The leader of Al-Qaida in Iraq called yesterday for nuclear scientists to join his group’s… The leader of Al-Qaida in Iraq called yesterday for nuclear scientists to join his group’s jihad, or holy war, against the West, according to the Associated Press.

“We are in dire need of you,” said Abu Ayyub al-Masri, who is believed to be the successor of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who died in an airstrike this June. “The field of jihad can satisfy your scientific ambitions, and the large American bases [in Iraq] are good places to test your unconventional weapons, whether biological or dirty, as we call them.”

Specifically, al-Masri called for “experts in the fields of chemistry, physics, electronics, media and all other sciences – especially nuclear scientists and explosive experts” to join his jihad.

Al-Masri’s chilling call is an example of the escalating advances terrorism has taken in the world. Previously limited to roadside bombs, terrorist groups now appear to be moving toward nuclear weapons as their top choice of warfare.

What is also concerning is that al-Masri is in no way being discreet. The 20-minute audio clip was posted on a Web site that frequently shows Al-Qaida updates, and the transcript of that audio was soon available on newscasts all over the world. If their chief interest really was in developing nuclear warfare, Al-Qaida leaders may have been more guarded in their efforts to find scientists to assist them. By boldly calling for assistance in developing nuclear warfare, it is likely that Al-Qaida leaders are simply attempting a scare tactic.

Al-Masri’s call may be frighteningly successful on several levels.

Scare tactics often work. By blatantly stating that they plan on developing nuclear weapons to use against the West, Al-Qaida leaders have succeeded in escalating the tensions between themselves and Western nations. We do not know whether or not Al-Qaida has or will have the capability in the near future to develop nuclear weapons, but it is terrifying to think that they have invested interests in the idea.

The United States has always put a top priority on making sure that few countries have nuclear weapons. This widespread call for the development of nuclear warfare is concerning, as it is nearly impossible to contain the nuclear developments within terrorist groups.

Secondly, while al-Masri’s call may have been designed chiefly as a scare tactic, it’s perfectly plausible that a nuclear scientist somewhere in the world will hear his call and decide to join the jihad. If a scientist decides to answer the call, he could even act independently of the terrorist group itself, simply supplying Al-Qaida with the information and tools necessary to develop nuclear warfare.

Al-Masri’s frightening words come just days after the Bush administration declassified a five-page portion of intelligence findings that stated that terrorism, fueled by the war in Iraq, is growing and spreading worldwide. This is apparent as al-Masri tries to appeal to a sympathetic audience, emphasizing the number of foreign militants that have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion began in 2003, a source of inspiration for many Muslims seeking martyrdom during the month of Ramadan.

Martyrdom is sacred to these fundamental terrorists, and we can only hope that al-Masri’s calls remain unanswered.