Jihadist Video Announces "Islamic State of Iraq" Posted: November 16, 2006

The Global Islamic Media Front, a long-time "umbrella" propaganda organization for Islamic extremists, has released a propaganda video announcing the establishment of the "Islamic State of Iraq."

The Arabic language video - the latest in a series of online videos called Sout Al Khilafa (Arabic for "Voice of the Caliphate") - was released on November 6, 2006, and posted to a blog called the "Caliphate Voice Channel."  This video, modeled after standard newscasts, includes versions with English, French and German subtitles. 

After a long introductory sequence, an announcer with his face obscured and voice altered appears in the video in front of a computer-generated setting resembling a newsroom.  The announcer claims the Mujahideen Shura Council, created by Al Qaeda in Iraq and five of the country's other terrorist groups in January 2006 to unify their efforts and coordinate attacks, has announced the establishment of the "Islamic State of Iraq," where Shariah law will prevail and serve to protect the Sunni people in Iraq.

A series of images appear on one side of the screen, including: video footage of white-robed jihadists riding motorcycles and leading a procession of vehicles through the Iraqi city Ramadi; photos of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and the man identified by Coalition forces as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, the current leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq; and clips of various attacks. 

The announcer comments on Iraq's unique geographical location, calling it a starting point "for the Islamic nation['s] fighters in the battle to liberate Palestine from the Zionist entity."  The video then ends with clips from older Al Qaeda videos, including footage of Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan before the September 11 terrorist attacks.