Why isn't Zawahiri giving his triumphant speech in Iraq?

AP/CNN:

Al Qaeda's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a new videotape posted Monday on the Internet warned of "traitors" among insurgents in Iraq and called on Iraqi Sunni Arab tribes to purge those who help the Americans.

Al-Zawahiri's comments were aimed at undermining "awakening councils" -- the groups of Iraqi Sunni tribesmen that the U.S. military has backed to help fight al Qaeda in Iraq and its allies.

Some Sunni insurgent groups have fought alongside U.S. forces, and the U.S. military has touted the councils as a major factor in reducing violence in war-torn regions like Iraq's Anbar province.

In the 90-minute video, al-Zawahiri warned of the "presence of hypocrites and traitors among the ranks of the mujahedeen working and fighting for the Americans."

The mujahedeen "must throw out the bribe-taking collaborators from among their ranks, those who sold out their faith and fight under the banner of the cross. They must expose them to the Muslim world," al-Zawahiri said. "Those who support the Americans are despicable scum," he said, calling on the "noble tribes of Iraq, those that defend Islam, to stand up to this scum."

"The tribe or clan that does not cleanse itself of traitors and apostates will be remembered in history for generations as one of the collaborators and traitors," he warned. "But any clan or tribe that defends Islam and crushes traitors ... will be remembered in Arab history with pride and glory."

...

Al-Zawahiri said the Americans have failed in Iraq and will withdraw soon.

"The reports from Iraq tell of the growth of the mujahedeen and the collapse of the Americans' circumstances," he said.

"The American forces are defeated and looking for a way out. Their government is faced with an incredible popular demand to withdraw," he said, adding that the U.S. forces would abandon Iraqi troops "to their fate."

"No matter how much the gigantic propaganda machine in America tries to deceive the people, the reality is stronger and worse than all the deceptions," al-Zawahiri said.

The U.S. general responsible for the ground campaign in Iraq said Sunday that violence in the country is at its lowest levels since the first year of the American invasion, which began in 2003.

If what Zawahiri said were true he could be giving this interview live from Baghdad. Why isn't he. Is Zawahiri just a coward afraid of "defeated" Americans? Until he comes out from cowering behind the video camera and holds a press briefing in Baghdad, we have to assume he is not in a position to do so because al Qaeda is not strong enough to get him their without him being killed or captured. He is also not honest enough to admit how his forces have been defeated in Iraq. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are about the only officials who agree with him. It looks like they will not be able to bail him out for another year at least.