Purported Bin Laden Tape Offers Truce to Europe-TV

Yahoo ^ | 4/14/2004 | Ghaida Ghantous

[John Lenin]

Purported Bin Laden Tape Offers Truce to Europe-TV

By Ghaida Ghantous

DUBAI (Reuters) - Arab television stations aired a new audio tape purportedly from Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) on Thursday offering a truce with European states if they stop attacking Muslims, but not with the United States.

"I offer a truce to them (Europe) with a commitment to stop operations against any state which vows to stop attacking Muslims or interfere in their affairs... The announcement of the truce starts with the withdrawal of the last soldier from our land and the door is open for three months from the date of the announcement of this statement," the voice said.

The voice on the tape, broadcast by Dubai-based Al Arabiya channel and then by Qatar-based Al Jazeera station, said there would be no truce with the United States.

"President (George W.) Bush and leaders in his sphere, big media institutions, and the United Nations (news - web sites).. all of them are a fatal danger to the world, and the Zionist lobby is their most dangerous and difficult member, and we insist, God willing, on continuing to fight them," the man said.

The taped message also vowed revenge on Israel and the United States for the death of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin, killed last month in Gaza.

It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the tape, though the voice sounded like previous tapes thought to be genuine. The CIA (news - web sites) has said some previous tapes purportedly from bin Laden were likely to be genuine.

Bin Laden's al Qaeda network is blamed by Washington for the September 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. cities.

The tape said the March 11 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people were payment for Spain's actions in Iraq (news - web sites), Afghanistan (news - web sites) and "Palestine."

"What happened on September 11 and March 11 are your goods returned to you so that you know security is a necessity for all," the voice on the tape said.

Madrid sent troops to Iraq after Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) was toppled and also has a contingent in Afghanistan. Militants claiming links to al Qaeda have claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombings, which have raised pressure on the government to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq.

[rrrod]

Note to self: damn im glad to be an AMERICAN!

[beaversmom]

with the anti-American aspects of Euro society

and anti-Jewish--he knows how to play to their hearts

[MNJohnnie]

Presidential candidate Kerry issues press release stating "This is my plan to win the war on terror

"Plan to win" has a such a better ring then Surrender doesn't it Senator?

[blandbutmarvellous]

Yep, that's just how clueless and demented these people really are.

[Master of Orion]

Why don't they just keep dismissing these tapes as fakes? "We don't believe it's Bin Laden, prove it!"

[Texasforever]

That is a good point. Taunt him and make him prove he is still breathing air.

[endthematrix]

Osama reads SunTzu: Appear strong when you are weak.

The US will crush them.

[endthematrix]

"Taunt him and make him prove he is still breathing air."

We'll make it his last!

[My2Cents]

They should say, "Sure, we'll go for a truce! How about showing up in person to sign it...."

[Texasforever]

We'll make it his last!

Deep down I don't think he is alive.

[Rams82]

Well if it is his voice then he was alive when Yassin was killed which was very recently.

[Texasforever]

Yes but why only audio tapes? He sure wasn't camera shy before Tora Bora.

[Rams82]

He may be missing a few limbs.

[Texasforever]

LOL. Maybe the use him for second base.

[endthematrix]

Actually, no proof of it is worse. We can't exploit it. I thought he had medical issues and would be harbored (by a state actor)and given up. But if he died a martyr, I think it would be used as a rallying call for the terrorists.

[Texasforever]

But if he died a martyr, I think it would be used as a rallying call for the terrorists.

You could be right. I would love to see him given the Saddam lice inspection on world TV.

[alaskanfan]

"I offer a truce to them (Europe) with a commitment to stop operations against any state which vows to stop attacking Muslims or interfere in their affairs... The announcement of the truce starts with the withdrawal of the last soldier from our land and the door is open for three months from the date of the announcement of this statement," the voice said.

I'm sure Bin Laden would never lie!!!

"now begone or I shall taunt you a second time."

[BJungNan]

Europe - We have peace in our time...or for 3 months anyhow. And what do they have to give up when the 3 months is up?

[AntiGuv]

So, does this include Afghanistan (probably) or just Iraq? If both, that pretty much covers every nation in Europe except for Austria and Yugoslavia. Even Switzerland has 7 peacekeepers in Afghanistan (who knows what the heck for....)

[AntiGuv]

It doesn't say a three-month truce. It says that they have three months to accept the offer..