Posted on 09/08/2007 7:39:57 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3
(CBS) "People of America," he says, "lend me your ears."
So says the most wanted man in the world, Osama bin Laden, appearing in a new videotape which has surfaced nearly six years after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
In it, he rails against Western corporations, neoconservatives, and Democrats in Congress, telling Americans they had voted for Democrats to stop the war, but in his words, the majority party hasn’t made a move worth mentioning.
CBS News consultant Michael Scheuer, a former CIA analyst and author of "Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror" and "Through Our Enemies' Eyes: Osama bin Laden, Radical Islam, and the Future of America" (Potomac), has been critical of the administration's efforts to capture bin Laden, and says the newly-released video shows an al Qaeda leader taunting the U.S. for failing to catch him.
Scheuer spent years tracking al Qaeda as the head of the CIA's bin Laden unit.
Discussing the video with CBS Saturday Early Show anchor Maggie Rodriguez, Scheuer said, "First of all, the setting is very relaxed, very comfortable. He is not in his camouflaged jacket. There's no rifle. What he is trying to say is that he is under no pressure from the Americans. The Americans are failing in their effort to kill him, and in their effort to destroy al Qaeda."
Of our progress in battling al Qaeda, Scheuer said, "It points directly to the fact that we failed utterly in Afghanistan to send enough either intelligence officers or military people.
"You know, we have about 30,000 troops there, and we've asked them to defeat the Taliban, keep President Karzai's government in power, build a democracy, eradicate the opium industry - and in their spare time go after Osama bin Laden."
The mere appearance of bin Laden, four years after the last new video recording and six years after the 9/11 attacks, "is the reminder of a failed policy."
The tape's script seems calculated to authenticate its currency by including pointed references to the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, both of whom took office earlier this year.
Informed sources tell CBS News they now believe he is holed up in a rugged no-man's land in Northern Pakistan.
"Well, I think they're blowing a little bit of smoke," Scheuer said. "They have to say something now that he is back in the public eye, but if you look at the territory, it is impossible to find any single person up there, and we don't have enough people to do it, and we respect Pakistan's sovereignty. I guess they're not going to go into Pakistan."
Bin Laden makes mention of Scheuer's writings, saying in the tape, "If you would like to get to know what some of the reasons for your losing your war against us, then read the book by Michael Scheuer."
Scheuer said the referral makes the point that the former CIA analyst communicates what recent American presidents have not said about the nation's war against Islamic fundamentalism.
"The war is motivated on the enemy's side by the impact of our policies," he said. "It's not about democracy. It's not about women's rights. It's not about freedom or elections. It has everything to do with the impact of our foreign policy in the Muslim world. It's not to say that our policy is wrong, it's simply to try to understand the motivation of your enemy."
The Intel Center, an independent analysis group which has studied the tape, said that bin Laden makes no overt threat, no indication of an impending attack upon America or its citizens. Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff has also said there is no reason to push the panic button now.
But Scheuer is not convinced.
"The Intel Center is almost always right," he said. "I think there's an overwhelming threat in it. Bin laden, again, offered us a chance to convert to Islam, which is required in their religion before they attack us. So to say there's no threat in this message is just 180 degrees incorrect."
And the timing of the message, on the eve of the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, "is not a coincidence at all."
"He is gloating. They think they're winning, and I think they're probably correct at the moment."
Based on what? Your brilliant analytical powers? NO ONE who worked in the CIA just prior to 9/11 has ANY competence in intelligence matters to lecture anyone about anything.
Sounds like an excellent talking point for the Rats.
He's NOT winning. If he was HAPPY with what the Democrats were doing (the much talked about but little action WITHDRAWL), then he would be WINNING.
Make him angry. He's not long for this world.
....the tape is a fake. I’d love to believe it’s really bin Ladin - but it’s not.
The fact that the media thinks it is him proves how stupid they are - and how stupid and easy to manipulate libs are...
I agree.
