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While certainly any message from bin Laden is parsed for information and intelligence, it was a third video — that was released from one of al-Qaida's media arms — that made counterterrorism analysts sit up and take notice. The video came out of Somalia last week, and it was a slick recruitment tape complete with its own original rap music score that played under the opening sequence of the half-hour-long film. The production was made by a Somali militia group called al-Shabab, which has ties to al-Qaida.

In one part of the video he appears to be preparing recruits — who also speak English — for battle.

During the battle, Abu Mansour orders the small group of fighters who are with him to retreat. But here's what's important: He says it in English. "Let's go, let's go," he yells as a shaking video camera appears to record their retreat.