STORM2K

(if it's really him of course)



DUBAI (Reuters) - The Arabic television channel Al Jazeera on Sunday aired a purported audio tape from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in which he urged Muslims to fight against the U.S. occupation in Iraq.

The speaker mentioned the capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein by U.S. forces in December, indicating that the tape was made within the past three weeks.

The tape criticized Gulf Arab governments for supporting the U.S. invasion of Iraq, urging that the fight against U.S. forces should be with arms not through dialogue.

The speaker on the tape also called on Muslims to fight against what he called conspiracies against Islam.

If this is Bin Laden then woah... :o

Wasn't there something mentioned a while back about a tape from Bin Laden right before new attacks?

That would be a video tape and this is only audio.

Yes, but it was shown to be "old news"...dated by its content.

THIS one seems to be of relatively recent nature, at least mid-December 2003; the exhortation to Arabs seems to be a "please wake up, we're trying to have a jihad here!" statement, and again, never forgetting ancient history, calls us "Crusaders"...seven hundred years ex post facto.

Personally, I'm glad the US "invaded" Iraq and put an end to that brutal dictator's rule. It should have happened back during Desert Storm.
I'm also sick of hearing some put our president down for what he's done. I admire him. First of all, when he says something, you can pretty well bet that it'll happen. Also, I appreciate the way he isn't ashamed to mention God. We need more leaders who'll openly proclaim that they believe in God and will pray to Him.
It really makes my blood boil to hear some sympathize with hoodlums like Bin Laden and the likes. If it weren't for so many innocent lives being lost, I'd say drop an atomic bomb on some of those stupid Arabs that want jihad and rid the world of a lot of its problems!
Ok, climbing down from my high horse now

Exactly Tim....I completely agree with you.

You all may have been wondering why the tapes don't show UBL's face?

He has advanced kidney disease...this may cause his complexion to look waxy and yellow, and his overall appearence thin and weak which, in the Islamic world, is seen as "Allah's curse" upon him, or anyone thus suffering.

Of course, UBL can't afford that possibility re: his "brothers"... they'd avoid him and his agenda like an onset of the Black Plague, hence the audio-only tapes. And, ya gotta know that his entourage, specifically Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, is painfully aware of the ramifications thereof.

Bill the #2 man of Al-Qaeda is who is running the show in that organization not UBL because he is very sick.

That's why I specifically mentioned Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri's input here...besides, it's been long established that UBL is the "sheikh" (prince), "sharif" (saint) or "imam" (teacher), or spiritual leader, while al-Zawahiri is the planner/overall executor of Al Qaida's efforts.

The only thing that bothers me is usually there is an attack shortly following a tape release. Plus some chatter that we may go to red soon but I don't see anything pointing in that direction. If we did I would think it would be area specific. Now if something does pop I would look for multiple attacks. It's probably nothing to get wound up about just stay alert.

Beer...where did you hear something about possibly going to red? I haven't heard that...yikes! (even if it is area specific)

Just little blips here and there from some people who may have some inside info or connections. I am told it was talked about on network news (possibly Fox national) but I did not catch it. It may be a what if and it got misinterpreted. Or it could be a desensitizing type of info trying to get us used to the idea. Then again we could go back to yellow but I don't think it will change before Feb 3.