Scheuer is an ass clown of the first order. His thesis that US policies in the middle east are the root cause of islamist violence is refuted by 1200 years of Islamic history prior to the founding of the American Republic. But when you are a double-naught spy like Scheuer, why let a small detail like 1200 years of contrary history get in the way of your sound bites!
He is “winning” because the U.S. mainstream media is treating this video like it is the second coming, when in reality it is little more than a long, droning advertisement for Just for Men bead and mustache dye.
First of all, a man on kidney dialosis machine doesn’t suddenly die his beard and look younger living in a cave molesting goats! He is only winning with the left because they share the same values, utter contempt and hatrid of the United States, only the left is too damn stupid to realize that they will be the ones muzzie first exterminate due to their immoral life styles!
No wonder CIA is the most effective, politically corrupt organization besides the UN when people like THIS totally clueless guy make it to management positions.
I must overwhelmingly agree with this. As soon as I heard his (bin Laden) statements I knew there were threats in the message. WHY DO WE HAVE PEOPLE ANALYZING ISLAMIST MESSAGES WHO DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ISLAM?!?
What "policy" has failed?
Keeping bin Laden in the box he has been in for four years and marginalizing his influence by keeping him out of communication with his followers seems to be a better policy than making him a martyr. The DBM helps him get his message out and makes him a mythical figure that the Great Satan can't touch then claim bin Laden is winning. Is it any wonder why so many question which side they are on?
Understanding the motivation of an enemy who has declared that anyone who does not convert to their belief system will die doesn't help us defeat them. It is not our foreign policy that is driving the hatred. It is our belief system being at odds with theirs. Changing our policies now will only convince them that we are weak and can be conquered.
Why would I lend him anything except dog poop by the long ton?
He sounds like a RUN Paul voter.
I had always felt that the Soviet propaganda movies of the 70s and 80s portraying the CIA as bumbling idiots (who were more dangerous to themselves) was just wishful thinking on the Soviets part...but, not anymore. And this guy is a classic example of buffonery(not my fault I couldn’t do my job;please buy my book)
These fools... there is building consensus that this is a fake video... which really shows the level of ignorance in the press. cBS... NEVER BELIEVE A KNOWN LIAR!
LLS
The fact that the media thinks it is him proves how stupid they are - and how stupid and easy to manipulate libs are...
Of course it's fake, but everyone has a interest in keeping him alive: US govt-it keeps him from becoming a martyr, AQ-it keeps them from looking weak, media/Dems-why haven't we got bin Laden yet?
They would all say it was Osama if he came out in drag with blond hair and blue eyes.
What “policy” has failed?
their poliocy to create jobs, employment, technology, quality of life social goods and a future for themselves
thus they blame their failure on the US and G8.
its the same old blame the zionistas and the Americans
oops...
whose failure????
get me off my camel!!!!!
I think it is that American guy turned Muslim from Calif. I can't think of his name.
That black beard is the phoniest thing I have ever seen.
Sounds a lot like our own domestic liberal activists. In fact, exactly like them. You'd think they'd realize that when they say things which echo this murderous outlaw that it would prompt them to think they might need to reexamine their own world view.
It was Michael Scheuer’s job to get bin Laden - - he didn’t.
He dyed it - wants to look younger and more photogenic.
Adam Gadahn - - it’s not.
On another subject, a new story from a detainee at Gitmo claims Bin Laden escaped Tora Bora 2 days after the first airstrikes and not the months the Rats claim.
It is so assinine to say that OBL and his thugs are winning. The a-wipe lives in a friggin cave. A CAVE!!!!!!
Scheuer is an ass clown of the first order and more. What an idiot bureaucRAT that never managed to get the job done and typically blames those that are attempting to fix the mess Scheuer and the rest of the CIA clowns failed to do!
He sounds like the typical Leftard claiming that he is a real Conservative....
Scheuer is also the one who reported that Clinton refused to let us hit OBL when we had him in our sights...
