'Zarqawi tape' urges Sunni unrest

BBC News

An audio recording has been released on the web claiming to feature the voice of al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq, urging Sunnis to attack the country's Shias. The taped voice - allegedly that of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi - says Shias have long collaborated with foreign invaders in Iraq....

Really?????

"Forget about those advocating the end of sectarianism and calling for national unity," the speaker says.

I doubt if very many Iraqis agree with him.

The recording also describes Iraq's highest-ranking Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, as an "atheist"

According to Fox News, he also says that Shia and Jews come from the same root. Well in that he is correct, since Sunnis, Shia, and Jews all trace themselves back to Abraham, but there is no root other than that. As this article indicates The division between Shia and Sunni dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad, and the question of who was to take over the leadership of the Muslim nation. Sunni Muslims agree with the position taken by many of the Prophet's companions, that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job. This is what was done, and the Prophet Muhammad's close friend and advisor, Abu Bakr, became the first Caliph of the Islamic nation. The word "Sunni" in Arabic comes from a word meaning "one who follows the traditions of the Prophet." On the other hand, some Muslims share the belief that leadership should have stayed within the Prophet's own family, among those specifically appointed by him, or among Imams appointed by God Himself. The Shia Muslims believe that following the Prophet Muhammad's death, leadership should have passed directly to his cousin/son-in-law, Ali. Throughout history, Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders, choosing instead to follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or God Himself.

Zarqawi clearly does not understand what the word "atheist means, because if there is a difference, one would think that the Shia, who follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or God Himself, would be more religious than just following the "traditions of the Prophet".

and lambasts Shia militia groups for attacking Sunnis in their houses on the pretext of searching for insurgents. The speaker in the tape also attacks targets beyond Iraq. He describes Lebanon's Shia militia group, Hezbollah, as a "shield" protecting Israel from attack.

You are insane if you think Hezbollah is protecting Israel from attack.

He also mocks the Iranian leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for "screaming and calling for wiping Israel from the map" while failing to back up his words with actions.

Would you like to try your hand at wiping Israel off the map? Go ahead and take your army and attack Israel.