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By [[September 7]], [[2007]], US authorities had managed to obtain a copy of the video, even though it had not been officially released.<ref>{{Citation |last= |first= |title=US studies Bin Laden video, CIA warns of Al-Qaeda plots UPDATE |url=http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-19431913.htm |accessdate=2007-09-12}}</ref> Soon after the first excerpts were being broadcast, and the first transcripts made publicly available.
By [[September 7]], [[2007]], US authorities had managed to obtain a copy of the video, even though it had not been officially released.<ref>{{Citation |last= |first= |title=US studies Bin Laden video, CIA warns of Al-Qaeda plots UPDATE |url=http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-19431913.htm |accessdate=2007-09-12}}</ref> Soon after the first excerpts were being broadcast, and the first transcripts made publicly available.


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The video is felt to have been inspired by [[Adam Gadahn]] <ref>{{Citation
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Revision as of 19:05, 16 September 2007

2004 video still: bin Laden sports a trimmer, blacker beard in the new video.[1]

On September 6, 2007, a banner ad promoting a new video from Osama bin Laden appeared on an Islamic militant website regularly used by Al-Qaeda. The ad carried a picture purported to be of Osama bin Laden, and the logo of Al-Qaeda's media production company As-Sahab. An accompanying message translated read "Soon, with the permission of God, a new visual tape, the Sheikh, the Lion, Osama bin Laden. May God protect him."[2]

Timing suggests that the video was being released to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US. Osama bin Laden's last appearance on video was in 2004. [3]

By September 7, 2007, US authorities had managed to obtain a copy of the video, even though it had not been officially released.[4] Soon after the first excerpts were being broadcast, and the first transcripts made publicly available.

The video is felt to have been inspired by Adam Gadahn [5]

Contents

Note: The following description was compiled after consideration of the video and transcript as hosted by The Counterterrorism Blog

In the video Osama Bin Laden is seated at a table wearing a white robe and turban and beige cloak. His beard is shorter than in his 2004 video appearance, and is black - apparently dyed. The title The Solution appears in the top left corner of the video frame. The video running time is approximately 26 minutes.

Osama Bin Laden addresses the "People of America" directly but makes no overt threats against the United States. Instead he mostly rails against perceived flaws in American society and US foreign policy, contrasting these with the perceived virtues of Islam. He mentions the September 11 attacks several times and makes references to current events in the Iraq War. The video concludes with an offer to Americans to convert to Islam.

Others events and themes cited in the video include:

Individuals mentioned in the video include:

Authenticity

Several peculiarities cast doubt on the video's authenticity:

  • Osama bin Laden sports the trimmer, blacker beard and the same clothing he wore in the 2004-10-29 video.[6] [7]
  • The video freezes at about 1 minute and 58 seconds, and motion only resumes again at 12:30.
  • The video then freezes again at 14:02, and remains frozen until the end.
  • All references to current events, such as the 62nd anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Japan, and Sarkozy and Brown being the leaders of France and the UK, respectively, occur when the video is frozen.[8]
  • The words spoken when the video is in motion contain no references to contemporary events and could have been made before the US invasion of Iraq.
  • It is claimed that the facial features of the person in the video do not correspond to those of the known Osama bin Laden.[9]

Reaction

President George W. Bush speaking from the APEC Summit in Sydney, Australia:

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.
In the same speech:
I found it interesting that on the tape Iraq was mentioned, which is a reminder that Iraq is part of the war against extremists. If Al-Qaida bothers to mention Iraq, it's because they want to achieve their objectives in Iraq, which is to drive us out.[10]

Homeland Security Advisor Frances Townsend speaking to Fox News Sunday:

Remember, the last audiotape was in June of '06. The last video was just before the election in October of '04. This is about the best he can do. This is a man on the run from a cave who is virtually impotent other than these tapes.[11]

Expert on Islamic issues Sliman Abu Rahman (based in Amman, Jordan) speaking to Al Jazeera:

In his earlier speeches he offered them a truce and now he is asking them to convert. I think this is very far from reality and no political organizing with realistic political objectives can have such an unacceptable political discourse..[12]

Former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer speaking to Wolf Blitzer, anchor of CNN's The Situation Room:

Inherent in his request for us to convert (to Islam) is a very explicit threat that he is going to attack us in a very hard way. The prophet told Muslims before you attack anyone you warn them, offer them a chance to convert and offer them truces..[13]
Note: A full analysis of Osama bin Laden's video statement by Scheuer can be viewed at The Jamestown Foundation

Second video

Main article: Sept 11 2007 Osama bin Laden video

On September 11, 2007, a second video appeared purportedly featuring a eulogy by Osama bin Laden to 9/11 hijacker Waleed al-Shehri. In the video, a voice indentified as bin Laden's delivers the 14-minute introduction. The voice is heard over a still picture of bin Laden, dressed and groomed as he appears in the September 7, 2007 video. The 33-minute balance of the recording is a video will read by al-Shehri.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Keath, Lee, Groups: Bin Laden Plans Video on 9/11, retrieved 2007-09-12
  2. ^ Ross, Brian, Al Qaeda Announces New Bin Laden Video, retrieved 2007-09-12
  3. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videos_of_Osama_bin_Laden#October_29.2C_2004
  4. ^ US studies Bin Laden video, CIA warns of Al-Qaeda plots UPDATE, retrieved 2007-09-12
  5. ^ Whitlock, Craig (Saturday, September 15, 2007), "Converts To Islam Move Up In Cells Arrests in Europe Illuminate Shift", Washington Post, pp. Page A10 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); line feed character in |title= at position 35 (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ Krawetz, Neal, Secure Computing: Sec-C, retrieved 2007-09-13
  7. ^ http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9777136-7.html
  8. ^ Maschke, George, Latest Bin Laden Video Is a Forgery: All References to Current Events Are Made During Video Freeze, retrieved 2007-09-12
  9. ^ Osama bin Laden: The Newest Fake, retrieved 2007-09-12
  10. ^ Wolfson, Paula, Bush Reacts to Bin Laden Video, retrieved 2007-09-12
  11. ^ Transcript: Fran Townsend on 'FOX News Sunday'
  12. ^ Ghazi, Jalal, America's Media Darling: Osama bin Laden, retrieved 2007-09-13
  13. ^ Ghazi, Jalal, America's Media Darling: Osama bin Laden, retrieved 2007-09-13
  14. ^ Nasr, Octavia, New bin Laden video surfaces, retrieved 2007-09-12

External links

News articles

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