October 22, 2007
New bin Laden Audio: "Mistakes Made in Iraq"
UPDATE 10/23/07: An English subtitled "video" of the new bin Laden audio has been released by as Sahab. Laura Mansfield has a copy of it available for download here.
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A new audio tape from Osama bin Laden will be airing on al Jazeera. When an English language translation is available, we will have it for you.
Isn't it odd that we have no new video of bin Laden? Even the "new" video of bin Laden released on 9/11 was actually an audio crunched between two short and low quality video segments.
Today's audiotaped message, released through Al Jazeera, was directed specifically to the "mujahideen" of Iraq. The message calls for them to unite and join forces, and avoid sectarian fighting within the jihadist groups.CNN:The message, issued to commemorate the Eid, is part of a longer message that is expected to be released through the internet shortly.
The Arabic-language broadcaster said the tape was titled "Letter to the People of Iraq."Who will be the first to call shenanigans? At the very least the fact that "bin Laden" felt it necessary to try to unite the jihadis -- to keep them from killing each other-- is a tacit admittance that his effort to turn Iraq into "The Islamic State of Iraq" has been a failure.The message includes no dated references, making it impossible to determine when it was taped based on its contents. In the message, bin Laden calls on his followers to be loyal to the Islamic nation, not to individual leaders, groups, tribes or countries.
The tape marks the first time bin Laden speaks directly to the militants.
"Beware of your enemies, especially those who infiltrate your ranks," he said in Arabic.
"I advise myself and the Islamic nation not to follow individuals and countries," he said. "Everything should be seen in the light of Islam."
Addressing the mujahedeen in Iraq as "my brothers," he said, "You have done well to perform your duty, but some of you have been late to another duty, which is to unify your ranks and make them into one line."
UPDATE: "Mistakes have been made in Iraq". George Bush? Donny Rumsfeld? Nope: Osama bin Laden:
In the tape broadcast by Al Jazeera on Monday, a voice sounding like bin Laden admitted that mistakes have been made in Iraq and exhorted the fighters to rectify them.UPDATE: More from the Blotter:
"Some of you have been lax in one duty, which is to unite your ranks," bin Laden said. "Beware of division ... The Muslim world is waiting for you to gather under one banner." ...Bin Laden said fighters in Iraq should admit "mistakes" and try to correct them in the interest of untiy.
People familiar with bin Laden's voice say the tape appeared to be authentic, although there was no reference to any event that would indicate when it was recorded.Still waiting for proof of life Binny. Still waiting......