Scheuer is also the one who reported that Clinton refused to let us hit OBL when we had him in our sights...
Oops...sorry for the double post!
“He sounds like a RUN Paul voter.”
Not quite; Scheuer participated in the following exchange on the FOX News program The O’Reilly Factor:
O’REILLY: I’m bringing it up to be - to show the Islamic world and those Muslims who are watching us right now, the inconsistency of their thought that, if there was a - you know, a God that was actually wanting them to do whatever, how could he possibly want them to...
SCHEUER: No, I don’t quite follow it, sir, because I — as much as I’d like to believe that human life is sacred in all instances, war, whether it’s conducted by Americans or by British or by Chinese or by Muslims, war is just war. And it kills innocent people. And that’s the way it is.
O’REILLY: But there’s a way to wage it. And the way that the al Qaedas are waging it is by killing civilians. They’re not waging war in a conventional way, as you know. Now...
SCHEUER: Well, they are waging war in the conventional way that we waged war until 1945, sir, which is the last war we’ve won. Once we stopped waging war in the American fashion, we haven’t won a war since....
O’REILLY: Is there anything we can do to win it?
SCHEUER: Yes, sir. We certainly have to kill more of the enemy. That’s the first step.
O’REILLY: Any way we can?
SCHEUER: Anywhere we can, whenever we can, without a great deal of concern for civilian casualties. As I said, war is war. The people who got killed when they were hosting Zawahiri to dinner were not the friends of the United States.
O’REILLY: All right, Mr Scheuer, always a pleasure to talk with you.
Adam Gadahn
Osama bin Laden
A still image taken from the new video tape
RTE News
This picture of Osama bin Laden is from an undated 2004
video broadcast by Arab TV station Al-Jazeera.
Kansas City
Look at these two pictures of Osama. One says it is from the Newly released video and one says it is from 2004.
Me thinks something is wrong here. Also from the short video I saw it looked to me like he had beard growth all the way up to his eyes. Looked very phoney. Like the Santa Clause beard.
Anyone have the newest picture of Osama?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
“He sounds like a RUN Paul voter.”
Perhaps so, but I wonder. Here is Scheuer on Richard Clark:
* “Clarke’s book [Against All Enemies] is also a crucial complement to the September 11 panel’s failure to condemn Mr. Clinton’s failure to capture or kill bin Laden on any of the eight to 10 chances afforded by CIA reporting. Mr. Clarke never mentions that President Bush had no chances to kill bin Laden before September 11 and leaves readers with the false impression that he, Mr. Clinton and Mr. Clinton’s national security adviser, Sandy Berger, did their best to end the bin Laden threat. That trio, in my view, abetted al Qaeda, and if the September 11 families were smart they would focus on the dereliction of Dick [Clarke], Bill [Clinton] and Sandy [Berger] and not the antics of convicted September 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui.”[6]
Also, on October 1, 2006, Michael Scheuer appeared on Fox News Sunday and had the following exchange with host Chris Wallace:
WALLACE: Mr. Scheuer, as the man in charge of what was called “Alec Station,” the CIA unit in charge of hunting down Usama bin Laden, you say the Clinton administration missed at least 10 chances to get him. I don’t want to go into all 10, but what was the problem?
FORMER CIA UNIT CHIEF MICHAEL SCHEUER: Well, the president is correct, in that he got - President Clinton is correct that he got closer than anyone, but, of course, he always refused to pull the trigger. And in addition, we were never authorized, while I was the chief of operations, to kill Usama bin Laden. In fact, Mr. Richard Clarke definitely told us we had no authorization to kill bin Laden.
Why they didn’t shoot, of course, is, at least from Mr. Tenet’s viewpoint it was because one time they were afraid to have shrapnel hit a mosque when they killed bin Laden. And two other times I think they were afraid they actually would have to do something, so they warned the emirates on one occasion, the princes from the United Arab Emirates, to move so we couldn’t attack bin Laden.
