Maybe it was his niece? I wonder what he thinks about her!
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.
I have a suggestion. Rather than allowing bin Laden to make all the news on 9/11 in the future, our gov’t should turn this thing around. I’d like to see them make some big busts on 9/11 - make 9/11 a day that all muslims rue, rather than celebrate. Make it a tradition that on 9/11, the police come down hard on muslim radicals; hauling in anybody & everybody who are suspects.
Our military should participate, as well. Make 9/11 a day that bombs fall on terrorists, & raids on their hideouts are plentiful & vicious. Make it a day when many terrorists die, not celebrate.
Just think how the perception of 9/11 would change if GWB were to bomb Iran to rubble on 9/11!
This could put a real damper on future muslim celebrations on 9/11, & give Americans a reason to cheer instead of mourn.
I will embrace islam when pigs fly out of Mohammad's ass
islime needs to go the way of the thugee cult http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhN6CG1zCRc
Yes, I suspect he does. After all, he has a ton of time on his hands and nothing to do except bang his forhead into the dirt five times a day and make videos which are even more ridiculous than Michael Whore's, er Moore's, videos.
“He is nuts.”
- Couldn’t agree more.
To begin with, attacking the US and other parts of the Western World are among the most stupid things a Sunnite could ever choose to do.
This strategy was stupid back in 2001 and viewing the West as the foremost enemies of the Sunni branch of Islam makes even less sense today.
If the US troops left the Middle East, who would protect the Sunni Muslims from Iran now that Saddam is gone?
Bin Ladin and all of his confused followers should consider converting to reality.
We call it "Animal Husbandry".
That’s an awesome idea! Unfortunately, our treasonous leftists would make a huge stink, shrieking that Bush/Cheney are ‘politicizing’ the GWOT, oops, I mean that bumper-sticker called the GWOT.
I would love to see us turn 9/11 into an annual debacle for the jihadists, but I do believe that our MSM and Democraps would go crazy over such a sound strategic move. Maybe it’s worth doing anyway, they always find something to whine about....
Ping
You are correct.
Any War on Terror without spreading the Gospel, merely leaves the entire conflict in the hands of the incompetent, such that both sides lose.
OK guys which one of our democratic speech writers wrote his speech?
I wonder now if liberals will heed Bin Laden’s warning and start converting to Islam? They seem to be fascinated with Islam while they loathe Christianity and now even Judaism. Very interesting!
Maybe it was his niece? I wonder what he thinks about her!
Me too. I do hope it does not come to that but I must be prepared.
The WAAFF (World Association for the Advancement of Fossilized Feces) strongly condemns this offensive and insulting comparison!
More satanic verses written by Adam Gadan and passed off as OBL’s. Oh yeah, all you neocons you only have to pay 2.5% flat tax..
Bwhahahhaaha.
Supposedly it IS him talking about some recent events, too.
What we have seen in the past 150 years is the re-conquest of the thug-arm of the cult. They have waged a war against those who do just want to co-exist and silenced them and are continuing to do so.
Maybe I am just old, but a burhcka would seem to a blessing on that. Or a saddle.
GWB need not care either. He’s got only two 9/11s left, & Tuesday seems like a swell day to sink the Iranian navy or something.
Besides, killing an EXTRA LARGE number of al Qaeda in Iraq or Afghanistan on Tuesday, & then “advertising” it to the MSM, is simple doing their jobs in the war - only with a little more determination.
Criticizing the Pres. or our troops for pursuing the enemy with enhanced vigor on 9/11 would truly expose the left as traitors & cowards!
I think that I might agree with binny baby, Islam should be declared as the national religion in the US and to celebrate the first islamic service we should request that binny preside over the ceremony! binny Laden c’mon down!!!!!!!!!
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