Posted on 01/05/2004 7:42:27 AM PST by areafiftyone
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- A speaker who was purportedly Osama bin Laden said on an audiotape that the U.S.-led war in Iraq was the beginning of the "occupation" of Gulf states for their oil and called on Muslims to keep fighting a holy war in the Middle East. The tape is likely authentic, U.S. officials said Monday.
The voice on the audiotape, which was broadcast Sunday on the Al-Jazeera satellite channel, referred to recent events - including the Dec. 13 capture of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and peace initiatives between Israel and the Palestinians.
The speaker urged Muslims to "continue the jihad to check the conspiracies that are hatched against the Islamic nation."
A CIA official speaking on condition of anonymity said that a technical analysis determined that the tape was likely an authentic audio message from bin Laden, the leader of the al-Qaida terror network.
On CBS's "The Early Show," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge also said that "preliminary assessments says this is the voice of Osama bin Laden."
Al-Jazeera played the audiotape while showing a still photo of bin Laden against a dark blue background.
"My message is to incite you against the conspiracies, especially those uncovered by the occupation of the crusaders in Baghdad under the pretext of weapons of mass destruction, and also the situation in (Jerusalem) under the deceptions of the road map and the Geneva initiative," the speaker said.
A Mideast peace plan dubbed the Geneva Accord was launched Dec. 1 by Israeli and Palestinian negotiators. The phrase "road map" refers to a U.S.-backed plan for a Palestinian state by 2005.
Ibrahim Hilal, Al-Jazeera's editor-in-chief, told The Associated Press the network received the message Sunday. However, he declined to reveal how it was delivered.
Hilal said he was certain the voice on the tape was bin Laden's.
"It is bin Laden's superb and special Arabic language that is very hard to emulate," Hilal said. "It is undoubtedly his voice, his style, and the typical examples from history he uses."
The original message was 47 minutes long but the network aired only 14 minutes, Hilal said.
In those excerpts, the speaker urged Muslims to "liberate the Islamic world from the military occupation of the Crusaders."
He said Gulf countries have given in to U.S. pressures "thinking that would not open the door for toppling of the dictatorial regimes by military force from outside, especially after they saw the capture of their previous comrade in treachery, a hireling of America," referring to Saddam.
The speaker criticized leaders of Muslim nations for refusing to pressure the United States on the Palestinian issue and for not supporting the Palestinian resistance.
He also criticized Gulf countries for receiving members of the U.S.-appointed interim Iraqi Governing Council.
He said the "big powers" were trying to control the region for its oil.
"The occupation of Iraq is the beginning of the full occupation of the other Gulf states. ... The Gulf is the key for control of the world in the point of view of the big powers because of the presence of the biggest deposits of oil."
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Monday in London that he had no confirmation that the voice on the tape was bin Laden's but that it was a safe assumption.
"There is no question that the al-Qaida organization and its networks are still around. And so far as we know, Osama bin Laden is still alive," Straw told British Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Al-Jazeera last broadcast an audiotape purportedly from bin Laden in October. CIA analysts examining that tape concluded it probably was authentic.
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His followers ALREADY believe he's alive so what would be the point of such a tape? To convince you? Since Bin Laden has almost certainly changed his appearance since he became the most wanted man in the world I doubt releasing a video tape would serve him well. Were you aware that cave experts were brought in to view the videotape he released after 9-11 in an attempt to determine exactly what cave he was in? I'm sure he's aware. It was on CNN. Releasing a videotape would be an incredibly stupid thing for him or Ayman al-Zawahri to do.
Or do you think that Ayman al-Zawahri is dead too? He hasn't released any videotapes either.
Would you show your face, if you were intent on hiding from pursuit? If he's changed his looks, why would he show them off to the world? Blackbird.
Just like Saddam, right?
Oh, that's right. Saddam issued audio tapes, too, while certain FReepers yelped "he's dead" and "he's not the one directing attacks on our troops".
Wrong then, wrong now.
Except, of course, for the fanatical kooks that still are allied with him and who are poised to carry on their Jihad at his direction.
Ignoring it doesn't just make the him go away. Dealing with news like this realistically---and that means admitting he's alive and directing his followers--is the adult and sensible thing to do. Beating your chests does not a thing.
You may be bored to tears. Others charged with analyzing threats and doing what they can to avoid them and capture the terrorists are not yawning.
Why didn't Saddam.
Oh, that's right. He had changed his appearance...
He's dead, Jim.
Umm.... were not both of these accords very damaging to Isreal and gave the Palistinians (Palistine being a Latin word, not Arabic) everything they, supposidly, wanted? So why the "anger" at them 'Bin Lyin'? In truth, the only "roadblock" currently for "peace" in the Middle East is living, breathing Jewish people (and the next roadblock will be living, free Christians). The Arabs will not stop until Isreal is destroyed. All these "negotiations" are just buying them time.
As for why I replied. It is strange that there are no video tapes, even of the inside of tents or caves. Bin Laden (or Bin Lyin) may be severly injured, or sick (he has a kidney problem) and not want to be seen on tape.
This is strange in that he loves to make video tapes. This does make the lack of video important. In the Arab world, looks are important for men. Scars are good, but missing limbs/lameness are bad. This seems stange to us, but Americans and Arabs see heros different.
In America, we root for the underdog, or the hero who has unlimited power, but is compassionate. We like Seabiscut and Superman. In the Arabic world, these notions are "for the weak". Their heros are men who are strong (physically, or through leading great armies), merciless, and, what most Americans would consider, barabric. Salidan and the larger than life views they have of Hitler are examples. Thus for Bin Laden to show injury or weakness on video would damn him to ridicule and loathing.
Just look what happened when Saddam was caught and shown as a dirtly little coward. The Arabic world was in shock and then said the Western Media was cruel to show the video of him. These are same arabs that rejoiced in seeing the WTC collapse and repeatedly watched the videos of American women and children crying and covered in dust.
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