“Big Surprise” Promised By Al Qaeda In Web Ad

A new, more ominous treat from Al Qaeda has just surfaced according to ABC News:

A new al Qaeda propaganda ad, headlined “Wait for the Big Surprise” and featuring a digitally altered photograph of President George Bush and Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf standing in front of a burning White House, was posted on the Internet today.

The brief clip from al Qaeda’s “as Sahab” propaganda arm juxtaposes the doctored photo of Bush and Musharraf along with previously seen images of al Qaeda’s top leadership — Osama bin Laden, Ayman al Zawahri and Adam Gadahn — as well as a photo of an SUV in a motorcade.

There is no additional information provided in the ad, and it closes with the words, “Soon — God willing,” written across the screen and repeated several times.

There are a couple of aspects to this report.

One is that ABC’s The Blotter clearly has some good sources, either inside the intelligence community or the Bush administration or both. These kinds of stories don’t usually just pop out of thin air because a reporter happened to be surfing the web.

Another is the imagery. It has long been believed that a key Al Qaeda target would be the White House itself. Additionally, there is the intent of the ad. Is there really a “big surprise” in the offing? Or is this to keep the goal of terror (to terrorize) alive? Is it to shore up support among Al Qaeda’s own base that is perhaps impatient for some big operation because it’s been a long time since the last one (but remember Al Qaeda is patient and can wait years until everything is in place)?

A lingering question is also whether, if there is another attack, President George Bush can enjoy the same level of support and credibility that he did in the immediate aftermath of 911. Many Americans were ready to go along with almost anything the President proposed and trusted him. It’s unlikely support would be as broad again or, if it was, it could have a short shelf life. (There are already some on the left and right warning about new emergency plan that would go into effect after a terrorist attack that would essentially put the executive wing in charge of the entire government).