http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/09/new-obl-tape-ir.html
New OBL Tape: Iraq, Democratic Control
September 07, 2007 2:15 PM
ABC News' Jonathan Karl Reports: ABC News has obtained a transcript of
the latest taped message from Osama bin Laden.
Sources tell ABC News the tape, bin Laden's first message in three
years, is approximately 30 minutes long, and does not contain overt
threats to the United States.
According to the transcript, which can be viewed by clicking here, bin
Laden opens with "praise to Allah" and his "law of retaliation" -- "an
eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and the killer is killed."
Bin Laden also spoke to the ongoing situation in Iraq throughout the
tape, heavily criticizing the Bush administration.
He says to the American people, "you made one of your greatest mistakes,
in that you neither brought to account nor punished those who waged this
war, not even the most violent of its murderers, [former Defense
Secretary Donald] Rumsfeld…"
"You permitted Bush to complete his first term, and stranger still,
chose him for a second term, which gave him a clear mandate from you --
with your full knowledge and consent -- to continue to murder our people
in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then you claim to be innocent! The innocence
of yours is like my innocence of the blood of your sons on the 11th --
were I to claim such a thing."
Bin Laden says President Bush's words echo "neoconservatives like
Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Richard Perle."
"People of America: the world is following your news in regards to your
invasion of Iraq, for people have recently come to know that, after
several years of tragedies of this war, the vast majority of you want it
stopped. Thus, you elected the Democratic Party for this purpose, but
the Democrats haven't made a move worth mentioning. On the contrary,
they continue to agree to the spending of tens of billions to continue
the killing and war there."
The transcript indicates that bin Laden refers to statements from U.S.
soldiers in Iraq, from an interview taped by a British journalist.
Portions of the interview aired in a July report on ABC News.
"It would benefit you to listen to the poignant messages of your
soldiers in Iraq, who are paying -- with their blood, nerves and
scattered limbs -- the price for these sorts of irresponsible
statements," the transcript says.
"Among them is the eloquent message of Joshua which he sent by way of
the media, in which he wipes the tears from his eyes and describes
American politicians in harsh terms and invites them to join him there
for a few days," the statement continues.
According to the transcript, bin Laden says there are two ways to end
the war:
"The first is from our side, and it is to continue to escalate the
killing and fighting against you."
The second is to do away with the American democratic system of
government. "It has now become clear to you and the entire world the
impotence of the democratic system and how it plays with the interests
of the peoples and their blood by sacrificing soldiers and populations
to achieve the interests of the major corporations."
The rambling transcript also mentions French President Nicolas Sarkozy,
which suggests the tape was made after Sarkozy's election in May.
Bin Laden comes close to offering a date for the tape with this by
saying, "... just a few days ago, the Japanese observed the 62nd
anniversary of the annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by your
nuclear weapons." The anniversary was on August 6.
He goes on to call Noam Chomsky "among one of the most capable of those
from your own side," and mentions global warming and "the Kyoto accord."
He also speaks to recent issues grabbing headlines in the United States,
referring to "the reeling of many of you under the burden of
interest-related debts, insane taxes and real estate mortgages; global
warming and its woes..."
"To conclude," bin Laden says, "I invite you to embrace Islam." He goes
on to say: "There are no taxes in Islam, but rather there is a limited
Zakaat [alms] totaling 2.5 percent.”
ABC News' Pierre Thomas contributed to this report.
full transcript of bin Laden's commentary:
http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/transcript2.pdf
