan, where their hands, bayonets, and weapons can reach her.”

Hafs said al-Qaida sees Palestine as the most important Islamic issue in the world and war with America as the highest calling.

“One of the acts of grace of this generation was to kill the Americans, to incite to this killing, to fight in the Jihad against them with full force,” he said. “I and my brothers in the al-Qaida organization, and in other organizations, swore an oath to carry out the mission. We obey Allah and one of the most binding commandments of our generation is Jihad and fighting the Americans. All resources should be marshaled to this end. Perhaps this is the reason.”

As to the issue of weapons of mass destruction, Hafs said al-Qaida is lying in wait for America to employ any unconventional weapon first.

“If such a weapon is at al-Qaida’s disposal, then it is a deterrent weapon, and not for initiating an action,” Hafs said. “Let the Americans fear the worst possible scenario when they use any unconventional weapons. We are lying in wait for them, Allah willing.”