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.
U.N. State Dept. Web Site Posts Purported Bin Laden Letter
Pick up covert delivery of Charlee's Gourmet Beef Jerky
KY
PlaySheep Magazine
Jihad for Dummies Second Edition Third Edition
Call Saddam about that flat in East Baghdad
Personally, I doubt it, since I don't believe worm dessert can write.
This is a terrorist attack, but because I don't have access to any planes or weapons of mass destruction, or even electricity at the moment, you are on the honor system.
Kindly destroy two of your largest buildings, and please make sure there are plenty of people inside.
I really mean it. Just look at how many exclamation marks I'm using.
Those high-altitude Afghanistan sheep just aren't as, ah, well-lubricated as his old favorites in Saudi Arabia.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.