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Last update - 09:45 08/09/2007 Bin Laden: The U.S. is vulnerable despite its military, economic strength By Reuters Tags: Bush, September 11, Al-Qaida  Head of terrorist group Al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden, said in a new video marking the sixth anniversary of Al-Qaida's September 11 attacks that the United States was vulnerable despite its military and economic power, but he made no specific threats. In his first appearance in nearly three years, bin Laden told Americans they should convert to Islam if they want the war in Iraq to end, and added that U.S. President George W. Bush was repeating the mistakes of the former Soviet Union by refusing to acknowledge losses in Iraq. A U.S. intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said in Washington, "Initial technical analysis suggests that the voice on the videotape is indeed that of Osama bin Laden." The official said he had no analysis of the Al-Qaida leader's physical appearance on the tape. Advertisement The video shows bin Laden sitting at a table dressed in white and cream robes and wearing white headgear. Beneath him, a banner on the screen reads in English: "A message from Sheikh Osama bin Laden to the American people." Bin Laden appears tired and sallow, although his beard is much shorter and darker than in his last appearance, when it was streaked with gray. Bush responded from Australia where was attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that "The tape is a reminder of the dangerous world in which we live and it is a reminder that we must work together to protect our people." "I found it interesting that on the tape, Iraq was mentioned, which is a reminder that Iraq is a part of this war against extremists," Bush said. "Despite America being the greatest economic power and possessing the most powerful and modern military arsenal, and despite it spending on this war and its army more than the entire world spends on its armies, and being the major state influencing the world's policies ... 19 young men were able ... to change the direction of its compass," bin Laden said in the tape. "The subject of the mujahideen has become an inseparable part of the speech of your leader and the effects and signs are not hidden. Since the 11th, many of America's policies have come under the influence of the mujahideen." In a sign the almost 30-minute tape was made recently, bin Laden mentions new French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Bush said Al-Qaida was seeking to establish a safe haven in Iraq to launch attacks against the United States and its allies. "Therefore it's important that we show resolve and determination to protect ourselves and deny Al-Qaida safe haven." Bin Laden was last seen in a video statement issued on the eve of the November 2004 U.S. presidential election. Since then, he has issued several audio messages, the last in July 2006 when he vowed Al-Qaida would fight the United States worldwide. Some intelligence officials and security analysts suggest bin Laden has limited his appearances to maximize their impact, perhaps saving his next one to coincide with a dramatic attack. Others say bin Laden, aged 50 and believed to suffer from a serious kidney ailment, may be too sick or too tightly pinned down in his hiding place to smuggle out a tape. U.S. CIA Director Michael Hayden said he had not seen the tape, but he said earlier in a New York speech that Al-Qaida had regained strength and its leadership continued to plot a "high-impact" attack on the United States. Asked after the speech if he believed bin Laden was alive, Hayden said, "I have no reason to believe he's not." U.S.-led forces have been searching for bin Laden since they toppled Afghanistan's Taliban government after it refused to hand over the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks. Bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, are believed to be hiding in the border area of Afghanistan and Pakistan, a mountainous, inaccessible region that U.S. intelligence has described as a safe haven for Al-Qaida and the Taliban. According to a transcript issued by U.S. officials, bin Laden compares the U.S. situation in Iraq with the Soviet Union's operations in Afghanistan in the 1980s. "The mistakes of Brezhnev are being repeated by Bush, who, when asked about the date of his withdrawing of force from Iraq said in effect that the withdrawal will not be during his reign, but ... that of the one who succeeds him," bin Laden said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nothing to fear Nancy Pelosi in Israel: I trust all presidential candidates in regard to Israel. Bonfire drama Mount Meron grave of famed rabbi at center of ownership row.   1.   blah blah 06:04  |  Matt 08/09/07   2.   Bin Laden Tape 06:50  |  Daniel Donaly 08/09/07   3.   WATCH OUT ISRAEL, YOU GOT A RIVAL NOW 07:49  |  indrajaya 08/09/07   4.   Have the americans won any wars post 9/11 07:52  |  Amazed 08/09/07   5.   Bin Laden: likely an Iranian decoy/proxy 08:38  |  Avi 08/09/07   6.   Live From Iran! It`s Saturday Night With Bin Laden! 09:23  |  Yosemite 08/09/07   7.   Allah bless Grecian 2000 11:26  |  Clickfool 08/09/07   8.   watch out indrajaya 12:42  |  scanadu 08/09/07   9.   Run like chickens with no heads 12:54  |  The Belgian 08/09/07   10.   Isn`t it Islamic pactice 12:55  |  Chris Linthwaite 08/09/07   11.   CIA 12:58  |  Dav 08/09/07   12.   HOW to stop Irqai war."USA convert to Islam" brother Usama 13:14  |  PETER S.M. 08/09/07   13.   to feed him with free propaganda ??? 14:04  |  danielito dr 08/09/07   14.   Gimme a break! That aint him 14:11  |  Rowan Berkeley 08/09/07   15.   For Avi # 5 15:30  |  Clickfool 08/09/07   16.   Bin Laden 15:35  |  morice 08/09/07   17.   TOOTHLESS TIGER 15:39  |  krishna 08/09/07   18.   R.BERKLY "It aint him" "Even CIA admitt that"?? really ? where? 15:51  |  PETER S.M. 08/09/07   19.   # 15 clickfoot 15:58  |  morice 08/09/07   20.   Amazed - how stupid can you be? 16:25  |  Muslim Watcher 08/09/07   21.   Is he hising out in Pakistan or another Islamic country.? 16:30  |  PETER S.M. 08/09/07   22.   Bin Laden, sit down 16:41  |  KUTW 08/09/07   23.   hair color 17:23  |  Baz Mann 08/09/07   24.   Peter SM # 12 17:30  |  Lynn 08/09/07   25.   Matt 17:35  |  Lynn 08/09/07   26.   Belgian # 9 17:42  |  Lynn 08/09/07   27.   LYN Isn`t it amazing they hate Israel even more than him 18:17  |  PETER S.M. 08/09/07   28.   To Baz mann #23 19:08  |  Ahmose The Egyptian 08/09/07   29.   Radical Islam is winning 19:21  |  US GI 08/09/07   30.   The US is vulnerable BECAUSE of it`s military strength 19:56  |  Mark Lincoln 08/09/07   31.   Baz Mann - gene transplant? 19:58  |  Mark Lincoln 08/09/07   32.   #20: "Muslim Watcher" 20:20  |  Upholder of Truth 08/09/07   33.   Waging war on the credit card 20:29  |  Mark Lincoln 08/09/07   34.   16. morice: Bin Laden 20:44  |  KUTW 08/09/07   35.   Who is more evil Ben Laden or Bush !!! 20:49  |  Frank Abdul 08/09/07   36.   # 19 MoRice 21:21  |  Realistic Arab 08/09/07   37.   3 33 realistic Arab 22:21  |  morice 08/09/07   38.   If...... 12:58  |  Keops 16/05/08   39.   blah blah 10:00  |  blah blah 19/05/08

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