Associated Press
Cairo, Egypt (AP) — Osama bin Laden appeared for the first time in three years in a video Friday released ahead of the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, telling Americans they should convert to Islam if they want the war in Iraq to end.
American officials said the U.S. government had obtained a copy even though the video had not been posted yet by al-Qaida — and intelligence agencies were studying the video to determine whether it was authentic and looking for clues about bin Laden’s health.
The 30-minute video was obtained by the SITE Institute, a Washington-based group that monitors terrorist messages, and provided to the Associated Press.
The footage gives a rare look at the al-Qaida leader, who has likely avoided appearing in videos as a security measure. His emergence comes at a time when terrorism experts believe his terror network is regrouping in the lawless Pakistan-Afghanistan border region — and it underlines the U.S. failure to catch him.
In the video, a short excerpt of which was broadcast to the Arab world by Al-Jazeera television, bin Laden wears a white robe, a white circular cap and a beige cloak seated behind a table while reading an address to the American people from papers in front of him.
His trimmed beard is shorter than in his last video, in 2004, and is fully black — apparently dyed, since in past videos it was mostly gray. He speaks softly, as he usually does, and has dark bags under his eyes, but his appearance dispelled rumors that he had died.
U.S. President George W. Bush made the rare move of speaking about an al-Qaida video. The tape is “a reminder about the dangerous world in which we live, he told reporters on the sidelines of a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Sydney, Australia.
“It’s important that we show resolve and determination to protect ourselves, deny al-Qaida safe haven and support young democracies,” Bush said.
In the video, Bin Laden makes no overt threats and does not directly call for attacks.
Instead, he addresses Americans, lecturing them on the failures of their leaders to stop the war in Iraq despite growing public opposition in the U.S.
He says there were two solutions to stopping the Iraq war. “One is from our side, and it is to escalate the fighting and killing against you. This is our duty, and our brothers are carrying it out,” bin Laden said.
“The second solution is from your side. … I invite you to embrace Islam,” he said.
One result of that, bin Laden said, would be an end to the Iraq war. He said “warmongering owners of the major corporations” would rush to appease voters who showed they are looking for an alternative, “and this alternative is Islam.”
He derided Bush, saying events in Iraq have gotten “out of control” and the American leader “is like the one who plows and sows the sea: He harvests nothing but failure.”
Bin Laden frequently criticized capitalism, calling its leaders the real terrorists and threats to human freedom.
“This is why I tell you: as you liberated yourselves before from the slavery of monks, kings and feudalism, you should liberate yourselves from the deception, shackles and attrition of the capitalist system,” he said.
Bin Laden’s attacks in the video on capitalism, multinational corporations and globalization led several current and former government officials to believe an American — 28-year-old Adam Gadahn — may have written at least part of the speech.
Gadahn, who has been charged with treason and supporting terrorism for serving as an al-Qaida propagandist, has appeared in several past al-Qaida-produced videos, lecturing against capitalism and globalization and making insider references to American culture.
“It has Adam Gadahn written all over it,” one former senior intelligence official said of bin Laden’s tape, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The video appeared to have been recently made. At one point, bin Laden mentions that “several days ago” Japan marked the 62nd anniversary of the Aug. 6, 1945, atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima. He also refers to the Democratic Party’s congressional victory in last fall’s election and to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was elected in May.
He also shows a grasp of current events, dropping mentions of global warming and saying Americans are “reeling under the burdens” of a mortgage crisis.
And he praises author Noam Chomsky, an early critic of the Iraq war, as well as Michael Scheuer, former head of the CIA’s bin Laden unit, who has said poor U.S. leadership was losing the war against terrorist groups.
Bin Laden “knows Bush has low approval ratings, knows the significance of a growing awareness of global warming,” said Thomas Sanderson, deputy director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “He’s trying to capitalize on what he sees as a shift back to the middle in American politics.”
Al-Qaida annually uses the anniversary of the Sept. 11 suicide attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as a propaganda opportunity, issuing videotapes to rally supporters and mock the United States.
