A translation of the Berg video

WND has excerpts from the Berg video in 'Berg video called
how-to-kill demo: Translator-expert sees jihadist message to Muslims worldwide'. The translation was done by "Joel Cohen, with a master's degree in Semitic languages from Princeton University and a student of the Quran at the University of Chicago." I'm going to assume he's not a native speaker; it would be better if it had been discussed with a few native speakers who are familiar with the accents of the area. Cohen says the message was not intended for the West, but for Muslims:

"The author goes at great pains to convince the Ummah (the body of Muslim believers) that the time for negotiations with unbelievers is over," explains Cohen, who adds the address was carefully crafted rather than delivered impromptu.

Along the way, the speaker refers to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa, Bush, and Pakistani President Pervis Musharaf.

Conclusion:

"In the mind of the writer of this document, it's simply a call to kill all non-Muslims and those they perceive challenge Islam. By concluding with this ayat, he wants the Ummah to know that Nick Berg is not being killed simply because he is a prisoner. He is being killed because he is not a Muslim."

Meanwhile, Musharaf facing opposition to his attempts to liberalize Pakistan:

Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Monday announced that it would strongly resist in case the government attempts to change blasphemy and Hadood laws, and alleged that US was behind the move to convert Pakistan into a secular state.
"We will not allow to impose American agenda on 140 million people of Pakistan," said the MMA Secretary General Maulana Fazlur Rehman here at a Press conference after the alliance's Supreme Council meeting.
The meeting, Fazl maintained, decided to call a national conference in June in order to invite all political forces to resist attempts that are meant to make the country as secular and liberal state. "We took a strong exception of General Pervez Musharraf's recent statement on blasphemy and Hadood laws, and will not allow to change the existing Islamic provisions."

Terrorism · Mon, 05/17/2004 - 21:46 · Importance: 1