February 14, 2007, Islamist websites posted the transcript of Ayman Al-Zawihiri's audio speech summarizing the events of the Muslim year 1427 under the title "Tremendous Lessons and Events in the Year 1427 AH." In addition to the Arabic transcript, an English transcript produced by Al-Qaeda's "Al-Sahab" media group was provided.
In the tape Al-Zawahiri stated that in the coming year Bush will be forced to admit his failure in Iraq and that the Taliban will intensify its jihad in Afghanistan. He characterized the U.S.'s "collaborators" in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Muslim countries as traitors and "merchants of religion," whereas the Jihad fighters are those who defeated the Americans and acted to bring glory to Islam. Al-Zawahiri called on Arab nationalists and secularists to return to Islam and to join the jihad for the sake of Allah against "the cruelest Crusade in history," and said that "fighting for the sake of Allah and bearing arms are today a personal obligation [incumbent on every Muslim] and those who cannot bear arms themselves must aid those who bear arms."
Al-Zawahiri blessed the jihad fighters in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, and encouraged the mujahideen all over the world – in Lebanon, the PA, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Chechnya, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Kashmir –not to lay down their arms and to remain steadfast, since victory is near. Finally, Al-Zawahiri thanks those who work in the Islamic jihadist media for "their blessed efforts, which cause the Crusaders, the Zionists, and their helpers to lose sleep."
