New Video, Same Old Story

Convert/submit or die. We've been hearing about this for quite some time from al Qaeda's minions, whether it's Zawahiri, Zarqawi, or Osama himself. Their minions around the world take hostages and threaten them to convert or die. Stop defending yourself and your way of life, or face the consequences. That's the choice presented to Olaf Wiig and Steve Centanni, and they chose to convert. They were released shortly after the conversion.

It's the message that Ahamdinejad presented to Germany's Merkel and US President Bush. It's yet another da'wa. Submit to Islam or suffer the consequences.

The enemies of the West are not being shy about their intentions. They're plainly stating what they want us to do, and what they will do if we do not submit to their way of life.

Submission is the key here. It's the central tenet to this vision of political Islam.

Pajamas Media has a roundup.

One of the features of this latest video is the appearance of the convert to Islam, American Adam Yehiye Gadahn aka Azzam the American. This holds symbolic power. If you convert, you too can join the powerful leadership of al Qaeda and the worldwide movement of Islam. Widen the appeal of radical Islam, as well as provide a spokesperson who speaks English as opposed to reliance on translators. It's all about trying to make the message more effective, and al Qaeda is nothing if not keen on its media operations.

Of course, it's also a sign that you too can become a tool and useful idiot for the Islamists who will find such people expendible the moment their own lives are put in danger.

Now, there are those who will inevitably question the timing of the release of this tape with the fifth anniversary of 9/11 right around the corner. You can be sure that al Qaeda is quite aware of the date, and will use the next week to hammer home the fact that they're still relevant and I expect further videos to be released, and that another mass casualty attack might be planned to coincide with the fifth anniversary.

Others blogging: Counterterrorism Blog, Power Line, Outside the Beltway, Stop the ACLU, Flopping Aces, Wizbang, Blue Crab Boulevard.