New campaign fodder . . . courtesy of Bin Laden

[Camilo]

DUBAI (Reuters) - Osama bin Laden accused President Bush of deceiving the American people and said the Sept. 11 attacks would not have been so severe if the president had been alert.

In an address on Al Jazeera television just days ahead of the U.S. presidential election, bin Laden also said the U.S. administration resembled "corrupt" Arab governments.

 

"It never occurred to us that the commander in chief of the country (Bush) would leave 50,000 citizens in the two towers to face those horrors alone ... because he thought listening to a child discussing her goats was more important," bin Laden said, referring to Bush's visit to a school when the attack occurred.

 

Al Qaeda leader bin Laden said he had first thought of attacking the United States after the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. U.S. intelligence agencies believe that it appeared to be bin Laden on the tape, one official said.

 

Bin Laden appeared to be sitting or standing at a table against a neutral brown background. He wore a round, white head covering and white tunic under a light brown cloak.

 

Reading from a sheet of paper, his voice was strong and he appeared in fair health, his full beard a mixture of white and dark gray. At times he gestured at the camera with his right index finger to emphasize points.

[Dru]

So much for the theory the CIA had him in captivity and was just waiting for the election to reveal capture thus giving Bush a rise in the polls.

[Camilo]

Quote from the CNN story:

 

"Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda," bin Laden said in the video aired on the Arabic language network Al-Jazeera.

 

He's surprisingly non-partisan.

[Ricardo_Montalban]

So much for the theory the CIA had him in captivity and was just waiting for the election to reveal capture thus giving Bush a rise in the polls.

that's exactly what i thought would happen. seem right up bush's alley

[catbirdseat]

My enemy's criticism is good for my campaign.

[bunglehead]

So much for the theory the CIA had him in captivity and was just waiting for the election to reveal capture thus giving Bush a rise in the polls.

 

Well, FUCK. Now we need a new conspircay theory.

Is Bush a child killer?

[Dru]

How about: the CIA has Osama in captivity and is forcing him to make videos threatening America therefore causing those scared of terrorism to vote Bush rather than Kerry. WTF why didnt he just come right out and say "I, Osama, would totally vote for Kerry if I was a US citizen.". Maybe they could get Saddam to do a similar testimonial.

[bunglehead]

I wonder if Osama really uses the word "totally"??

That would be weird.

"Like, death to America. Totally."

 

Good conspiracy theory though.

[catbirdseat]

How about: the CIA has Osama in captivity and is forcing him to make videos threatening America therefore causing those scared of terrorism to vote Bush rather than Kerry. WTF why didnt he just come right out and say "I, Osama, would totally vote for Kerry if I was a US citizen.". Maybe they could get Saddam to do a similar testimonial.

Lookout! j_b got Dru's password.

[dberdinka]

Where can you get FULL TRANSCRIPTS of bin Laden's messages?

[Dru]

maybe at al_qaeda_jihad_die_american_scum.com

[j_b]

actually, as i have mentioned before, my hunch is that bl is dead but, it is more advantageous for both sides to pretend otherwise. i could be wrong though.

[Dru]

Yeah, if he's making new hit videos, he isn't dead!

[graupel]

not the full text, but excerpts

 

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/29/binladen.tape/index.html

[j_b]

Yeah, if he's making new hit videos, he isn't dead!

 

as i said, i may be very wrong; however, has he been positively identified by independent analysts?

[dberdinka]

maybe at al_qaeda_jihad_die_american_scum.com

 

Are you sure it's not www.dirka_dirka_el_jihad.com?

[Dave_Schuldt]

For full text go to aljazeera.english.net.

[Squid]

Who gives a fuck what he said?

 

He's a dead man walking, no matter who wins.

[dberdinka]

Who gives a fuck what he said?

 

He's a dead man walking, no matter who wins.

 

Uhhh..duhh...I don't know....maybe...just maybe..because the guy is the leader of a radical and violent group of islamic militants who have been creating chaos in the world for the last 10 years. Who's actions and our counteractions are rapidly changing the political, social, cultural balance of the world. Who's coconspirators have us bogged down in a gruesome war in Iraq. Who's speeches might give us, their sworn enemy, some understanding of their beliefs, their ambitions, their future actions. Might help us understand what the Arab world hears and is torn between.

 

Then again maybe it's just easier to close our eyes , stick our thumbs in our ears and repeat "He Evil, he hate our Freedom"

[Dru]

Strategy: http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=397&&issue_id=2907

 

Using America as a tool to unite Islam.

[Fairweather]

Who gives a fuck what he said?

 

He's a dead man walking, no matter who wins.

 

Really? I thought Kerry viewed the matter as "primarily a law enforcement issue". Of course, that was before he became candidate Kerry. I'm sure as prez Kerry, he would "bring Osama to justice".

[klenke]

There was an interesting article about global terrorism in this month's National Geographic magazine.

[wally]

kerry is big on endorsements, probably happy about getting bin ladens

[slothrop]

Nice try. Bin Laden didn't endorse anyone. More fair and balanced than Fox.

[Peter_Puget]

good read