Intelligence

Bin Laden video threatens America

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Bin Laden video threatens America

Arabic TV station al-Jazeera has broadcast a videotape in which Osama Bin Laden threatens fresh attacks on the US.

The leader of the al-Qaeda network says the reasons behind the events of 11 September 2001 still exist.

It is his clearest claim of responsibility yet for those attacks.

Americans go to the polls in four days, but Bin Laden says their security depends on neither George W Bush nor John Kerry, but on US foreign policy.

Both presidential candidates reacted angrily to the tapes, Mr Bush promising Americans "will not be intimidated", and Mr Kerry saying he would "hunt down and destroy" al-Qaeda.

Correspondents say that in its simplest form, this is a reminder from Bin Laden that he is still there and he is still a threat.

'Another Manhattan'

In the tape, Bin Laden speaks directly to the camera in a quiet, calm voice, making small gestures with his right hand. He appears in good health.

"O American people," the video begins, "my talk to you is about the best way to avoid another Manhattan; about the war, its causes and results."

He accuses President George W Bush of deceiving the American people in the years since the 11 September attacks.

"Bush is still deceiving you and hiding the truth from you, and therefore the reasons are still there to repeat what happened," he says.

Bin Laden likens the Bush administration to Arab regimes, saying both are characterised by "hubris, arrogance, greed and unlawful acquisition of money".

He tries to appropriate the language of the Bush administration, dismissing Mr Bush's regular claims that al-Qaeda militants "hate freedom".

"We fought you because we are free and do not accept injustice," he says.

Bin Laden says he first thought of attacking the US after seeing destroyed tower blocks in Lebanon following the Israeli invasion in 1982, which the US, he says, permitted.

Americans' security lies not in the hands of "Kerry, Bush or al-Qaeda", but depends on US policy, he says.

It was not obvious when the video was recorded, but US officials say they believe it is authentic.

The tape alludes to Mr Bush and Mr Kerry as presidential rivals - indicating the tape must have been made in the last few months.

A spokesman for al-Jazeera said the station received the tape early on Friday, but would not indicate how.

Americans 'united'

The presidential rivals both responded quickly to the tape.

Mr Bush said: "Let me make this very clear. Americans will not be intimidated or influenced by an enemy of our country. I'm sure Senator Kerry agrees with this."

The American people were at war and would prevail, he said.

Mr Kerry, meanwhile, said Americans were "absolutely united in our determination to hunt down and destroy Osama Bin Laden and the terrorists" and he would "stop at absolutely nothing" to do so.

US officials have said there will be no change in the country's terrorism alert status.

Correspondents in Washington say it is not obvious what impact this video could have on the US presidential contest.

They say Bin Laden's threats could prompt some to rally behind the president, but to others it may emphasise the Bush administration's failure to capture Bin Laden in the three years since the attacks on New York and Washington.

They add that the video may simply further entrench the views of those on either side of the partisan divide.

This is the first new videotape of Bin Laden speaking to have surfaced since the US-led war in Afghanistan.

However, several audio messages believed to be from Bin Laden have emerged since then.

The most recent, posted on a website known to be used by Islamist militants, strongly criticised the US and coalition forces in Iraq and ordered a jihad, or holy war, against them.

October 29, 2004 at 08:01 PM in Al Qaeda | Permalink | Top of page | Blog Home