New Bin Laden Tape?

[Nathan F]

From CBS/AP:

Osama Video: 'Bury' Americans

(CBS/AP) The Arabic satellite channel Al-Jazeera aired a video of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy on Wednesday. The footage was made in late April or early May, the broadcaster said.

In an accompanying audiotape, a voice said to be that of bin Laden praises the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States two years ago for causing "great damage to the enemy." Another voice on the tape, attributed to bin Laden top aide Ayman al-Zawahri, calls on Iraqi guerrillas to "bury" American troops in Iraq.

The voice on the tape promises more attacks to punish the U.S., reports CBS News Correspondent Manuel Gallegus.

"We are not people of bloodthirsty ? but we will cut the hand of those who come to us and try and attack us," it says.

The voice also refers to the Sept. 11 attacks, praising the hijackers and threatening U.S. military forces, reports Gallegus.

"The great battle will come ? it has not started yet ? you will be punished for your crimes," it says. "We advise the mothers of the soldiers to ask their governments to return their sons to them before they come back to them coffins."

Al-Jazeera said the video footage was produced in late April or early May. It showed bin Laden and al-Zawahri, dressed in Afghan clothing, walking up and down a rocky mountain dotted with green plants. In one shot, bin Laden was assisted by a cane in his right hand and wore a blanket over his left shoulder. In another, he an AK-47 assault rifle in his left hand.

The two climbed to the hilltop and sat resting, looking out over the trees and rocky outcroppings, the camera behind them.

"We salute the mujahedeen brothers in Iraq and press on their hands and ask Allah to bless their sacrifices and valor in fighting the Crusaders," the voice on the tape said.

"We tell you that Allah is with you and the (Islamic) nation supports you. Depend on Allah. Devour the Americans just like the lions devour their prey. Bury them in the Iraqi graveyard," said the voice attributed to al-Zawahri.

Al-Jazeera did not say how or when it obtained the tape, but it said the two appeared aging in the tape

The tape comes a day before the 2nd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, attributed to al Qaeda.

"On the second anniversary of the raids on New York and Washington we challenge America and its Crusade, which is teetering from its wounds in Afghanistan and Iraq," al-Zawahri said. "We tell them that we do not seek to kill, but we will chop off the hand which seeks to inflict harm on us, God willing."

The voice promised the Americans more attacks.

"We assert that what you saw till now are only the first skirmishes. ... The true epic has not begun. Brace yourselves for the punishment for your crimes," said the voice on the tape.

"We advise the mothers of the Crusaders' soldiers that if they wish to see their children that they rush to demand that their government bring them back before they return in coffins," al-Zawahri said.

He accused the Americans of hiding the true number of their casualties.

The tape also called on Palestinians to continue fighting, saying Palestine would not be liberated except by holy war.

"We will not let America dream of security until we live it in reality in Palestine and all the lands of Islam," he said.

On Aug. 3, the Al-Arabiya satellite station aired an audiotape purportedly from al-Zawahri warning that the United States would pay dearly if it harmed detainees at Guantanamo Bay. The United States said that tape was probably authentic.

The last tape attributed to al Qaeda was aired Aug. 18 on Al-Arabiya television. The speaker, claiming to be Saudi-born militant Abdur Rahman al-Najdi, called on Muslims around the world to travel to Iraq to fight the U.S.-led occupation.


© MMIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
updated 9/10/2003 17:49

http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story ... v=4QcHHv2H

Interesting. Possible link between OBL and Hussein? Or just another chance for him to try and kill Westerners?

[Nathan F]

Ooops, just realized this was posted in OT. My bad.

[Darth Mall]

Interesting. Possible link between OBL and Hussein? Or just another chance for him to try and kill Westerners?

Probably just a chance to kill westerners. Also this tape proves that OBL is still alive (as of april/may as he knows of the war in iraq

[Nathan F]

Interesting. Possible link between OBL and Hussein? Or just another chance for him to try and kill Westerners?

Probably just a chance to kill westerners. Also this tape proves that OBL is still alive (as of april/may as he knows of the war in iraq

It MIGHT prove he is still alive. It hasn't been verified that it is not just an old tape dubbed over with recent talking.

[Bob McDob]

Same old, same old.

[Vympel]

They apparently confirm whether it's his voice or not everytime he releases another greatest hit. I wish Saddam would put himself on tape, that would be fun to watch.

[MKSheppard]

He's dead.

[Durandal]

With morons like this, it's difficult to tell the difference between a genuine threat (i.e. "We have something planned") and your run-of-the-mill religious nonsense (i.e. "Allah will punish you"). Still, I think he's just blowing hot air.

[Stormbringer]

With morons like this, it's difficult to tell the difference between a genuine threat (i.e. "We have something planned") and your run-of-the-mill religious nonsense (i.e. "Allah will punish you"). Still, I think he's just blowing hot air.

But part of the danger is that some nut job will go out and do the best they can to make his words true. It's most likely propoganda at this point but it does help spur action from his followers.


And of course the fact that Arab TV carries his propoganda video nearly uncut doesn't help either.

[Durandal]

With morons like this, it's difficult to tell the difference between a genuine threat (i.e. "We have something planned") and your run-of-the-mill religious nonsense (i.e. "Allah will punish you"). Still, I think he's just blowing hot air.

But part of the danger is that some nut job will go out and do the best they can to make his words true. It's most likely propoganda at this point but it does help spur action from his followers.

He hasn't really given specifics. So it'd be tough for a nut-job to do so. At this point, he's just saber-rattling. Remember back when the Iraqi army, sometime in the middle of the war promised to make that captured airport a mass-grave of American soldiers? That certainly didn't come through.

It's just fear-mongering. I'm sure he has plans for the future, but there is a serious question as to whether or not he can implement them considering the damage we did to his infrastructure and chief source of support in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.