As reactions to the election of a new U.S. President across the Arab and Muslim world reflecting the fundamental interests of the various regimes and movements, the most radical groups including al Qaeda have been sending messages in different directions. Of particular interest is one message to Barack Obama.

Al-Furqan, a Jihadi outlet, released on November 8 an audio recording of a speech by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, who describes himself as "Emir of the Islamic State of Iraq." The less than half hour internet broadcast was titled "Message to the New Governors of the White House (and other Christian leaders)." It can also be translated as "to the new rulers," i.e. the President and Vice President elect.

After a mandatory "theological" segment taking on Christians, Jews, and apostate Muslims, the speech wandered erratically between issues high on the Jihadist agenda worldwide, particularly the necessity for the United States to call it quits and pull out of the Mideast region. In essence, al Baghdad, who is one of al Qaeda's most lethal "generals," demands the United States under the Obama administration to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan and remove its military presence from the Muslim world.

Interestingly, this message to the Obama White House connects with a dominant theme not only of al Qaeda's but also the Jihadist forces and regimes around the world. Despite their divisions and diverse strategies, the Salafists and Khomeinists have a common ideological approach on how to deal with the United States. This attitude has been embodied by multiple speeches, statements, and declarations since the early 1990s. From the powerful doctrinal positions of Sheikh Yusuf al Qardawi on al Jazeera, al Qaeda's Usama Bin laden and Ayman Zawahiri, to President Ahmedinijad, the "agenda" is single-minded: The United States must pull its forces outside the region and keep them inside its own borders.

Al Baghdadi and many other Jihadist commanders, commentators, and activists see the big picture as an effort, or a Jihad, against al Kuffar (infidel) forces in the region. In his speech addressed to the new US leadership, al Qaeda's Iraqi "emir" also warned France and Russia from interfering inside the borders of his Caliphate-to-come. He specifically told the "White House, the Élysée and the Kremlin" to back off Iraq, Afghanistan and Chechnya. Listening to the audio would make you understand the mind-set of the terrorists we are dealing with: They have a one world view even if they are "local," which contradicts recent assertions by many experts in the field.

And to underline the Jihadist historical view of the world, "Abu Omar" reminds America that a century ago, it was a "neutral" nation, growing peacefully until it began intervening in foreign wars, including its conflicts with empires, fascists and the Soviet Union. And as I argued in my book Future Jihad, he reveals that the US menace is really about provoking changes within Muslim countries. Changes, of course, that would encourage democracy against Jihadism. Increasingly, observers of this global movement must see the overarching dimension of the conflict with the Salafists and Khomeinists. It is not about Bush or Obama, nor about Chirac or Sarkozy, Yeltsin or Putin. It is about pushing for a Jihadi agenda. "Get your troops out and be neutral in this conflict," has become the main slogan of Jihadi propaganda for many years now.

If anything, it clearly indicates to analysts that the Salafist agenda, for example, wants to settle scores with local societies and seize power in Arab and Muslim lands, without being stymied by US power. This is the core of their contemporary confrontation with Washington's policies. They want to establish Taliban regimes in as many countries they can, including but not only in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Al Baghdadi ends his summations by revealing his conditions for a "new stage." In addition to pulling out and ceasing to interfere with the advance of his movement, he wants an immediate release of all prisoners. Even more informative was his offer to sell oil to the U.S. at a fair price and authorize commerce with America. While it may stun many, al Qaeda acts as if it is already the forthcoming Caliphate setting the agenda for the entire region.

This is not surprising to me, for I have argued for decades that democracies are dealing with a force possessing a political agenda of its own, rather than with individuals who are reacting to Western -or American- foreign policies. If anything, these statements by al Qaeda and other similar attitudes displayed by political propagandists, reminds us of typical totalitarians in action: Using terrorism when they judge it effective and attempting to confuse their foes and consolidating their positions when necessary. The National Socialists and the Fascists of the 1930s and the Second World War are in this sense, authentic predecessors to the 21st century Jihadists.

By Walid Phares
www.thecuttingedgenews.com