U.S. official confirms voice on Al-Qaida tape is Osama bin Laden's - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Mon., September 10, 2007 Elul 27, 5767

Israel Time: 06:21 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Print Edition

Diplomacy

Defense

Arts & Leisure

Real Estate

Jewish World

National

Advertising

Magazine

Week's End

Business

Opinion

Rosner's Domain

Anglo File

Books

Travel

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Last update - 02:16 08/09/2007

U.S. official confirms voice on Al-Qaida tape is Osama bin Laden's

By The Associated Press

Technical analysis suggests the voice on a new Al-Qaida video aired by Al-Jazeera on Friday is that of Osama bin Laden, a U.S. intelligence official said.

The Al-Qaida leader appeared for the first time in three years in a videotape released ahead of the 6th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, telling Americans they should convert to Islam if they want the war in Iraq to end, according to a transcript of the video by ABC News.

"Initial technical analysis suggests that the voice on the videotape is indeed that of Osama bin Laden," the U.S. official said, adding that he had no analysis of bin Laden's physical appearance on the tape.

	Advertisement

In a short excerpt of the video, shown on Al-Jazeera television, bin Laden was shown seated as he talked, wearing a white robe and turban and beige cloak.

His trimmed beard was shorter than in his last video, issued in 2004, and was fully black - apparently dyed, since in past videos it had turned nearly entirely gray.

The videotape, which ABC said was 30 minutes long, appeared to have been recently made, since bin Laden refers to the Democratic victory in Congress and to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was elected in May.

Bin Laden made no overt threats and did not directly call for attacks, according to a transcript posted by ABC News on its Web site. Instead, he addresses Americans, giving them a lecture on the failures of their leaders to stop the war in Iraq despite growing opposition to it in the U.S. public.

"There are two solutions to stopping it. One is from our side, and it is to escalate the fighting and killing against you. This is our duty, and our brothers are carrying it out," bin Laden said, according to the transcript.

"The second solution is from your side," he said. "I invite you to embrace Islam."

"It will also achieve your desire to stop the war as a consequence, because as soon as the warmongering owners of the major corporations realize that you have lost confidence in your democratic system and have begun to look for an alternative, and this alternative is Islam, they will run after you to please you and achieve what you want to steer you away from Islam," he said.

The Al-Qaida leader has not appeared in new video footage since October 2004, and he has not put out a new audiotape in more than a year, his longest period without a message.

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Stops in wine country
	Summer is the right time to visit the wine routes that have developed in Israel recently.


	Suits, not stories
	Italy's uber-designer has come up with a soft, but not surprising, line for winter.




1.	not your islam Ben Laden	23:28	\|	shia 4 ever	07/09/07

2.	Osama	00:00	\|	Natallie Durson	08/09/07

3.	He appears when he is needed	00:10	\|	Mary	08/09/07

4.	Why do I have a bad feeling about this tape??	00:40	\|	ralphsrant1	08/09/07

5.	Bin devil	00:44	\|	Pierre	08/09/07

6.	He is winning...unfortunately	00:47	\|	American GI	08/09/07

7.	NUTS!!!	01:02	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	08/09/07

8.	bin There Done That	01:17	\|	Jane	08/09/07

9.	Wildly contradictory article	01:25	\|	Jake	08/09/07

10.	Gee Whiz	01:55	\|	Ron	08/09/07

11.	Bin	02:25	\|	David	08/09/07

12.	What is worrying	02:44	\|	Chris Linthwaite	08/09/07

13.	To #6	03:00	\|	David	08/09/07

14.	#3 Mary, I guess all those people in Iraq	03:02	\|	Lynn	08/09/07

15.	Frankly speaking	03:05	\|	Lynn	08/09/07

16.	Linthwaite	03:07	\|	Lynn	08/09/07

17.	What Talking Heads are Saying About Web Black Out	03:39	\|	Jane	08/09/07

18.	David-I`d Bet My Bottom $ American GI is Not	03:44	\|	Jane	08/09/07

19.	mary you are right he lives in	03:58	\|	shia 4 ever	08/09/07

20.	I`d sooner the world be blown to pieces than turn to Islam	04:02	\|	McQueen	08/09/07

21.	David and Jane You Are Wrong	04:07	\|	Chuck	08/09/07

22.	David	04:46	\|	American GI	08/09/07

23.	George Bush tape	04:47	\|	Sheikh Rattle & Roll	08/09/07

24.	# 21 Chuckles	04:48	\|	Lynn	08/09/07

25.	Yeah Right I don`t think so Osama Bin Laden	05:18	\|	Shepherd	08/09/07

26.	Bin Laden killer of muslims	06:01	\|	Jim	08/09/07

27.	#23 - Love the Idea	09:25	\|	Ryan	08/09/07

28.	Good night 2 all 2 all a good fight	21:26	\|	John Kane	08/09/07

29.	He appears when he is needed	23:42	\|	EIFAN	08/09/07

30.	Look what he talks about	04:54	\|	Jim	10/09/07

Today Online


	Syrian MP: IAF overflight was an attack that failed
	Responses: 225


	MKs propose changes to Law of Return after neo-Nazi arrests
	Responses: 259


	Gideon Levy: When will Israel learn civilian suffering does not breed moderation?
	Responses: 210


	Amir Oren: Syria does not want to be seen as a nuclear offender
	Responses: 26


	Haaretz.com TV: Cellcom won't send officials to Sderot
	Responses: 3

Rosner's Domain

* Too many Jews here at the Nuremberg trials

* WTR: Young Jews and Israel: Party doesn't matter

* New Poll: Will the next year be better for Israel?

* Rosner's Guest: Author of Sex, God, Christmas & Jews

More Headlines
03:41 Syria: We will file formal complaint with the UN


05:05 Suspected neo-Nazis remanded; indictments expected Monday


05:59 Abbas to press PM for detailed accord in meeting Monday


05:21 Al-Qaida commander criticizes Hamas for abandoning Jihad


05:55 Ministers approve plan to reduce pollution by vehicles


23:19 Group petitions court to stop Muslim dig on Temple Mount


23:02 Germany eager to contribute to Holocaust survivors' welfare


03:52 Despite sanctions, Iran seeks UN Security Council seat


01:23 Rabbi Yosef slams pilgrimage to Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav's grave


23:52 Jordan's king meets Blair, voices support for Quartet efforts