Posted on 01/19/2006 10:52:48 AM PST by Arabs only 600 years behind us
'Bin Laden tape' warns of attacks
Opinion is divided as to whether the voice really is Bin Laden's Arabic TV station al-Jazeera has broadcast an audio tape it says is by the al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden. In it, the speaker says new attacks on the US are being planned, but offers a "long-term truce" to the Americans.
If confirmed, it would be the first time Bin Laden has been heard from since December 2004.
People familiar with Bin Laden's voice are divided as to whether the voice really is his. US experts are trying to determine the tape's authenticity.
The US quickly rejected the truce offer made on the tape.
"We do not negotiate with terrorists. We put them out ofbusiness," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
The operations are happening in Baghdad and you will see them here at home the minute they are through (with preparations), with God's permission
Voice said to be Bin Laden
Full transcript The speaker on the tape said the reason there had not been an attack in the US since 11 September 2001 was not because of superior US security, but because the group had been engaged in activities in Iraq - and because operations in the US "need preparations".
"The operations are happening in Baghdad and you will see them here at home the minute they are through (with preparations), with God's permission," he said.
US officials have said they believe Bin Laden hiding in a mountainous area on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
There is no clear indication of when the tape was recorded.
Last month, al-Jazeera aired a videotape it said dated back to September, showing al-Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
In it, Zawahiri declared that, despite a prolonged absence and rumours about ill-health or possible injury, Bin Laden was alive.
Truce offer
Despite the warning of renewed attacks, the speaker also offered the US the chance of a long-term truce in light of the fact that US public opinion polls showed growing opposition to the war in Iraq.
Your president is misinterpreting public opinion polls which show that the vast majority of you support the withdrawal of your forces from Iraq
Voice said to be Bin Laden "We have no objection to responding to this with a long-term truce based on fair conditions," the speaker said.
"We do not mind offering you a truce that is fair and long-term... so we can build Iraq and Afghanistan... there is no shame in this solution because it prevents wasting of billions of dollars.
"Your president is misinterpreting public opinion polls which show that the vast majority of you support the withdrawal of your forces from Iraq."
Bin Laden made Europe a similar truce offer following the Madrid train bombings of March 2004.
Correspondents say it is an attempt to frighten the public and drive a wedge between them and their governments, which say it is necessary to stay to distance in Iraq, not pull out troops.
The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says that in the US the immediate political effect of the tape will probably be to boost support for President George W Bush.
Biggest laugh I've had all day.
So, the point is that people need to quit blindly believing that he is dead until there's proof. The evidence suggests otherwise. Again, WHO was on the tape just prior to the last Prez election cribbing from F911?
You can believe whatever you want, just as I can.
New article posted says CIA authenticated his voice.
Whether or not it's really him, I think Al Queda is on the run. His offer of a truce is totally laughable.
To all our troops wherever you are serving, notably in Afghanistan and Iraq, you're doing a bang-up job! Thank you.
LOL! Love Monty Python. Cheese Shop is best......
A voice from the grave.
Don't forget that it's an inexact translation.
Why are people so quick to say "it's a phony!" everytime OBL releases a tape?
Those people are stupid, but not that stupid. Surely, they know that we'd detect a fake a mile away and that would be publicized. They wouldn't risk it.
Many thought Saddam's taped message after we first bombed Baghdad was a fake. WRONG. It was him. It's the same with OBL. We hear this "FAKE!" every time. How many times in the past have they been "fake"? ZERO.
I'm not going to blindly believe he's ALIVE until there's proof either. As for "cribbing from F911"....what did Bush know and when did he know it started on 9/12. So it could have been Binny, but again, the audio was edited together and he was APPARENTLY referring to recent events.
Didn't you know? He's touring the Middle East making occasional appearances as Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.
Huh? I'm talking about Michael Moore's movie. It was as if OBL had just watched and took notes for his speech. It had just come out that summer. Of course, it's possible Moore slipped him an early copy of the script for approval...;-)
I would prefer that we deep fried it in lard wrapped it in bacon, covered it with pigs blood and gave it a good christian burial.
And who was that on video on the eve of the election?
Yes, you can believe anything at all. Doesn't make it true. The evidence suggests that he is alive.
Did you believe that Saddam was killed on the first night of the bombing and that his video message was a fake as many people did? Yep, you can believe what you want.
anyone else notice he sounds like howard dean
"If this doesn't make it OBVIOUS to people that OBL is desperate to get our pressure off, I don't know what would! Step up the bombings and the raids boys and girls! God Bless America, President Bush, and our Troops!"
Amen! My thoughts exactly. He wants a truce? We'll give him a truce. *diabolical laughter*
LOL. I wonder if it's going to make him a little rich...
Cheers
Jim
Osama calls no mas ?
Wanna give yourself a headache? Of course you do... but seriously listen to these Al Qaeda tapes and try and figure out what angle they're playing. I remember when OBL last appeared right before the vote and I was thinking, is this a gift to Bush or an attempt to make Bush look ineffective. Then you get this latest batch first where they claim the US is retreating from Iraq and now where they claim most Americans favor a retreat. He even starts in with the "truce" talk, its like he's throwing bait to the anti-war crowd.
Maybe he secretly hopes some Shehan type will bite and start promoting his truce? Of course he's clever enough to know that will backfire and this latest tape will surely remind Americans why they want him dead. You can be all but certain Bush will cite the tape as a reason to press on in Iraq. The more Bin Laden talks about Iraq the stronger it makes the case that its the central front in the war on terror....ugh! He has to know that so does Bin Laden want us to stay in Iraq? Maybe its working out for them on some levels, or maybe he's being straight up and hopes the anti-war crowd will somehow muscle a pull-out. This sort of circular logic keeps me up at night.
Hey, that's a pretty good line. Well done Scott.
I want a poll taen on how many Americans want to see Osama behaded with his body being dragged down a dusty road with folks cheering. I'll guess Reps do. Indy's do. And Dems are split. :-)
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