Azzam the American not dead

I try to never lead you astray, but last month I wrote about some broad speculation that Azzam the American—aka Adam Gadahn—a former Southern Californian who converted to Islam and later radicalized to the point he became the spokesman for al Qaeda—yeah, he’s been charged with treason—was dead.

Well, he’s not.

Over the weekend, Gadahn turned up in a 32-minute video on the Internet, in which he talks about current events and blames the American financial meltdown on—what else?—our status as infidels.

“The enemies of Islam are facing a crushing defeat, which is beginning to manifest itself in the extending crisis their economy is experiencing. The crisis, whose primary cause, in addition to the abortive and unsustainable crusades they are waging in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, is they are turning their backs on Allah’s revealed laws, which forbid interest-bearing transactions, exploitation, greed and and injustice in all its forms and demand the worship of Allah alone to the exclusion of all false gods, including money and power.”

Oh, the financial crisis is punishment indeed. For being greedy and manipulating the markets and ignoring history. But—sorry, Gadahn—this is not a smiting from above.

(Hat tip: LAObserved)