Purported Bin Laden Tape Offers Truce to Europe-TV

[Lefty Wilbury]

http://news.myway.com/top/article/id/353438|top|04-15-2004::02:05|reuters.html

Purported Bin Laden Tape Offers Truce to Europe-TV

Apr 15, 2:03 AM (ET)

DUBAI (Reuters) - Arab television stations aired a new audio tape purportedly from Osama bin Laden on Thursday offering a truce with European states if they stop attacking Muslims, but not with the United States.

The voice on the tape, broadcast by Dubai-based Al Arabiya channel and then by Qatar-based Al Jazeera station, said there would be no truce with the United States.

The taped message also vowed revenge on Israel for the death of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin, killed last month in Gaza.

It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the tape though the voice sounded like previous tapes thought to be genuine. The CIA has said some previous tapes purportedly from bin Laden were likely to be genuine.

Bin Laden's al Qaeda network is blamed by Washington for the September 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. cities.

The tape said the March 11 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people were payment for Spain's actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and "Palestine."

"What happened on September 11 and March 11 are your goods returned to you so that you know security is a necessity for all," the voice on the tape said.

Madrid sent troops to Iraq after Saddam Hussein was toppled and also has a contingent in Afghanistan. Militants claiming links to al Qaeda have claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombings, which have raised pressure on the government to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq.

 

[Phoenix]

Looks like Osama has joined the liberal party, he is using all their talking points.

How does it feel to aid and abet the enemy1?




http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,117148,00.html



Phoenix

 

[NewGuy]

Originally posted by Lefty Wilbury
http://news.myway.com/top/article/id/353438|top|04-15-2004::02:05|reuters.html

Purported Bin Laden Tape Offers Truce to Europe-TV

Apr 15, 2:03 AM (ET)

DUBAI (Reuters) - Arab television stations aired a new audio tape purportedly from Osama bin Laden on Thursday offering a truce with European states if they stop attacking Muslims, but not with the United States.

Notice this is not the UN, but the EU.

The voice on the tape, broadcast by Dubai-based Al Arabiya channel and then by Qatar-based Al Jazeera station, said there would be no truce with the United States.

The taped message also vowed revenge on Israel for the death of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin, killed last month in Gaza.

Notice it is the Islamic movement against Israel and the United states with the EU potentially backing the Islamists, as they have tried to do inconspicuously all along. -Including making proactive movements to accepting Islamic law.

It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the tape though the voice sounded like previous tapes thought to be genuine. The CIA has said some previous tapes purportedly from bin Laden were likely to be genuine.

Bin Laden's al Qaeda network is blamed by Washington for the September 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. cities.

As a result of RELIGIOUS circumstances.

The tape said the March 11 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people were payment for Spain's actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and "Palestine."

"What happened on September 11 and March 11 are your goods returned to you so that you know security is a necessity for all," the voice on the tape said.

Madrid sent troops to Iraq after Saddam Hussein was toppled and also has a contingent in Afghanistan. Militants claiming links to al Qaeda have claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombings, which have raised pressure on the government to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq.

And these guys have proven that they can force a government to do what they want. Now they have bargaining power, and they are already being accepted. My prediction is as it has been for a while now, is that the EU will take over Iraq, set up its own base, and rule it.

 

[DKSuddeth]

I find it ridiculously ignorant of people to even state that the US was excluded from the truce anyway. There's not a snowballs chance in hell that it would have even been considered....at least by this liberal, right phoenix

 

[Phoenix]

Oh, hello to you too DK.

Got your finger in a splint there?

Glad to hear that you would not consider the "truce"!

The soft target is the EU. Better keep an eye on those back doors!

I kinda wonder though, if Kerry was was the one in office might have Osama prodded his ass with the olive branch too?


Phoenix

 

[acludem]

This is a simple strategy of divide and conquer. All bin Laden is doing is trying to further separate Europe and U.S. from one another. George W. Bush, unfortuntely, is helping bin Laden to achieve this goal with his you're either with us or your with the terrorists foreign policy.

acludem

 

[Zhukov]

Asking for a truce is a sign of weakness. Perhaps that is how it will translate in the arab world.

 

[Palestinian Jew]

Does anyone wonder what it means that bin Laden has started using diplomacy?

 

[DKSuddeth]

Originally posted by Palestinian Jew
Does anyone wonder what it means that bin Laden has started using diplomacy?

I don't even think about it. :2guns: :firing: :chains:

 

[NewGuy]

Originally posted by Palestinian Jew
Does anyone wonder what it means that bin Laden has started using diplomacy?

I believe I already pointed that out.

It is a move to partner the EU and Islam.

 

[5stringJeff]

Originally posted by Palestinian Jew
Does anyone wonder what it means that bin Laden has started using diplomacy?

It means he's been listening to too many Democratic speeches!

 

[preemptingyou03]

NewGuy,

EU nations like France are usually secular and socialist countries and oppose any forms of open religion. France has banned Islamic symbols in school. Why do you believe the EU is trying to side with terrorists?

Are they pacifists? Yes. Socialists? Yes. Terrorist appeasers? Yes. But I don't see the EU working in cooperation with terrorists on a grand scale anytime in the near future.

As for OBL trying to get the UK and Italy (the only European nations with balls) to wimp out, just remember... if our allies ever did that, the term unilateral would reach a whole new standard: a standard of importance. Unilateralism would then become essential.

If Europe ever opposed us on that scale, we should just openly become an imperialist nation and kick the world's ass, until they ask for seconds.

 

[NewGuy]

Originally posted by preemptingyou03
NewGuy,

EU nations like France are usually secular and socialist countries and oppose any forms of open religion. France has banned Islamic symbols in school. Why do you believe the EU is trying to side with terrorists?

