U.S. RELEASES VIDEOTAPE OF OSAMA BIN LADEN **Full Text**

US Department of Defense ^ | 12-13-01

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The U. S. government released today a copy of a videotape of Osama bin Laden obtained by U.S. forces in Jalalabad, Afghanistan in late November.

The video was filmed by unknown persons.

"There was no doubt of bin Laden's responsibility for the September 11 attacks before the tape was discovered," said Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.

The release of the tape was made after balancing the concerns about any additional pain that could be caused by its release against the value of having the world fully appreciate what we are up against in the war against terrorism.

The tape was released with an English translation and English subtitling, prepared independently by George Michael, translator, Diplomatic Language Services; and Dr. Kassem M. Wahba, Arabic language program coordinator, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University. They collaborated on their translation and compared it with translations done by the U.S. government for consistency. There were no inconsistencies in the translations.

The English translation is on the Web at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2001/d20011213ubl.pdf

[Stone Mountain]

OK, I hatge OBL as much as anyone, but I have to make a few observations about this tape and the way it was characterized.

This tape was characterized by the govt as "the smoking gun" proof the OBL planned the WTC attacks. There's still a good chance that he did, but all this tape shows is that he had knowledge of the attacks before hand, and had given some thought as to the damage they might cause. In fact, he says, "We had notification since the previous Thursday that the event would take place that day." That to me, sounds like he was just in the loop, not planning it. After all, it's not like he said, "I gave the order for it to happen the previous Thursday," or that he even approved it.

I thought it was interesting that the Shaykh said, "They (the Americans) were terrified thinking there was a coup." I guess when something like that happens in countries in the Mid-East, one assumes a coup is going on. I can't believe there were many Americans who actually thought someone was trying to take over our government, despite the panic and confusion.

OBL was also characterized as laughing at the hijackers who didn't know that they were going to die on the plane. This is what he actually said:

The brothers, who conducted the operation, all they knew was that they have a martyrdom operation and we asked each of them to go to America but they didnÕt know anything about the operation, not even one letter. But they were trained and we did not reveal the operation to them until they are there and just before they boarded the planes.

So the hijackers may not have known the complete plan, but it seems clear that they knew they were going to die.

And finally, this tape was dated November 9, because there was a date stamp on the video. Not proof positive, but everything else is consistent with that. If that's the case, I think it's very significant that there was no mention of Anthrax at all.

[ImpBill]

Thanks for the posting work. Many lines jumped off the page at me but this one was so strange:

"Shaykh: They (the Americans) were terrified thinking there was a coup. "

I must admit that never, even to this day, did the thought of as "coup d'etat" ever enter my mind. In fact I was no where near a TV and when a friend called me on a 2-way radio and told me about the fact that planes had hit the towers and the Pentagon, my immediate reaction was "effing Arabs".

For those that read this comment: Did anyone or anyone you know think it was a possible "coup"?

Man these Islamic bastards really are full blown religious/fanatical lunatics.

[seeker41]

Picked up this book yesterday, it is fascinating and enlightening. Confims alot about islam being a demonic cult and truely evil. The koran is a fairy tale.

[LarryLied]

I don't see this as being any more damaging to Islam than Jerry Falwell's comments were damaging to Christianity. Most people don't hold an entire religion responsible for it's most extreme members. It impugns the people who said it, not an entire race or religion.

Oh...I see clearly now. Jerry Falwell is training Christians to plow 757's into skyscrapers. Thanks for the update. Jerry annoys the heck out of me but I didn't think he would go this far. I suggest you call the FBI today and tell them that Jerry Falwell is as much a threat to us all as Bin Laden.

[Exeter]

Granted, it's unusual to find such a document as this left behind to be found by others. But remember, Robert E. Lee's plans for the invasion of Maryland were left behind and found wrapped around a bundle of his cigars by Union scouts. This information allowed the North to mass forces at Sharpsburg on the Antietem Creek and end Lee's drive north. Also remember during Operation Market-Garden a copy of the overall Allied plans were found by a German soldier in a crashed British glider, though the German high command discounted their authencity. War is a messy business, and in the chaos of conflict (especially when you're in the process of "bugging out") Murphy's Law rules the battlefield...

