“To the American people I say:

Do you remember the good old days when Americans were enjoying the blessings of security and peace? When the word ‘terrorism’ was rarely invoked, and when you were oblivious to any threats? I remember a time when you could purchase an airline ticket from the classified section of your local or college newspaper, and use it even though it was issued to a different name because no one would bother asking you for an ID before boarding a plane. No long lines, no elaborate searches, no body scans, no sniffing dogs, no taking off your shoes and emptying your pockets.

You were a nation at ease.

But America thought that it could threaten the lives of others, kill and invade, occupy and plunder, and conspire without bearing the consequences of its actions. 9-11 was the answer of the millions of people who suffer from American aggression. And since then America has not been safe. And nine years after 9-11, 9 years of spending, and nine years of beefing up security, you are still unsafe even in the holiest and most sacred of days to you, Christmas Day.

…

The simple answer is: America cannot and will not win. The tables have turned and there is no rolling back of the worldwide jihad movement.

…

I for one, was born in the US, and lived in the US for 21 years. America was my home. I was a preacher of Islam involved in non-violent Islamic activism. However, with the American invasion of Iraq and continued US aggression against Muslims, I could not reconcile between living in the US and being a Muslim, and I eventually came to the conclusion that jihad against America is binding upon myself, just as it is binding on every other able Muslim.” Anwar al-Awlaki, “Message to the American People,” Global Islamic Media Front, https://archive.org/details/AwlakiToUsa.

“The U.S. is an empire of vain desires, one which under the guise of liberty permits and spreads every crime, sin, and deviation from proper human nature. The U.S. and the West permit freedom of expression about all forms of apostasy and corruption; they permit everything, except telling a truth that brings shame upon them. The U.S.'s open corruption takes place at the highest level – that is, [at the level of] the president of the U.S. himself, who has approved a law permitting homosexuals to join the military, a matter that demonstrates the level of degeneration to which this people has sunk… On the other hand,] no freedom of expression is afforded those who condemn the crimes of the U.S. and its agents, who rule [the world] by disseminating a great illusion called liberty, democracy, and human rights – phrases that are nothing but a cover for taking over the world's resources and treasures, oppressing the people, and depriving them of their rights.” Steven Stalinsky, “American-Yemeni Al-Qaeda Cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki Highlights the Role and Importance of Media Jihad, Praises Al-Jazeera TV Journalists and WikiLeaks,” MEMRI, March 15, 2011, http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5096.htm.

“[M]ost of the Muslims including those residing in Europe are against the crusade war lead by America, and they hate the Arab regimes that are working as agents and that crushed their people and sold the Palestinian cause in the give-up market.”“An Interview With Abdelmalek Droukdal,” New York Times, July 1, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/world/africa/01transcript-droukdal.html.

“[D]id America leave us any choice with this flagrant aggression? No doubt that the answer is going to be no. Therefore, it became our right and our duty to push away with all our strength this crusade campaign and declare clearly that the American interests are legitimate targets to us.”“An Interview With Abdelmalek Droukdal,” New York Times, July 1, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/world/africa/01transcript-droukdal.html.

“We will strive to strike [Americans] whenever we can. And we are sure that America is going to loose (sic) its war against us like it lost it against Afghanistan and Iraq. It’s America that is unfair and that started evil and injustice.”“An Interview With Abdelmalek Droukdal,” New York Times, July 1, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/world/africa/01transcript-droukdal.html.

“[In response to the question, ‘Do you intend to carry out any attacks on American soil?’] If the U.S. administration sees that its war against the Muslims is legitimate, then what makes us believe that our war on its territories is not legitimate?”“An Interview With Abdelmalek Droukdal,” New York Times, July 1, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/world/africa/01transcript-droukdal.html.

“Everyone must know that we will not hesitate in targeting it whenever we can and wherever it is on this planet.”“An Interview With Abdelmalek Droukdal,” New York Times, July 1, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/world/africa/01transcript-droukdal.html.

“We sacrifice our souls and blood to defend you [Muslims] and to protect you from the sons of France and the agents of America. Our nation must know that we are in a war against the apostates and their crusader masters.”“An Interview With Abdelmalek Droukdal,” New York Times, July 1, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/world/africa/01transcript-droukdal.html.

“America or other than America will not frighten us, but we never underestimate the reason. We do strive to make the right plans to face this evil alliance against Islam and the Muslims. America must know that when it gets involved in a war with the sons of Youssouf ibn Tachfine and the grand children of Tarik ibn Ziyad, then the region will turn on fire under America’s feet, if God permits it. We will mobilize the sons of the Islamic Maghreb in order to soak the nose of the Americans in the mud, and put into their account that’s already filled with defeats, another defiance.”“An Interview With Abdelmalek Droukdal,” New York Times, July 1, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/world/africa/01transcript-droukdal.html.

“Today the global security is one and indivisible. So it is upon the American and European nations to choose: either they share security, luxury and good neighborhood with us, or we share war, fear and destruction. ‘Good for good and the first is blessed’ and ‘An eye for an eye and the first is cursed’.”“Words of Wisdom,” Inspire Magazine 11 (2013): 11, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/inspire-magazine-issue-11.pdf. See Aaron Y. Zelin, “al-Qā’idah in the Arabian Peninsula’s al-Malāḥim Media releases Inspire Magazine Issue #11,” Jihadology, May 30, 2013, http://jihadology.net/2013/05/30/al-qaidah-in-the-arabian-peninsulas-al-mala%E1%B8%A5im-media-releases-inspire-magazine-issue-11/.