Iraq Terror Chief [mastermind] Dismisses New Government

Read first: washingtonpost: Military Plays Up Role of Zarqawi

ap: Terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi revealed his face for the first time Tuesday in a dramatic video in which he dismissed Iraq's new government as an American "stooge" and called it a "poisoned dagger" in the heart of the Muslim world.

The video, in which he also warned of more attacks to come, was posted on the Internet only days after a breakthrough in Iraq's political process allowing its Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish leaders to start assembling a government.

It also followed a high-profile audiotape from Osama bin Laden and seemed a deliberate attempt by al-Zarqawi to claim the spotlight again following months of taking a lower profile amid criticism of bombings against civilians. It was his first message since an audiotape in January.

A U.S. counterterrorism official, speaking on condition of anonymity in compliance with office policy, said analysts believe al-Zarqawi is showing his face to demonstrate that he is still engaged as a leader of jihad, or holy war. Read more

db: This Zarqawi-terror-chief-mastermind 'news' needs salt