[Hugh Akston]

Actually, I will admit that I wondered if certain elements within this country would attempt a coup in conjunction with this. I thought immediately that it was likely an Islamic group that did the attacks on the WTC, but I also thought that there are plenty of these whackos here and plenty of kindred spirits for them that might take a shot at the President.

And I could have seen Clinton attempting to fill the void.

It was just a passing fear, but I will admit that on that day, when the impossible had just happened in front of our eyes, further impossibilities seemed a bit more possible.

[Amore]

And does anybody know when this tape was made? They sure seemed cocky.

I think Rummy just said it was several weeks ago. No wonder they were cocky -- Not any more!

[Ridin' Shotgun]

I found the danged article. It was in the Orlando Sentinel, that the Saudi Arabian embassy had confirmed that four of the five mentioned by Al-Faisal: Alghamdi, Alshehri, Alomari and Alhazmi (of the 19) are not dead and had nothing to do with the heinous terror attack. Alleged hijacker, Waleed Alshehri is currently living in Casablanca, according to Royal Air Moroc. He's the one mentioned above, who trained in Daytona. The story was also reported in Information Times online. Associated Press reported on Sept 22 that Alshehri had spoken to the US embassy in Morocco.

[DeckTheHallsHolly]

Check this thread out. :)

Likely Mastermind Of Tower Attacks

[Ozarkie]

"I find it hard to believe this tape was just left behind."

"Ok try this-----BOOM

Followed by this-----Ahhhhh crap

Followed by this------BOOM"

LMM*AO. Thank you for this. It's a good thing my coffee cup was empty 'cause what I didn't spew all over the room I would have knocked over.

[Jmouse007]

"Jesus Chist is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Allah is Satan and has already been defeated. ... Pray for GW and the Truth!"

Amen, and EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE will CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. Bin Ladin and company et al will one day give glory to Jesus before they are forever cast in the Lake of Fire where they will live forever with their false god "allah" i.e. SATAN.

Dr. S

[Ridin' Shotgun]

Can you see what I'm getting at?

Yeah. Its called 'spin'.

[Taliesan]

My apologies, as well.

There are people on this thread who, after seeing the videotape with their own eyes, can still find a way to argue that the US government was behind 9-11.

This is a level of stupidity which transcends normal discourse -- impervious to evidence, logic, or argument of any kind. It resembles mental illness. In an attempt to avoid the ultimate rudeness of just looking the other way while some sincere simpleton talks, I thought I'd parody what I knew was coming soon on the thread.

Plus, I miss Rivero. Even now, germinating in that cluster of neurons which sits atop his spinal cord is an explanation of the video which will link it beyond any doubt to Barbara Bush, her cat, and the CIA.

Parody must caricature in order to work. In hubris, I forgot you cannot caricature kookdom.

Forgive me; I am humbled; I leave.

[HarryDunne]

Absolutely!

[sweetliberty]

"So much to quote and seethe about..."

Does anybody still think that Islam is a peaceful religion?

Anti Islam Church Sign Draws Attack

F. Graham Attacked for Anti Islam Remarks

Islam OK in Public Schools

The Truth About Islam

[Chief Inspector Clouseau]

One of the 'alleged' hijackers showed up at the American Embassy in Saudi Arabia after 911 to prove he wasn't on the planes. He is currently flying for a Saudi airlines.

Which one? Name me a name and produce a source.

Does the government still assert this individual was a hijacker? Find me a source and prove that it is SAME person who is a pilot for the airline.

Or does this individual happen to have the same name as the (false) ID that happened to be in the possession of one of the hijackers?

[Amore]

Yes, there was doubt about several hijackers, back in late September. But what's the status NOW, 2 1/2 months later?That's what I want to hear. It was easy and convenient for families in the mideast back then to claim the information on a given hijacker was wrong. But has what they said then held up under the FBI's scrutiny?

[DeckTheHallsHolly]

OOPS! Check this thread out. :)

Likely Mastermind Of Tower Attacks

[Ridin' Shotgun]

Your excuses for bin Laden put you directly in his camp.

Why must I be in ANYone's camp. I have my own mind. But I suppose the reason early Christians got thrown to the lions was because they were in Christ's camp.

[HairOfTheDog]

Hee Hee - Wow.... glad I caught this last post... You were such an elequent spokesman for the tinfoil group!!

Please include the sarcasm tag if it is possible without taking the punch out of your line.... ;~)