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Al-Qaeda Boss Calls Obama 'House Negro'

Audio message aimed at faithful who might be weakening

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 19, 2008 9:19 AM CST

(AP) – Seeking to persuade Muslims and Arabs that Barack Obama does not represent a change in US policies, al-Qaeda's No. 2 calls the president-elect, along with Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, “house negroes” in a message on militant websites today. In the audio tape, Ayman al-Zawahri calls Obama “the direct opposite of honorable black Americans” like Malcolm X.

Speaking in Arabic, al-Zawahri uses the term “abeed al-beit,” which literally translates as “house slaves.” But al-Qaeda supplied English subtitles of his speech that included the translation as “house negroes.” The message also includes footage of Malcolm X in which he explains the term, saying black slaves who worked in their white masters’ house were more servile than those who worked in the fields.

Al-Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri speaks in a video in this file photo.
Al-Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri speaks in a video in this file photo.   (AP Photo)
This file image made from videotape posted on the Internet on Dec. 7, 2005, shows al-Qaeda's deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahri.
This file image made from videotape posted on the Internet on Dec. 7, 2005, shows al-Qaeda's deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahri.   (AP Photo)
This is an image from video made available by IntelCenter, May 5, 2007 showing Ayman al-Zawahri, Osama bin Laden's deputy.
This is an image from video made available by IntelCenter, May 5, 2007 showing Ayman al-Zawahri, Osama bin Laden's deputy.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Guest
Nov 19, 2008 4:27 AM CST
The saddest thing about this movement is their commitment to violence, they cant see any other way. They actually could be a powerful peace movement, if they werent so blind. Notice they favor Malcolm X over MLK
Twemlow
Nov 18, 2008 11:37 PM CST
It's just the sort of trash talk you'd expect from people who live in caves.
Guest
Nov 18, 2008 9:46 PM CST
Maybe now the conservatives will see that terrorists don't want to pal around with Obama, even if he shares their Muslim names.

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