But the appearance of bin Laden this year makes a bigger splash. The al-Qaida leader had not appeared in new video footage since October 2004, and he had not put out an audiotape in more than a year, his longest period without a message.
His deputy, Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahri, has issued numerous videos and audiotapes in the meantime as al-Qaida has increased the sophistication and speed of its media operations.
Seth Jones, a terrorism expert at the RAND think tank, said that while the anniversary gives the pretext for the tape, it also comes at a time when the main al-Qaida leadership has managed to regroup.
“There clearly has been a resurgence of core al-Qaida in the tribal areas of Pakistan” along the frontier with Afghanistan since 2005, Jones said.
He said sympathy in that region for the Taliban has made it more receptive to militant Sunni groups, including al-Qaida. “It’s really created a sanctuary,” Jones said.
Rita Katz, director of the SITE Institute, said she believes “strongly that al-Qaida has regrouped” but that its core bases are more scattered than previously, comprising several training camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan. She said it was likely bin Laden is hidden in a more secure location, away from any of those sites.
During the video, bin Laden’s image moves for only a total of about 3 1/2 minutes in two segments, staying frozen the rest of the time while his remarks continue.
A former senior U.S. intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it might have resulted from a technical glitch while al-Qaida passed the video through a variety of computer sites to mask its cyber trail.
The United States intercepted the video before it was released on Islamic Web sites where al-Qaida usually posts its messages, a U.S. counterterrorism official said in Washington. U.S. officials had analyzed the video for hours before transcripts and videos were leaked, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The official said analysts were studying bin Laden’s physical characteristics — for clues about his health after unconfirmed rumors earlier this year that he had died of kidney disease.
Soon after word emerged that the United States had the video, Islamic militant Web sites that usually carry statements from al-Qaida went down and were inaccessible.
Hours later, the sites were back up, but by late Friday, the video still had not been released on the militant Web sites.
The reason for the shutdown was not immediately known. Evan H. Kohlmann, a terrorism expert at globalterroralert.com, said he suspected it was the work of al-Qaida itself, trying to find how the video leaked to U.S. officials.
Associated Press writers Lara Jakes Jordan, Pamela Hess and Matthew Lee in Washington and Sarah DiLorenzo in New York contributed to this report.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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posted September 8, 2007 at 4:37 am
I remember a documentary that was released about Osama not too long ago, “In the Footsteps of Bin Laden.” It made note that Osama actually faced criticism even from other radical, extremist Islamic clerics for the 9/11 attacks.
The reason was not because of the deaths or the loss of innocent life, but rather because he had broken a “rule” that stated that sort of thing was only “okay” after you had given your enemies a chance to “embrace Islam.” If they refused, THEN it was okay to mass-murder them. (Can’t you just feel the waves of love radiating off of those “holy men”?)
Since then, Bin Laden has asked Americans to embrace Islam in most of his released messages. Coincidence? Nope.
The stupid thing is that Pakistan’s government has a 60% approval rating in support of that Taliban. They are openly laughing at the US while hiding their buddies, and trying to play both ends against the middle.
Going to Iraq was the most idiotic thing America has done… in the past decade. The war Bush launched for all the wrong reasons depleted the reserves necessary to launch a meaningful attack on the Head of Al-Qaeda. Now, Iraq is a magnet for the terrorists and a freekin’ propaganda tool, while the US is weaker and more open to attack than ever. Do you really think removing fingernail clippers from old ladies handbags at the Airport is helping stop terrorists on homeland soil? Ha. It’s a comfort measure to put our minds at ease and to make it look like the government ahs control of… something, anything.
