Al-Zawahri taunts Bush

last updated 8 January 2015

Afghan-Pakistan border region

Al Qaida’s second in command, Ayman al-Zawahri, appeared on a new videotape this week mocking President Bush’s recent attempt to kill him. Three weeks ago, U.S. missiles struck a site in eastern Pakistan where al-Zawahri was rumored to be, but they missed him, and 18 civilians reportedly died. “Bush, do you know where I am?” al-Zawahri said in the tape, aired on Al-Jazeera. “I am among the Muslim masses, enjoying God’s blessing of their support, care, generosity, and protection.” He called Bush a “butcher” and a “failure.” U.S. experts said they were surprised that a tape referring to the attack could be produced so quickly and professionally. “This was not done in some cave,” one official said.