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Bin Laden mocks 'weak' US
08/09/2007 12:10 - (SA)
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| An image grab taken from a video shows al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden delivering a recent speech at an unidentified place. (AFP) |
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Dan De Luce
Washington - Elusive al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden mocked the United States as
"weak" and vowed to escalate fighting in Iraq in a new video, his first
such appearance in nearly three years.
The al-Qaeda leader discusses current events but issues no direct
threats in the video, released on Friday. His appearance appears to be
timed to mark the upcoming sixth anniversary of the September 11, 2001
attacks on New York and Washington.
Bin Laden appears with his beard trimmed and apparently dyed black
to hide streaks of gray seen in previous footage.
There are two ways to end the Iraq war, bin Laden says, according to
a transcript released by the US-based SITE Intelligence Group which
monitors Islamic militant websites.
"The first is from our side, and it is to continue to escalate the
killing and fighting against you," says bin Laden.
The second is to do away with the US democratic system of
government, which he says merely serves the interests of major
corporations.
In the rambling message bin Laden attacks US President George W Bush, the US neoconservative thinkers that support him and global
corporations for fomenting the Iraq war. He also attacks the US
Democratic Party, which he claims has done little to halt the war,
makes references to global capitalism and climate change, and invites
Americans to embrace Islam.
US intelligence agencies confirmed the tape's authenticity. "I think
people are pretty confident it is his voice," said a US intelligence
official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The tape was probably produced as recently as early August because
of a reference to the 62nd anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima on
August 6, the official said.
US presidential election
It is bin Laden's first such appearance since October 2004, when he
threatened new attacks against the United States in a video just days
before US presidential election.
Bush used the tape to bolster the case for continued US military
presence in Iraq.
"The tape is a reminder about the dangerous world in which we live,"
said Bush, who was attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
summit Sydney.
"I find it interesting that Iraq was mentioned, which is a reminder
that Iraq is a part of this war against extremists," he said.
With a brown wall as a backdrop, bin Laden appears in the tape
wearing a white robe topped by a beige cloak, similar to the
traditional dress of men in the Gulf region, and looked more like a
Muslim cleric than a fighter.
In a voice and tone similar to those heard in previous videotapes,
bin Laden taunts the United States for its troubles in Iraq and the
effect of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
"Despite America being the greatest economic power and possessing
the most powerful and up-to-date military arsenal as well ... 19 young
men were able - by the grace of Allah, the most high - to change the
direction of its compass," he said in a reference to the September 11
hijackers.
"America is weak despite its apparent strength," he says.
Widely believed hiding in the remote tribal areas along the
Pakistan-Afghanistan border, bin Laden has evaded capture.
'Law of retaliation'
According to the video transcript, bin Laden begins with "praise to
Allah" and his "law of retaliation" - "an eye for an eye, a tooth for
a tooth and the killer is killed."
Bush is "like the one who plows and sows the sea: He harvests
nothing but failure," bin Laden said.
In the tape bin Laden also mentions French President Nicolas
Sarkozy, elected in May, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who
took office in June.
Addressing the American people directly, he refers to domestic
opposition to the Iraq war, saying: "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 tragedies of
this war, the vast majority of you want it stopped."
He says the Democrats took control of the US Congress but failed to
stop the war: "On the contrary, they continue to agree to the spending
of tens of billions to continue the killing and war there."
He also speaks about recent issues grabbing headlines in the United
States, referring to "the reeling of many of you under the burden of
interest-related debts, insane taxes and real estate mortgages; global
warming and its woes."
"To conclude," he says, "I invite you to embrace Islam."
- AFP
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