Posted on 09/07/2007 1:04:10 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Osama bin Laden appeared for the first time in three years in a new videotape Friday, telling Americans they should convert to Islam if they want the war in Iraq to end, according to a transcript obtained by ABC News. The videotape appeared to have been recently made, since bin Laden refers to the Democratic victory in COngress and to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was elected in May.
"I invite you to embrace Islam," bin Laden said, according to a transcript posted by ABC News on its Web site.
"It will also achieve your desire to stop the war as a consequence, because as soon as the warmongering owners of the major corporations realize that you have lost confidence in your democratic system and have begun to look for an alternative, and this alternative is Islam, they will run after you to please you and achieve what you want to steer you away from Islam," he said.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
CAIRO, Egypt (AP)—The first new images of Osama bin Laden in nearly three years will be released ahead of the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, al-Qaida's media arm announced, a move that would end the terror mastermind's longest period without a message.
The Department of Homeland Security said Thursday it had no credible information warning of an imminent threat to the United States, and analysts noted that al-Qaida tends to mark the Sept. 11 anniversary with a slew of messages.
Still, bin Laden's appearance would be significant. The al-Qaida leader has not appeared in new video footage since October 2004, and he has not put out a new audiotape in more than a year.
The announcement and photo appeared in a banner advertisement on an Islamic militant Web site where al-Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab, frequently posts messages.
"Soon, God willing, a videotape from the lion sheik Osama bin Laden, God preserve him," the advertisement read, signed by Al-Sahab. Such announcements are usually put out one to three days before the video is posted on the Web.
One difference in his appearance was immediately obvious. The announcement had a still photo from the coming video, showing bin Laden addressing the camera, his beard fully black. In his past videos, bin Laden's beard was almost entirely gray with dark streaks.
Bin Laden's beard appears to have been dyed, a popular practice among Arab leaders, said Rita Katz, director of the SITE Institute, a Washington-based group that monitors terror messages.
"I think it works for their (al-Qaida's) benefit that he looks young, he looks healthy," Katz said.
IntelCenter, which monitors Islamic Web sites and analyzes terror threats, said the video was expected within the next 72 hours, before the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 suicide hijacker attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The anniversary has always been a major media event for al-Qaida—a chance for it to drum up support among extremists, tout itself as the leading militant group and show off its continued survival.
"They've always gone out of their way to commemorate it," said Ben Venzke, chief executive officer of IntelCenter, which is based in Alexandria, Va. "Historically the anniversary of 9-11 has never been drawn to attacks. It's drawn to video releases."
But the fact that bin Laden is delivering the message is significant, he said. Whether the message will indicate a potential attack will depend on what bin Laden says.
The White House said that any new video message from bin Laden would only underscore the threat the United States and other nations face from extremists.
"Six years after 9/11, the arrests in Germany and Denmark this week and the battles we fight against al-Qaida in Iraq, Afghanistan, southeast Asia and around the world remind us of the continuing threat we face from extremists and why we must continue to take the fight to them wherever they are," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council at the White House.
Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said he could not confirm the existence of a tape, "and there is no credible information at this time warning of an imminent threat to the homeland." But he said increased activity overseas and recent arrests of militants in Germany reinforce the department's assessment that the country is currently in a period of increased risk.
If bin Laden does appear in new footage, it would be the first images of him since an Oct. 29, 2004 videotape, just before the U.S. presidential elections. In that appearance three years ago, he said America could avoid another 9-11 style attack if it stopped threatening Muslims.
The new video would also end the longest period bin Laden has gone without releasing a message. His last audiotape was on July 1, 2006, in which he welcomed new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq succeeding the slain Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Bin Laden went silent for a similar long stretch before—from Dec. 28, 2004 to Jan. 19, 2006. That absence sparked widespread speculation he was ill, wounded or possibly dead.
There has been little such speculation since then. U.S. officials have repeatedly said over the past year they believe the al-Qaida leader is alive. He is thought to be hiding in the tribal regions of western Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan.
