MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 8 (AScribe Newswire) -- Two Rhodes College professors - one an expert in Islamic terrorist activities, the other a scholar of Islam - agree with President Bush that the war on terrorism is not over. In fact, according to their analysis of a statement issued by Al-Qaeda last year, the war may become even more deadly for civilians.

While Al-Qaeda initially denied responsibility for the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, by April of the following year it reversed its position. Not only did the group acknowledge that its members had masterminded the carnage, they also positioned their act as sanctioned by God.

Quintan Wiktorowicz, assistant professor of international studies, and John Kaltner, associate professor of religious studies, have conducted an in-depth analysis of the Al-Qaeda justification for September 11, and their work will be published this summer in the journal Middle East Policy.

Their study of the document led them to conclude that Al-Qaeda intends to continue targeting civilians, and that the attacks may accelerate if the war on terrorism relaxes. This is based on several arguments made in the document, including:

- Al-Qaeda's claim that the U.S. has purposefully targeted Muslim civilians in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine (through its support for Israel). The movement argues that is therefore "allowed for Muslims to kill protected ones ((civilians)) as an act of reciprocity." This includes women, children, the elderly and any non-combatants.

- Al-Qaeda religious justification for killing civilians, which is so broad as to include any U.S. citizen as a legitimate target: "It is allowed for Muslims to kill protected ones among the unbelievers ((civilians)) on the condition that the protected ones have assisted in combat, whether in deed, word, mind, or any other form of assistance." This includes journalists, professors, business owners and employees, and any civilians in a democracy. The justification echoes the rationale used by violent Islamists in Algeria, where they slaughtered civilians in the most horrific fashion.

The final frightening words come from the Al-Qaeda statement itself:

"By means of this document we send a message to America and those behind it. We are coming, by the will of Allah almighty, no matter what America does. It will never be safe from the fury of Muslims. America is the one who began the war, and it will lose the battle by the permission of Allah almighty."

The Rhodes professors conclude, "Al-Qaeda has thus far relied mostly on bombs and planes, but it is clear from the 2002 document that the echoes of Algeria could become louder as the jihadis continue to expand their war against U.S. civilians."

For background information, go to http://www.rhodes.edu/public/2_0-Academics/2_1_4-InternationalStudies/pd f/middleeast-policy.pdf.

Rhodes, founded in 1848, is a private, coeducational college of liberal arts and sciences. Its 1550 students choose among thirty-one majors leading to a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree. The college also awards a master of science degree in accounting. Ranked in the top tier of America's best national liberal arts colleges, Rhodes is governed by a student-administered honor code.