Osama Bin Laden in New Message: Stop the War Or We Will Continue to Fight You 'On All Possible Fronts' – Like We Did Against the USSR Until It Disintegrated; Our Weapon Is Our Patience, Victory Will Come From Allah; Read Carter, Mearsheimer, and WaltUnfortunately the free transcript ends there. I think Osama bin Laden is praising former President Jimmy Carter, Stephen Walt, and John Mearsheimer...so, at least we all know which side they are on. The New York Times published a discussion of Bin Laden's book choices in a blog post that can be found here (with an apology for not explaining why they are "controversial...") But the Times didn't post a transcript of Bin Laden's speech...
Osama bin Laden: "Oh American people — I address this speech to you as a reminder of the reasons for 9/11 and for the ensuing wars and consequences, and as a reminder of the way to end them from the core. I especially address the relatives of the people harmed in those events, who have recently demanded that an investigation be started into their reasons. This is an important first step in the right direction, among many steps taken deliberately in the wrong direction in the past eight lean years that you have been through. The American people in its entirety should follow in their footsteps, because the delay in understanding these reasons has cost you dearly, with no benefit to speak of.
"The White House administration, which is one of the two sides to the conflict, has told you, in the years that have passed, that the war is necessary to maintain your security. But wise people should make sure that they listen to both sides in a conflict, in order to know the truth. So lend me your ear.
"First, let me say that we have declared many times, over more than two and a half decades, that the reason for our conflict with you is your support for your Israeli allies, who are occupying our land of Palestine. It was this position of yours, along with some other injustices, that drove us to carry out the events of 9/11. If you knew how much we suffer from the injustice that the Jews inflict upon us, with the support that your administration provides them, you would know that both of our nations are victims of the policies of the White House, which is, in fact, held hostage by the lobbies, especially by the large corporations and the Israeli lobby.
"One of the best people who can explain to you the reasons for 9/11 is one of your own citizens, a former top CIA agent, who had pangs of conscience in the eighth decade of his life, and decided to tell the truth despite the threats and to explain the message of 9/11 to you. He has several works, including a book titled Apology of a Hired Killer (sic)...
Meanwhile, CNN had this account:
(CNN) -- An audio message purportedly from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has accused President Barack Obama of being unable to fulfil his election pledge to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq.Walid Phares' analysis here.
Osama bin Laden is seen in an image taken from a videotape that aired on Al-Jazeera in September 2003.
The tape emerged on radical Islamist Web sites, just two days after the United States marked the eighth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.
"To the American people, this is my message to you: a reminder of the reasons behind 9/11 and the wars and the repercussions that followed and the way to resolve it," the message said.
"From the beginning, we have stated many times ... that the cause of our disagreement with you is your support of your allies, the Israelis, who are occupying our land in Palestine. Your stance along with some other grievances are what led us to carry out the events of 9/11."
The video plays the audio over a undated photograph of bin Laden. The video also shows a banner with the American flag as the backdrop and an image of the New York City skyline with the twin towers of the World Trade Center -- destroyed in the 9/11 attack -- still standing, said terrorism analyst Laura Mansfield.
CNN could not independently authenticate bin Laden as the speaker in the 11-minute video posted on Sunday by As-Sahab Media -- al Qaeda's production company.
Obama was "a vulnerable man who will not be able to stop the war, as he promised, but instead he will drag it to the maximum possible extent," the message said.
Though U.S. troops no longer patrol Iraq's major cities and a large number have left, tens of thousands remain in the country and are expected to stay for years to come.
The message claims that the Obama administration is under the influence of the Republican White House it replaced, pointing out that the president kept Robert Gates as defense secretary -- a holdover from the Bush administration.
"Prolong the wars as much as you like. By God, we will never compromise on it (Palestine), ever," the message continued.
Mansfield noted that the video brings no new images of the elusive bin Laden, who was last seen in footage two years ago on the sixth anniversary of the terror attacks.
Bin Laden has released audio messages since then, most recently on June 9.
