Bin Laden threatens attacks, offers truce (AP) Updated: 2006-01-20 06:47
In the tape, bin Laden said he was directing his message to the American
people after polls showed that "an overwhelming majority of you want the
withdrawal of American troops from Iraq but (Bush) opposed that desire."
He said insurgents were winning the conflict in Iraq and warned that security
measures in the West and the United States could not prevent attacks there.
"The proof of that is the explosions you have seen in the capitals of
European nations," he said "The delay in similar operations happening in America
has not been because of failure to break through your security measures. The
operations are under preparation and you will see them in your homes the minute
they are through (with preparations), with God's permission."
The al-Qaida leader did not spell out conditions for a truce in the excerpts
aired by Al-Jazeera.
"We do not mind offering you a long-term truce with fair conditions that we
adhere to," he said. "We are a nation that God has forbidden to lie and cheat.
So both sides can enjoy security and stability under this truce so we can build
Iraq and Afghanistan, which have been destroyed in this war.
"There is no shame in this solution, which prevents the wasting of billions
of dollars that have gone to those with influence and merchants of war in
America," he said.
In an Arabic transcription of the entire tape on the Al-Jazeera Web site —
but not aired — bin Laden makes an oblique reference to how to prevent new
attacks on the United States, but does not specify if these are conditions for a
truce.
Bin Laden tells Americans that "if you are sincere in your desire for peace
and security, and if Bush refuses to do anything but continue lies and
oppression," then he recommends Americans read a book entitled "The Rogue
State," apparently a reference to a book of that title by political analyst
William Blum. The book has been published in Arabic.
"In its introduction, it states: 'If I were president, I would stop the
attacks on the United States: First I would give an apology to all the widows
and orphans and those who were tortured. Then I would announce that American
interference in the nations of the world has ended,'" he said.
The last audiotape from bin Laden was broadcast in December 2004 by
Al-Jazeera. In that recording, he endorsed Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi as his deputy in
Iraq and called for a boycott of Iraqi elections.
He issued numerous tapes in 2003 and 2004, calling for Muslims to attack U.S.
interests and threatening attacks against the United States.
In an April 15, 2004, audiotape, he vowed revenge against the United States
for Israel's assassination of Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin — and at the same
time offered a truce to European countries.
Bin Laden appeared in a video released October 2004, just ahead of U.S.
presidential elections, saying the United States can avoid another Sept. 11
attack if it stops threatening the security of Muslims.
Since December 2004, bin Laden's deputy in al-Qaida, al-Zawahri, has issued a
number of video and audiotapes, including one claiming responsibility for the
London attacks, which he said came after Europe rejected the terms of a truce
al-Qaida had previously offered them.
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