Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian physician and second in command to Osama bin Laden, called U.S. President George W. Bush the "butcher of Washington" and "a curse" on the United States in a speech that was broadcast in excerpts on the satellite television channel al-Jazeera. Echoing recent remarks by bin Laden, al-Zawahiri called U.S. policy in Iraq a failure and warned of more bloodshed.

In his speech, al-Zawahiri referred directly to comments made by bin Laden in an audiotape broadcast on al-Jazeera on Jan. 19, as well as to the attempt on his life in a Pakistani border village Jan. 13.

"Bush, do you know where I am?" said a taunting al-Zawahiri, dressed entirely in white and speaking in front of a pitch-black background. "I am among the Muslim masses."

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 4, 2006
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