WALLACE: They were on a hunting trip with bin Laden.
SCHEUER: Yes, sir. And Richard Clarke called the emirates and warned them that they should get out of that area, which cost us the chance to kill him.
WALLACE: In your opinion, as somebody who was up close and personal, why didn’t the Clinton administration go after Al Qaeda after the USS Cole?
SCHEUER: Mr. Wallace, my opinion is not all that important. I went to a little Jesuit school in Buffalo called Canisius, and the priests taught us never to lie, but if you had to lie, never lie about facts. Mr. Richard Clarke, Mr. Sandy Berger, President Clinton are lying about the opportunities they had to kill Usama bin Laden. That’s the plain truth, the exact truth.
Men and women at the CIA risked their lives to provide occasions to kill a man we knew had declared war and had attacked America four or five times before 1998. We had plans that had been approved by the Joint Operations Command at Fort Bragg. We had opportunities, many opportunities to kill him.
But that’s the president’s decision. That’s absolutely the case. It’s not a simple, dumb bureaucrat like me; that’s not my decision. It’s his. But for him to get on the television and say to the American people he did all he could is a flat lie, sir.
“Michael Scheuer is an extreme Lefty. Naturally the MSM loves him.”
That first statement is so much at odds with the facts that it is like a man standing in front of a wall painted green, pointing at it, and saying “This is an orange wall”.
Someone who, if he really is still alive, has to look over his shoulder 24/7 to avoid a bullet or guided missile, is NOT winning.
It is very funny how everyone on here goes after Scheuer for being a lefty when in reality he is very much to the extreme right on most of the issues we are facing re: Bin laden. His book is a great read and those on FR would benefit greatly by reading it.
SCHEUER: Yes, sir. We certainly have to kill more of the enemy. That’s the first step.
“It is very funny how everyone on here goes after Scheuer for being a lefty when in reality he is very much to the extreme right on most of the issues we are facing re: Bin laden. His book is a great read and those on FR would benefit greatly by reading it.”
Yes, his testimony is a lot like this fellow featured in Jamie Glazov’s interview:
http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.aspx?GUID=548C019C-3F1A-41DB-ACBB-D8B2F7FBFC71
The Clinton Censors
By Jamie Glazov
FrontPageMagazine.com | 9/7/2007
Frontpage Interview’s guest today is Cyrus Nowrasteh, the writer/producer of the ABC 6-hour miniseries The Path to 9/11 which aired last September, 2006. He has worked in television and motion pictures for a number of years, won two PEN awards for Best Teleplay, and specializes in history and docudrama.
On the left is an actual image from the 2004 video.
It is possible that the new video is a heavily processed version of the same video, since it wouldn't take too much computer equipment to digitally transform the 2004 video, the second picture you posted is, I believe, incorrectly identified as coming from 2004. The second image is from the new video.
WOW! Can I just call you Buckhead? Amazing find; my only question is why isn’t this already in the MSM? All those stupid talking heads obsessed with the color of his beard and not one of them even IMAGINED it might be an old vid??
Whoops, I didn’t read down far enough. Seems you had two of the same images. Oh well. I WANTED you to be another Buckhead!
ping
1.) The nose - - in the older picture, his nose has a curve to the right. In the current one, the nose curves to the left.
2.) The eyebrows are not shaped the same. Also, the eyes are not shaped the same.
3.) The beard - - in the older picture, there are two small gaps in his beard under his lower lip. In the current picture, though the quality is not the best, those gaps aren't apparent.
Body double?
It's definitely not Gadahn. But after reading the transcript of OBL's latest speech, I'm not certain Gadahn didn't write it. The wording sounds more like something he would come up with. Not really like OBL's past speeches.
Analysts are saying it's OBL's voice on the video so I just don't know what to think about the whole thing. Did they just dub over the previous video?
But OBL did say the next time we saw him would be when they attack us again. My feeling is that simply the appearance of the video is the "go signal".
I do hope I am wrong.
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