The US is bleeding money, equipment, and most importantly, the lives of its own youth, for nothing while Binny-Boy sits back and watches the US grow frailer while planning his next attack. Oh, and oiling his beard.
posted September 8, 2007 at 11:09 am
Convert to Islam? Not this pagan.
posted September 8, 2007 at 12:59 pm
I’d like to see the US out of Iraq, but wouldn’t become Islam to achieve this. His speeches are spoken to annoy and poke at America. Onward Christian Soldiers!, and also Capitalism!
posted September 8, 2007 at 2:08 pm
On netscape.com today there is a pc. from Times on Line. It’s about a muslim preacher, Riyadh ul Haq who preaches contempt for Jews, Christians and Hindus, he is in line to become the spiritual leader of the Deobandi sect in Britain. This movement runs 600 of Britains 1,350 mosques according to a police report seen by Times. Sounds like another Osma Bin Laden. But this should relieve any worry as he suggests Muslims should only shed blood overseas….the question is whose blood across what seas?
posted September 8, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Bin Laden’s evangelism for the Islamic cause is not very convincing. I mean, I am a Christian whose Lord instructs me to love Him and to love my neighbor and to love my enemy. I could never honestly in the name of Jesus Christ send thousands of people to their deaths in an orchestrated attack such as was 9/11. For a Christian to do so is totally contrary to the name of Christ.
So why would I give up a faith that teaches me to love, even though I sometimes fail at it, and struggle with living out that principle – why would I give up a faith that tells me to love and build up for a faith that tells me to hate and tear down? Bin Laden’s brand of faith has no appeal to me whatsoever.
posted September 8, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Windsors Child
>>> I could never honestly in the name of Jesus Christ send thousands of people to their deaths in an orchestrated attack such as was 9/11. For a Christian to do so is totally contrary to the name of Christ.
Beautifuly put, and I beleive true Christians beleive the same. It is a pity that many of your religious ancestors didn’t feel the same way. Crusades; Inquisition; Salem; Christians against Women’s Suffrage; Christians against interracial Marriage – the list continues. (Not that other religious are any less guilty of such atrocities, if not necessarily on the same scale over time, but you do paint a rather rosy picture of modern Christianity that excludes the crimson tide of its past.)
>>> “So why would I give up a faith that teaches me to love, even though I sometimes fail at it, and struggle with living out that principle – why would I give up a faith that tells me to love”
He doesn’t expect you to convert to Islam. He is only lipping the words his fellow radical clerics want to hear before he kills more people. He is just playing spiritual politics. People in your own faith do it too, only they kill people’s civil rights (instead of their bodies) to appease their God.
posted September 8, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Amen! Nightlad.
posted September 8, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Must “ditto” H22, Nightlad. “Amen” and well done.
posted September 8, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Jesus Christ loves Osama bin Laden-He died on a cross,so that Osmana might have the oportunity to enter God’s forever family-His Kingdom of Light.This Kingdom,as Jesus made very clear, is “not of this world”- It is spiritual.Far too many disciples of Jesus,and disciples of Islam,confuse the spirtual battle between good and evil,and adopt the same fighting principles to this physical realm.Thus we use horrendous evil weopons of war to fight our enemies on planet earth.This is not the way to extend God’s kingdom.We should be prepared to love extravagently,and forgive our enemies-irrespective of what belief system they hold to,and no matter what evil acts they do to us.
I invite all who long to be pure in heart,holy and merciful-to fight prayerfully,and with LOVE.
If you are truly Jesus’s disciple,even friend,you should also be praying for Osama to change direction and focus and come to know God.
I wonder how many, so called Christians,are doing that?
Blessings to all.
posted September 8, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Ross:
“Jesus Christ loves Osama bin-Laden-He died on a cros, so that Osama might have the opportunity to enter God’s forever family-His Kingdom of Light.” And you know this how??
Osama is one of many men, from many religions,past and present, who feels his god and way of believeing is the ONLY way to believe and if necessary, force will be used to convince everyone else of this. Lots of wars have been fought due to religious beliefs, because each participant in that war thought “GOD” was on THEIR side! NO religion is the only way nor is there anything wrong with folks who don’t believe in a supreme being. Freedom to believe or not believe is an important part of our country.
Unfortunately for us, a Christian (AKA “W”)decided he knew all the answers and decided to invade Iraq….and cause even more dislike and hatred from Muslims. Osama has caused grief in this country (the U.S.) and is still trying to do so. Take a hint….praying for Osama to change direction ain’t going to help….he is as convinced he is right as you are convinced you are right.
