Via Telegraph:
Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Al-Qaeda leader, has called on followers to commit attacks inside the US to “bleed America economically”, in a speech marking the anniversary of the 9/11 strikes.
In an audio message released yesterday, Zawahiri laid out a plan of attack, saying he wanted a “few of the brothers” to commit small-scale strikes to trigger big spending by Washington on security, while awaiting the opportunity for a major onsalught later.
“We should bleed America economically by provoking it to continue in its massive expenditure on its security, for the weak point of America is its economy, which has already begun to stagger due to the military and security expenditure,” he said.
Keeping America in such a state of tension and anticipation only required a few disparate attacks “here and there”.
Zawahri spoke approvingly of one of the worst attacks on US soil since Sept. 11, 2001, the bombing of the Boston Marathon in April, which U.S. authorities say was carried out by two ethnic Chechen Muslim brothers. The attack killed three people and injured 264.
Zawahri sought to paint the bombing as part of al Qaeda’s violent transnational campaign of jihad or holy war against U.S. interests, even if it was relatively small-scale.
“The Boston incident confirms to the Americans … that they are not facing individuals, organizations or groups, but they are facing an uprising Ummah (Muslim community), that rose in jihad to defend its soul, dignity and capabilities.”