During bin Laden's silence, his deputy Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahri has been frequently issuing videos and audiotapes.
Al-Zawahri appeared in a 2006 video marking the 9-11 anniversary. An anniversary video in 2003 showed footage of bin Laden and al-Zawahri walking through mountain paths, with voice-over messages from both leaders.
Amen to your post, with a Substitution, in my case, of a Sig .45 in place of Smith and Wesson!
I would die before converting. At least that’s my plan and, God willing, I’ll have that courage.
Excellent illustration.
And how many of the buggers do you plan to take with you?
They are still lost in old world politics. When the next strike happens, and it will, I hope I can still say, God forgive them for they know not what they do.
NUTS!
That's a good one. I also like Cheney's words to Senator Depends, encouraging him to pleasure himself...
“I invite you to embrace Islam,” bin Laden said, according to a transcript posted by ABC News on its Web site.
_______________________________________________________
Sorry bin, The LORD God has said “You shall not have any gods before me”.
He is nuts.
http://counterterrorismblog.org/site-resources/images/SITE-OBL-transcript.pdf
A call to convert is obligated by Islam before an attack.
This is very grim news.
This isn't the first time we've heard this 'call' from the islamics.
And I am under no illusion that we are not at war.
'islamic terrorism' --- aka, fighting behind children and women's skirts -- is more than 'just a bumper sticker'.
The solution is not to hide and pretend the problem does not exist. Although we are blessed by the fact that most islamics are 'muslims in name only', it needs to be drummed into them that many of their ilk think that it is perfectly hinky to kill and maim civilians for their cause. In fact, they'll even point you to the specific surahs in their unholy books that will tell you that they are being good islamics when they murder.
The net conclusion: the koran was dictated by satan (or his minions) to a pliable mind back in the 630 AD timeframe, and people that follow this religion are involved in satan worship.
To those trapped in this religion -- run, don't walk, away from it as fast as you can. You know that a religion that condemns people to death, should they want to leave islam, is wrong. You know that a religion that promises an express-line free pass to 'heaven' should its adherent blow himself up along with a busload of children, is wrong. You know that a 'heaven' that is defined by sexual orgies, is a lie. Leave it as fast as you can. Yes, its dangerous (a death sentance to those that leave) - but your soul is in greater danger by sticking with the cult of death.
Hmmm? I wonder how many Progressive Marxist Liberals will convert now that bin Ladin told them to convert?
It is the religion of Peace as we have been told. And their actions do speak louder than words.
People of America: the world is following your news in regards to your invasion of Iraq, for people have recently come to know that, after several years of the tragedies of this war, the vast majority of you want it stopped. Thus, you elected the Democratic Party for this purpose, but the Democrats haven’t made a move worth mentioning. On the contrary, they continue to agree to the spending of tens of billions to continue the killing and war there, which has led to the vast majority of you being afflicted with disappointment.
To: Mr. Bin Laden.
From: A proud American and Jew
Subj: My conversion
Mr Bin Laden,
It will be a cold day in hell before I convert to that 12th century death cult you call a religion. I like mine just fine. 6 million died so I could be a Jew, and 300,000 Americans, some of them close friends of my Grandfather, died saving the other 6 million poised to follow.
I promise my own forms of misery and death on ANYONE who tries to fit my wife with the burlap sack you so quaintly call a “burqa”. I am sure many of the membership here feel similarly.
It is my sincere wish that the law of averages catches up with you, and the US military ascertains your whereabouts and if you have or have not attained the lofty status of room temperature.
And here is a final thought from the membership of Free Republic as well as many other Americans (the oh, 60-70% who think Noam Chomsky is a carpet chewing nutbar who ought to be locked away UNDER the asylum!).
BUGGER OFF MONKEY BOY!!!
Sincerely yours,
Braak
Invite me face-to-face Osama, you cave-hiding collectivist POS.
Someone fed him bad research..he also mentions that Rumsfeld killed 2 million in Vietnam.
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