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CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Judging by hundreds of questions submitted online to al Qaeda's No. 2 leader, it seems the terror network's self-proclaimed supporters are as much in the dark about the its operations and plans as Western analysts and intelligence agencies.
Al Qaeda's No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri, seen here in a 2001, was supposedly taking questions via the Internet.
Among their concerns: Where will it strike next? Does it control small militant groups in the Mideast and Europe? Why hasn't it hit America again?
Al Qaeda's media arm, Al-Sahab, announced last month that Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, would take questions from the public in an "online interview."
More than 900 entries, some with multiple questions, were posted on a militant Web site before the January 16 deadline.
So far, al Qaeda hasn't given any answers. Al Qaeda said only that al-Zawahiri would respond "as soon as possible," and the questions disappeared from the site after the cutoff date without any response.
But the questions focused on the same issues that Western terrorism experts have long debated, including how much direct support and command al-Zawahiri and bin Laden give to militants in Arab countries and Europe.
Like many in the West, the questioners appear uncertain whether al Qaeda's central leadership directly controls the multiple, small militant groups around the Mideast and Europe that work in its name, or whether those groups operate on their own.
Others queries sought advice: Should followers be focusing their jihad, or holy war, against Arab regimes, or against Americans?
Some wanted to know when al Qaeda will be more active in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria?
One, allegedly a former Arab al Qaeda fighter in Iraq, complained about Iraqi fighters discriminating against non-Iraqi mujahedeen.
Journalists also were invited to send questions and a few of the entries were labeled with the names of European and Asian newspapers.
Diaa Rashwan, an Egyptian security expert in Cairo, suggested some questions were probably submitted by intelligence agents looking for clues to al Qaeda's thinking, but there was no way to verify that.
The vast majority of questioners, identified only by their computer usernames, appeared to be supporters of al Qaeda or the jihadi cause, often expressing praise for "our beloved sheik" and "the lion of jihad, Sheik Osama."
Many appeared frustrated that al Qaeda is not doing more.
"When we will see the men of al Qaeda waging holy war in Palestine? Because frankly our situation has become very bad," wrote one, with the username "Seeking the Path."
"As for al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia," he asked, "are there efforts to revive jihadi action there after the blows that hurt us?"
Another, signed "Osama the Lion," asked: "Why doesn't al Qaeda open a front in Egypt, where there are wide opportunities and fertile ground for drawing in mujahedeen?"
Another, called "Knight of Islam," asked, "We are awaiting a strike against American soil. Why has that not been done? Why are the Jews in the world not struck?"
In videos over the past years, al-Zawahiri has repeatedly spoken of opening new fronts against all those lands -- but little has occurred. Saudi Arabia has waged a fierce crackdown that has killed or captured many in al Qaeda's branch there.
In 2005, al-Zawahiri announced the formation of a branch in his homeland, Egypt, but nothing has been heard of it, although Egypt has suffered terror attacks.
In his videos, al-Zawahiri always depicts al Qaeda as moving steadily toward victory -- something none of the questioners directly challenged. But they seemed in need of reassurance, pressing for more specifics about al Qaeda's plans than al-Zawahiri normally gives.
"I think they (al Qaeda's leaders) were aware (that) ... everyone was no longer buying into the propaganda about how great they are," said Jeremy Binnie at Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Center. "This was put forward as a propaganda exercise and to make it look like they are responding to these concerns."
A few who wrote in claimed to be active fighters in militant groups. One, with the username "Phenixshadow," described himself as a member of the al Qaeda branch in North Africa that has been blamed for attacks in Algeria.
"What do you expect from us? Should we follow the instruction of the mother organization to target the 'far enemy' -- the Zionist-Crusader (America) -- or do we focus our efforts on the apostate regime (Algeria)? Or do you advise a middle path of striking both enemies?" he asked.
Another, signed "Alfirati60," said he is a Syrian who joined al Qaeda in Iraq before its leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed by a U.S. airstrike in 2006.
The writer complained bitterly about al Qaeda's decision to form an umbrella group with other Iraqi insurgents known as "The Islamic State of Iraq."
"Things got worse after the organization joined the Islamic State, when Iraqis took over all the issues," he wrote.
The Iraqis care "only about liberating Iraq not about establishing God's law," an apparent reference to the al Qaeda goal of a single Islamic state. "Indeed, they neglected many of the (non-Iraqi) brothers since they care only about the safety of Iraqis and Iraq."
"So I ask you, our sheik, is this just?" he added. "There are many, many violations of Sharia Islamic law that those (Iraqis) who join the Islamic State commit, like failing to kill spies or apostates" -- those who work with Americans -- "because they are Iraqis."
He wrote that he left Iraq and returned to "Sham," the old Arabic name for Syria and Lebanon. "I'm sorry to go on and on, our sheik, but you should be informed of what's going on" in Iraq, he said. "We want to act in the Sham, and we are ready to do so. We lack only the material and moral support from you."
Another questioner asked: "We hear a lot about the non-centralization of al Qaeda," one supporter wrote. "Is the loss of direct control by al Qaeda's leadership over the jihadi cells harmful to al Qaeda? ... Does al Qaeda intend to try to reassert its control?"
Others wanted to make sure al Qaeda has a long-term strategy.
"Does it just go from event to event as some claim?" asked "Raji al-Quboul." "Do you have a body that studies events and reviews them to correct mistakes and assess them?"
Many, of course, asked about the health of bin Laden, who rarely appears on video.
Another hot topic was Iran. Several asked why al Qaeda did not attack that mainly Shiite nation. They expressed concern over rumors of an understanding between al Qaeda and Iran. "One of the lies spread to fight al-Qaeda is that al-Qaeda is linked to Iran," one wrote. "They point to your failure to attack the Iranian regime."
Many others simply asked for advice on how and where to join jihad. One man said he is a 23-year-old living with his divorced mother.
"I want to travel to join jihad and I sought my mother's permission, but she would not give it to me," he said. "Can I go without her permission?" E-mail to a friend
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
