An audiotape purportedly from Osama bin Laden calls President Bush "stupid" and claims American war plans against Iraq are part of a plot to attack Muslim nations in the Middle East and North Africa.
The tape appeared to be the same 53-minute recording of which a few excerpts were released Thursday by the British-based Islamic Al-Ansaar news agency. It began appearing in full Sunday on Islamic-oriented Web sites.
The American goal in waging war against Iraq is to change the regional map to benefit Israel, according to the voice said to belong to bin Laden.
"It is clear that the preparations to attack Iraq are part of a series of attacks prepared for nations of the region including Syria, Iran, Egypt and Sudan," the voice said.
"The aim of the Crusaders' campaign is to prepare the atmosphere for the establishment of the so-called greater Israel state, which includes great parts of Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and large portions of (Saudi Arabia)," it said.
Al-Ansaar released some quotes from the tape, and described it -- like the full tape released Sunday -- as poetic with several Quranic verses.
Imran Khan, who runs Al-Ansaar, translated the tape and quoted the voice as saying: "In this final year I hurl myself and my steed with my soul at the enemy. Indeed on my demise I will become a martyr."
"I pray my demise isn't on a coffin bearing green mantles. I wish my demise to be in the eagle's belly," the voice continued in what Al-Ansaar interpreted as bin Laden's wish to end his life in a final act of terror against the "eagle," or America.
The voice on the Web site recording said it is possible to defeat the United States, despite its strong military and huge economy: "It is possible to target the bases and concentrate on the weak points and if one percent of these points were hit, it (America) will stagger and stop ruling the world in an unjust way."
The tape also praised the 1998 attack on the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, calling the latter a "beautiful and courageous operation ... destroying America's idols."
"Their (Americans') stupid leader claimed we envy them for their way of life, but the truth that the pharaoh of this age is hiding is that we attack them because of their injustice toward us and the Muslim world, especially Palestine and Iraq," the voice said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
