On Feb 11 Jazeera broadcast a watered down version of Osama bin Laden's statement. The attention paid in the West to the al-Jazeera TV statement created complications within the Islamist trend. At least in South Asia and the Middle East, the Islamist leaders had already been briefed about, and prepared to propagate, bin Laden’s real message. Now, given the notoriety of the al-Jazeera TV message, they must address it if only in order to avoid confusion in the Arab street. Hence, the Islamist leadership elected to stall on the release of bin Laden’s real statement, and instead initially react to the al-Jazeera message as if it were the real one. Consequently, in some instances, the local leaders reacting referred to the broadcast message as their starting point, but actually ended addressing themes and content of the real message. Most important among these was the Saudi Imam Abu-al-Baraa al-Qarshi, one of bin Laden’s most trusted lieutenants, who issued a follow-up statement on February 12/13, 2003.* On Friday, February 14, 2003, Osama bin Laden’s real message finally released for select internal distribution; essentially at the last moment before the Friday noon prayers and sermons. The Islamists released high-quality audio recording in Arabic and an excellent English translation for the Western-based Islamists. Titled "Exposing the New Crusader War," bin Laden’s message sought to chart the course of the global jihad.
-Jossef Bodansky
* On the 14th, only hours before the "real" bin Laden message was released by al Ansaar news agency, Debka put al-Qarshi's statement on their website, only two days after it was isssued.