Are they pacifists? Yes. Socialists? Yes. Terrorist appeasers? Yes. But I don't see the EU working in cooperation with terrorists on a grand scale anytime in the near future.

You just contradicted yourself.

As for OBL trying to get the UK and Italy (the only European nations with balls) to wimp out, just remember... if our allies ever did that, the term unilateral would reach a whole new standard: a standard of importance. Unilateralism would then become essential.

The EU as a body is a package deal. Try reading their documentation. The tape did not list individual nations. The exact wording was "European Countries". -as a collective.....as opposed to the US. Who does that mean? The EU. -NOT the UN, or individual particular nations singularly.

If Europe ever opposed us on that scale, we should just openly become an imperialist nation and kick the world's ass, until they ask for seconds.

But it won't and can't happen. There are too many in our government, and we dare not be US against the world. It is sure fire suicide.

 

[kcmcdonald]

it is a sign of weakness on UBL's part. He is trying to drive a political solution in europe and have the EU force the US to copitulate to the EU. This will never happen.
UBL's days are numbered and he knows it.

 

[acludem]

I've just been hearing news accounts that every country in Europe, including those opposed to the war (i.e. France, Germany and Russia) have turned Osama down flat on his little offer. They saw right through it.

acludem

 

[Survalli]

Bin Laden can seem pretty predictable at times. He plans his strategy like he watches CNN religiously.

 

[Comrade]

I'm still having a hard time with Bin Laden even being alive, at this point.

I'm noticing more as time goes on how the CIA is more often the only source able to confirm the validity, and never beyond a "likely" match.

Since "voice recognition technology" has never been adopted by the market, and obviously is far less an exact science, than, say DNA matching. Far less even than a video match.

And since Tora Bora that's all we have, is audio.

I'm sure the message is still somehow relative to Al-Quada, but the opportune moment for Bin Laden to re-appear in person, with the full impact of video, is far past.


So at this point, what I'm saying is that if OBL lives, there is no doubt a video of him would have a far better propaganda effect on his potential supporters than these shaky audio tapes.

And also I do not doubt the specter of a living Bin-Laden does not also serve, to some degree, the propaganda behind the war on terror supporters.


Therefore my layman opinion is that these tapes are linked to Al-Quada, but not genuinely from Bin-Laden.

And that the CIA is not particularly motivated to disprove their authenticity.

 

[Zhukov]

Originally posted by Comrade
but the opportune moment for Bin Laden to re-appear in person, with the full impact of video, is far past.

Remember, the last time he showed up on video, people recognized the terrain in the background, and soldiers were on the way. Audio-only is alot safer for him.

 

[Zhukov]

Originally posted by Survalli
He plans his strategy like he watches CNN religiously.

I don't doubt he does.

 

[Comrade]

Originally posted by Zhukov
Remember, the last time he showed up on video, people recognized the terrain in the background, and soldiers were on the way. Audio-only is alot safer for him.

Comrade Zhukov, I hear what your saying. I have this recollection from the Fox from some geologist around Dec. 2001'ish who was talking about the rock formations behind the last OBL video reaching the public (aside from re-released Summer weather video later that Winter)

I remember there were experts who hinted at the geology and said his general location could be determined, but I have my doubts over how exactly such formations could really be narrowed down to any locale in that vast, uncharted nation. Geology experts of Afganistan were likely very, very rare.

My feeling is that OBL was/is a media horror, and absolutely needed to "market" himself to the Middle East in order to stir up the mass uprising among all these nation, the one and only real strategy for victory to his movement.

Every public statement prior to Tora Bora was in full video/audio, but since then all the world has seen are these audio tapes.

Surely some associate of his could secure a video camera and make sure the background in the image was neutral.

His apperance in full living colour and in reference to current affairs, would be a huge propaganda victory for the Islamists. To show his image in full screen, would secure far more motivation than these infrequent and reactive audio tapes. So why hasn't he come out and proved to the world that he is still alive, despite America's attempt to kill him?

Wouldn't a video clip be the best way to appeal to the Islamic groupies? Proof of life?

I still can't shake this nagging suspicion that these audio tapes are simply a desperate attempt by his fundamentalist followers to keep the momentum in play. But a full figured appeal by Bin-Laden himself to potential followers, in video, would be the strongest message and there is no reason to provide anything less. And such video would be consistent with Bin-Laden's prior media before Tora Bora.

So it's bizzare why he would choose an audio only medium. There is simply no difference in the risk between delivering a an audio tape vs. a video tape, given the proper precautions.

So my suspicion is that OBL is dead, and that his organization has found some individual to speak as his proxy. Voice recognition is by no means an exact science, as far as I know today. With proper training and technique I believe there are some Arabs capable of imitating his tone and inflections convincingly.

Some may disagree, but I don't think our current administration has any interest in disputing the validity of these audio tapes. At least for the time being. I also believe the CIA's claims of authenticity have grown consistently weaker (now simply a "likely" match), and even the liberal media refers to 'Bin Laden' statements with the quotes.


But getting to the point, the latest tape, seems to reverse much of Bin-Laden's prior convictions against Dar al-harb. It's not his style to make concessions to Europe, given the basis of 9-11 was of European orgins. Such a truce seems too politically convenient for a true fanatic such as OBL.


Anyway, that's just my half-assed suspicion, and perhaps I will be proven wrong if he emerges in the public eye. But his time is running out for him to be effective as a leader. If he doesn't step forward soon to personally galvanize the movement he stands for, it will surely be too late. Let's hope he doesn't!