 KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The fugitive leader of Afghanistanâs Taleban insurgents has called on people to unite and join his guerrillas in a âjihadâ or holy war against US forces in the country.
| Again? He's been saying the same thing for the past four years. |
Mullah Mohammad Omar, whose fundamentalist regime was toppled by a US-led invasion in late 2001, said the Taleban would increase attacks on US forces and that âthe victory is close.â
"How close?"
"Real close!" |
â...Iâm calling on the Muslim nation of Afghanistan to do not get disappointed and join the jihad against the invader Americans,â he said in a statement faxed to news agencies in the southern city of Kandahar, a Taleban stronghold till late 2001. âThe victory is close,â said the statement faxed from his press office, which quoted Omar as saying that jihad meant using arms, money and writing.
| If victory is so close, what's to be disappointed about? |
âThe Muslim nation should allocate their lives, wealth and pens for the jihad,â it said.
| "But not my life, I'm too important to the cause." |
The statement contains greetings from Omar for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr and was issued last Friday.
| "Happy Holidays from the Turbans!" |
Omar, who remains at large in Pakistan despite a multi-million dollar reward offered by the US, also called upon Iraqis to continue their jihad against US âinfidelâ forces. âEvery Iraqi should join the struggle against the Americans,â he said.
| "Look how well it's worked for us!" |
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