Report: bin Laden Urges Islamic Unity

Associated Press ^ | January 19, 2003 | Maggie Michael

[AntiGuv]

CAIRO, Egypt - A statement purportedly written by Osama bin Laden urges Muslims to stop fighting each other and unite against the "crusader coalition" that is attacking the Islamic world, according to excerpts published Sunday in a London-based Arab newspaper.

Asharq Al-Awsat printed portions of a 26-page statement it claims was written and signed by bin Laden, leader of the al-Qaida terror group.

The letter did not mention any nation, but earlier statements attributed to bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders have accused the United States and Israel of launching a religious crusade against the Muslim world.

The journalist who wrote the article, Mohamed el-Shaf'aie, told The Associated Press on Sunday that the statement was mailed to the paper from an Islamic source in London with close links to a Pakistan-based Islamic research center known for its ties to al-Qaida.

The letter attributed to bin Laden says, "the current situation Muslims are living in requires a deployment of all efforts to fight the Islamic battle against the crusader coalition, which has revealed its real, evil intentions."

"Their target now is Islam and Muslims and not only the (Middle East) region," the letter added.

America has come under attack throughout the Islamic world for a perceived bias toward Israel in the Jewish state's conflict with the Palestinians, and for the U.S. threat to attack Iraq if it retains weapons banned by the United Nations.

The U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, launched after the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States, and U.S. detention of hundreds of men with suspected links to al-Qaida and Afghanistan's previous Taliban rulers have compounded the view in the Islamic world that Washington is attacking Muslims.

The United States denies such claims.

Despite numerous written, audio and videotaped statements attributed to bin Laden after the launch of the Afghanistan war, it is unclear where the Saudi-born Islamic extremist is or if he is still alive.

No al-Qaida affiliated web sites immediately published the latest statement, which normally happens whenever one appears.

The statement excerpts published by Asharq Al-Awsat urge Muslims to "wake from their deep sleep ... and stop (acting as) rivals and fire their arrows toward their enemies instead of themselves."

It was not clear who the letter referred to, but feuds and disputes are common within the volatile Middle East.

The statement's author said he was "surprised by the many different controversies and feuds among Muslims in general and those working for Islam in particular. Such a dangerous phenomenon has become the only thing Islamic-oriented factions agree upon."

The letter also defends al-Qaida leaders for unspecified mistakes. "The honor of righteous men should be protected despite whatever faults they may commit," the letter said without elaborating.

[Man of the Right]

I think some Freepers missed the obvious point on this thread. You call for unity when you don't have it. That suggests not everyone in the Muslim world is willing to die like lemmings.

These people are not 10 feet tall. If and when we have competent intelligence, they become just another crime organization.

Thanks for giving the Islamists a free pass during your 8 years, Bill Clinton.

[EaglesUpForever]

The honor of righteous men should be protected

As if any Al Queda member even qualifies to be called a "man" let alone "righteous".

[McGavin999]

Not to mention the fact that those who agree with the terrorists have no idea what honor is.

[Happy2BMe]

"INS Readmitting Scoff Laws - Readmitting Entries From Terrorist States (Jan 17, 2003)"

Sleep Good Tonite Your Borders Are Belong To Us A Public Service Announcement of The INS

[b4its2late]

Osama bin Mamma is Dead.

And decomposing.......

[Meem the Scream]

I agree. Internecine fighting can only work in our favor. And it must be because of the many arrests around the world. It seems we've created a leadership vaccum that the underlings are trying to fill to get their power. I'm actually feeling cautiously optimistic at the moment. When we get them using their energy/time/brain power looking at each other instead of us, it's a good thing.

[MeekOneGOP]

Leave to the media to screw up his note's content.

Here's the REAL note, sent to the weekend anti-war protestors...

[MeekOneGOP]

s/b: Leave IT to the media...

[angkor]

feuds and disputes are common within the volatile Middle East.

For all their incisive reasoning, Islamists fail to see that when they're not murdering "infidel" grandmothers and schoolchildren, Muslims are murdering each other.

[SandRat]

Just remember GW as the Governor of Texas was the commander of the Texas Rangers. Now as the President he's commander of all US Army Rangers so - -

In the Eyes of a Ranger
The unsuspecting stranger
Had better know the truth of wrong from right

Cause the eyes of the Ranger are upon you
Anything you do he's gonna see
So when you're ploting trouble look behind you
Cause that's where the Rangers gonna be

[Grampa Dave]

Amazing how the parts and pieces of the head al Queerdo goat humper keep writing these articles and making tapes.

This fiction falls into the same category of Bravo Sierra as all the other BS coming out, like GW's administration is split, the Americans dont' support GW, Americans want peace instead of war. Uncle Soddomite is spending billions of $'s to keep from becoming parts and pieces in the Iraqi desert.

A year ago in December, the parts and pieces of Sammy Been Laden assumed cave temp in Tora Bora.

Uncle Soddomite will become parts and pieces and assume desert temp in Iraq sometime in February inspite of his billions of $;s blood money to pay for all of the save his A$$ articles that have been published and will be published.

Then, we will read for years about his threats when no one will have seen him for years.

When do the Islamofacists lie?

[MacArthur]

Thank you so much for the very informative websites re: terrorism.One can not be too informed. Best regards.