Posted on 09/01/2002 2:22:27 PM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
The US State Department has posted on one of its web sites a translation of a letter purportedly written this month by Osama bin Laden.
The site, which offers threat assessments to US companies doing business abroad, does not say the letter is genuine.
However, advertises a link to the translation under the heading "new security incident report" and asks readers to look at it.
"The attention of web site readers is invited to a purported letter by Osama bin Laden to the people of Afghanistan in late August 2002," the site said.
A password is required to access the actual translation of the four-page, handwritten, Arabic language letter, which was first released on Sunday by the Pakistan-based web site www.IslamOnline.net.
The two-page typewritten verbatim English translation was posted on the State Department web site a day later as a "special topic" of global interest.
Two State Department officials say the posting of the translation is not intended to imply bin Laden has written the letter.
"It's something that is out there that we think people should be aware of but we are not speaking to its authenticity," one official said.
"We're not making any comment on the contents of the letter but we thought the information in it was certainly topical and of interest to our constituents," a second official said.
However, in the past, Washington has been reluctant to publicise documents and videotapes purported to come from bin Laden.
US officials have balked at such releases even when the material supports their contention the Saudi dissident and his Al Qaeda network were behind the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
In the undated letter posted to the web site, the writer urges Afghans to launch a new jihad against US troops now in Afghanistan and predicts the fall of the United States.
IslamOnline said the document had been received by its correspondent in Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan, from an Afghan source who asked to remain anonymous.
US officials have said repeatedly that they do not know if bin Laden is dead or alive.
What's the point?
Dear President Bush,
I'm sorry about the Twin Towers that really sucked. I don't know what got into me. I hope you can forgive me.
OBL
PS can you grant me a visa. I need to see an American Dr about a kidney transplant.
SEPTEMBER 05, 2002. MEXICO. The 14th annual meeting of the APEC [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]finance ministers takes place in Los Cabos, Baja California State. The meeting will last two days. SOURCE: [APEC Website]
SEPTEMBER 12, 2002. SRI LANKA. Talks open in Thailand between representatives of the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers insurgent/terrorist group.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. MACEDONIA. Parliamentary elections.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2002. INDIA. The first of four rounds of voting begins in the troubled Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. Thus far, Kashmiri separatists have refused to participate, and polls in previous years have been marked by violence and poor voter turnout.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2002. NEPAL. Maoist insurgents call for a countrywide general strike.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2002. INDIA. Phase two of the state elections in Indian-administered Kashmir.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2002. MOROCCO. Local and parliamentary elections
SEPTEMBER 28, 2002. SOUTH KOREA. Asian Games open in Pusan. The event will last until Oct 14.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2002. UNITED STATES. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank will hold their Annual Meetings in Washington DC. Anti-globalization protests are expected.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2002. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. Serbian Presidential Elections.
OCTOBER 01, 2002. INDIA. Phase three of the state elections in Indian-administered Kashmir.
OCTOBER 01, 2002. SOUTH AFRICA. Two-day general strike begins. The strike is being organized by COSATU as a kickoff to its revived anti-privatization campaign. A program of more comprehensive protests will follow the strike.
OCTOBER 05, 2002. BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. Parliamentary elections.
OCTOBER 06, 2002. BRAZIL. Elections to choose a successor to Pres. Fernando H. Cardoso, who ends his second 4-yr term. Main parties contending are leftist Workers Party (PT) and conservative Liberal Front Party (PFL).
OCTOBER 07, 2002. PAKISTAN. National and provincial elections scheduled. The polls will run until Oct 11.
OCTOBER 08, 2002. INDIA. Final stage of the state elections in Indian-administered Kashmir. A result is expected October 12th.
OCTOBER 20, 2002. ECUADOR. Presidential elections.
OCTOBER 24, 2002. BAHRAIN. Elections for a restored parliament take place. [The parliament has been abolished since 1975].
OCTOBER 26, 2002. MEXICO. The 10th annual meeting of APEC [Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation] economic leaders takes place in Los Cabos, Baja California State. The meeting will last for two days
Not that it matters. I've been convinced that bin Laden didn't survive Tora Bora for many months now, so any communique from him has no credibility with me.
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