[I edited the post below (without showing changes) to update it to include the information I was seeking with my original post.]
I was pointed to a translation of the full text of the letter claiming responsibility for the bombings in London. Thanks are owed to Back to Iraq for the translation and the posting of it:
Announcement on London's Operation 7/7/2005Jamaat al-Tandheem Al-Sierri (secret organization group)
Organization of Qaeda't al-Jihad in EuropeIn the name of God the most merciful...
Rejoice the nation of Islam, rejoice nation of Arabs, the time of revenge has come for the crusaders' Zionist British government.
As retaliation for the massacres which the British commit in Iraq and Afghanistan, the mujahideen have successfully done it this time in London.
And this is Britain now burning from fear and panic from the north to the south, from the east to the west.
We have warned the brutish governments and British nation many times.
And here we are, we have done what we have promised. We have done a military operation after heavy work and planning, which the mujahideen have done, and it has taken a long time to ensure the success of this operation.
And we still warn the government of Denmark and Italy, all the crusader governments, that they will have the same punishment if they do not pull their forces out of Iraq and Afghanistan.
So beware.
Here are portions translated by AP-Cairo and Spiegel Online.
AP in Cairo (tip to LGF):
SPIEGEL ONLINE:“Rejoice, Islamic nation. Rejoice, Arab world. The time has come for vengeance against the Zionist crusader government of Britain in response to the massacres Britain committed in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
“the heroic mujahedeen carried out a blessed attack in London, and now Britain is burning with fear and terror, from north to south, east to west.”
“We warned the British government and the British people repeatedly. We have carried out our promise and carried out a military attack in Britain after great efforts by the heroic mujahedeen over a long period to ensure its success.”
“We continue to warn the governments of Denmark and Italy and all crusader governments that they will receive the same punishment if they do not withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.”
I enabled comments for 2 days and I'll leave them on even though I received the translation I was requesting."Rejoice, community of Muslims."
“The heroic mujahedeens today conducted an attack in London.”
All of Great Britain is now shaken and shocked, "in the north, the south, west and east."
"We've warned the British government and the British people time and again.”
"We've kept our promise and have carried out a blessed military operation."
"We continue to warn the governments of Denmark and Italy and all other crusader governments."
"Secret Organization — al Qaida in Europe."
ADDITIONAL UPDATE: A new post contains the BBC's complete translation.
Michael
RHoltMeyer: Interesting point. I wondered why full translations were so hard to find.
Jim Lindgren
I think that if anything, the reason that Der Spiegel didn't put the phrase in is because Germans are so darn touchy about doing anything that could even remotely be perceived as anti-Jewish, including using a term like "Zionist," even if it's not their own.
As far as subtle anti-Jewish sentiment is concerned, I lived in Germany for some time and never noticed any (though I'm sure that it exists at some level). Remaining antisemitism is likely to be expressed explicitly, as with the well-publicized cases in the former East Germany.
Let it suffice to say that all of my friends in Germany, who include average working-class stiffs as well as intellectual bozos, get fairly offended if anyone uses a xenophobic term like "Auslaender raus" or "Deutschland fuer die Deutschen" (which, I will admit, I have done on occasion just to see their reactions).
[This refers to a deleted comment--Moderator]
I wish people would not take cheap shots at Spain, on the other hand, or at least would have the courage to call the Spanish weak-kneed to their face. While it seems to be a "Known Fact" in the conservative community that Spain is a bunch of appeasers, there is substantial reason to believe that the elections following the 3/11 attack had the outcome they did because many people were upset with the Aznar government's attempt to cover up the source of the attacks for political advantage. One should exercise more restraint, in my view, before calling into question the character of an entire nation.
Also, I left the description very open-ended (referring to "the response" of Spain and the UK). I guess I would hope that a vicious terrorist attack would generate more resolve to fight terrorism, which neither Spain's electorate (at the margin) nor Spain's new Socialist government showed. I hope for such a response from the UK; that was my point.
I appreciate your caution, which is both important to recognize and well stated.
Jim Lindgren
What we have shown is a healthy skepticism that the invasion and occupation of Iraq was an appropriately timed and executed strategic step in that war.
Notice the widely leaked plan to deploy 5,000 British troops to Afghanistan after they’ve been withdrawn from the Basra region later this year (being replaced by British-trained Iraqi security forces).
Before the start of the invasion, Londoners were polled on their views about the war. 72% opposed military action without UN approval. In the same poll Londoners were asked:
“If British forces are part of an attack on Iraq, do you think this will make a terrorist attack in London...?
More likely 79%
Make no difference one way or the other 20%
Less likely 0%
Don't know 1%”
(If you want to see all the poll results they’re at http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/iraq-conflict/poll.jsp )
Most Londoners I’ve spoken to since the attacks are of the opinion that this was an inevitable consequence of our government's foreign policy decisions.
Blair was a spent force before this happened and remains so, it seems unlikely that he will remain in office beyond the end of the year. I don’t know where the idea came from that Clarke will replace him. When Blair is replaced it will be with Gordon Brown, who’s currently Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister, in other words).
Nevertheless the mood here in London is one of calm and resolute defiance. I know people who have cancelled pre-booked leave to come into work today - travelling by public transport - to show that they will not be cowed by terrorism and threats.
This is the worst terrorist outrage that the UK has suffered, but by no means the first...it’s not even the first time that London has been hit with four terrorist bombs on the same day: The IRA did that thirty years ago.
To quote Lord Hoffman’s speech, delivered as part of the landmark ruling on the detention of suspected foreign terrorists without charge or trial:
“This is a nation which has been tested in adversity, which has survived physical destruction and catastrophic loss of life. I do not underestimate the ability of fanatical groups of terrorists to kill and destroy, but they do not threaten the life of the nation. Whether we would survive Hitler hung in the balance, but there is no doubt that we shall survive Al-Qaeda.”
Anyone who imagines that they can start London’s population “burning with fear and terror” as the (probably fake) message claiming responsibility suggests, simply doesn’t know Londoners very well.
In the street where I live there are elderly ladies who dodged bombs (and later doodlebugs and V2 rockets) while their husbands were chasing Rommel across North Africa more than sixty years ago. There’s a strong feeling in the community - and this isn’t merely idle bravado - that it didn’t break then, it didn’t break during decades of IRA atrocities , and it won’t break now.
Nevertheless we’re in for difficult times ahead, especially if those who perpetrated these outrages turn out to be born and raised in the UK (and I think there’s a strong chance of this).
However Britain is a multi-cultural society, and there is no going back from that position. Those who were victims of yesterdays bombings were of many ethnic origins and faiths. Those who helped them - London Underground staff, Police, Firefighters, Paramedics, Doctors and Nurses were *also* of many different ethnic origins and faiths.
No one I’ve spoken to is under the impression that this is a religious or ethnic conflict; we are a multi-cultural liberal democracy under attack by those who would seek to destroy our way of life. There isn’t the slightest chance that the people of London or the rest of the UK will let that happen.