State Department on Al-Zawahiri's comments on Lebanon

Daily Press Briefing Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman US Department of State Washington, DC April 22, 2008

QUESTION: Al-Zawahiri issued a new tape on the internet and he is bragging that Lebanon will be a central base for al-Qaida's operations in the future. Would -- do you have anything to say on this?

MR. CASEY: Well, we would hope that Lebanon would be a central base for the Lebanese people to have a democratic government that supports them and achieves their political aspirations. Certainly, we're always concerned about any threats from al-Qaida, whether they're directed at the United States or directed at a good friend like Lebanon. I think it's pretty clear, though, that the people of Lebanon don't particularly find attractive the kind of vision that's being offered by Al-Zawahiri or Usama bin Ladin or any of the folks involved in al-Qaida.