Everybody wants the credit for the Democrats’ success in the mid-term elections: Al Qaeda Sends a Message to Democrats. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)

Al Qaeda has sent a message to leaders of the Democratic party that credit for the defeat of congressional Republicans belongs to the terrorists.

In a portion of the tape from al Qaeda No. 2 man, Ayman al Zawahri, made available only today, Zawahri says he has two messages for American Democrats.

“The first is that you aren’t the ones who won the midterm elections, nor are the Republicans the ones who lost. Rather, the Mujahideen — the Muslim Ummah’s vanguard in Afghanistan and Iraq — are the ones who won, and the American forces and their Crusader allies are the ones who lost,” Zawahri said, according to a full transcript obtained by ABC News.

Zawahri calls on the Democrats to negotiate with him and Osama bin Laden, not others in the Islamic world who Zawahri says cannot help.

“And if you don’t refrain from the foolish American policy of backing Israel, occupying the lands of Islam and stealing the treasures of the Muslims, then await the same fate,” he said.

UPDATE at 12/22/06 3:17:34 pm:

The verdict from the Kos Kidz on this disquieting shout-out from one of the world’s most rabid terrorists: “The analysis is quite accurate.” (Hat tip: Killgore Trout.)

What I find remarkable is al-Zawahari’s insight into American politics.  He understands the last election was about George Bush’s war.  He understands that we are Americans first and that party affiliation is, where foreign policy is concerned, less relevant.  He warns all Americans that we share the responsibility as a country for allowing George Bush to occupy Iraq, and ignore the plight of the Palestinians.  The warnings are strong, and the analysis is quite accurate.