Al Qaida in Iraq released a video of an Iraqi who was executed by the group today. Supposedly this man was "working for the Crusaders." The man, identified by papers the group showed, is Mahmud Alwan Hussein. Hussein was in an association of Iraqi contractors according to the papers.

The AFP says this is in direct contrast to the captured letter from Ayman al-Zawahiri to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi made public last week. This is not the case though. Zawahiri defended executions, but said it was the method in which Al Qaida in Iraq has carried out these executions that is offensive and damaging to their effort. Zawahiri even said shooting a hostage is better than beheading them, a practice in which Al Qaida in Iraq has done several times over the years.

Does this then signal that despite the fact Al Qaida in Iraq has declared the letter from Zawahiri as a fake that it is heeding its advice? In the game of point and counterpoint which is the propoganda weapon of Al Qaida, it only makes sense that AQ in Iraq would deny the legitimacy of the letter because it clearly stated AQ as a whole is in trouble. Why though would AQ in Iraq change from beheadings to executions by gun after this letter was revealed but not before if the letter and the urgings by Zawahiri were not accurate?

Infovlad has the video if you so choose to see it. It is the October 18 entry.

Posted by: Chad at 03:48 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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