If I was a praying person, I’d be praying that we’d get our men and women OUT of Iraq and leave them to decide their fate. Too many of our soldiers have died for absolutely NO REASON.
Fanatical Muslims are not a representation of the entire Muslim community. All religions have their fanatics. The fanatics of all religions reflect poorly on the other members of their community.
posted September 8, 2007 at 9:00 pm
If anything, I think this will temporarily boost approval of the Iraq War, and make global warming skepticism a more acceptable position. I wonder if Professor Chomskey is feeling at all awkward at the moment…
God bless.
posted September 9, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Joey:
I really HOPE it doesn’t boost any approval for the Iraq War, even temporarily. Too many deaths, on both sides, for what? I don’t think they are any better off since we invaded and “helped them” towards democracy. Right.
OBL is spouting off, as per usual. When he and his cohorts decide to hit us again, they will. What happens in Iraq isn’t going to make a differance to him one way or another….since Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. So we invaded them. Great call by “W”!!!
posted September 10, 2007 at 10:45 am
Bin Laden also reportedly said that Jews would have escaped from the Holocaust if they’d put themselves “under the protection” of Muslims. The “under the protection” canard really gets me — I last heard it in reference to the plot in Canada to behead the Canadian Prime Minister. One of the extremists said, perhaps on a website, that Westerners ought to “put themselves under the protection” of the Muslims.
Since, it is they themselves (the Muslim extremists) that we need to be protected from, wouldn’t we be better off stopping them? Then we won’t need “their protection.” That language reminds me of the “protection money” paid to the Mafia, and is very revealing.
posted September 10, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Alicia:
“…..wouldn’t we be better off stopping the?” Yes, if indeed that would work. I am guessing you’re a suporter of the Iraq mess? IF I am correct, my comment is….
The Iraq War, IMO isn’t stopping anything. It is making more enemies than friends for the U.S. The fanatical Muslims are having no problem recruiting children using our invasion of Iraq etc. as a ploy, among many other reasons. If the fanatical groups want to hit us again, and they will, all the guns and killing in Iraq won’t prevent that. Should the U.S. be vigilant and careful etc.? Of course, but getting our women and men killed overseas in an unjust war won’t stop anything. Iraq wasn’t even involved in 9/11 and had no WMD’s (the other poor excuse).
If you aren’t a supporter of the war, I misread what you wrote above.
posted September 10, 2007 at 1:06 pm
BinLaden has proven, again, that he is more similar to radical Christians than he is opposite. They both proclaim that any opponent should convert to their cause and beliefs. There is as much a Christian “Taliban” as there is a Moslem one. Life would be easier of the immoderate forces were simply given an island where they could fight to their hearts contant, leaving the rest of humanity alone. Sadly, life is not so well organized. So it is left the the substantially larger moderate bodies to buffer, and if necessary, shut down, the contentious, demanding, and noxious forces who promote conversion or death.
Nature has proven, over and again, a preference for diversity and the survival of the tolerant. Among our many hopes is that the intolerant will not survive and anyone (anything) that resists diversity does not endure. Some might say it is God’s better plan.
posted September 10, 2007 at 1:56 pm
pagansister,
I can’t deny I supported the Iraq war initially, because I did believe that there were WMD’s there. However, “stopping” can mean a lot of things – it can mean “arresting,” literally. It can also mean killing. I would hope it means undermining by “fighting the battle of ideas” not by fighting militarily.
Frankly, if someone tells me that I should put myself under their protection, I’m not going to regard them as anything other than an enemy who seeks to dominate me and control me. I don’t like bullies, and I am sure, from your posts, that you don’t either.
posted September 10, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Alicia:
You’re right….I don’t like bullies either!! “I would hope it means undermining by “fighting the battle of ideas” not by fighting militarily.” I like that idea..
jestrfyl:
Your statement about BinLaden being more simular to radical Christians than opposite, is right on the mark.
And yes, life would be easier if the immoderate forces were given an island on which to fight and leave the rest of us alone. But as you mention, that isn’t going to happen…