Bin Laden urges Europe to pull forces from Afghanistan

[Praxius]

Bin Laden urges Europe to pull forces from Afghanistan

Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden called on Europeans to stop helping the United States in the war in Afghanistan, according to excerpts of a new audiotape broadcast Thursday on Al-Jazeera television. Bin Laden said he was the "only one responsible" for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, saying it was unjust for the United States to have invaded Afghanistan. "The events of Manhattan were retaliation against the American-Israeli alliance's aggression against our people in Palestine and Lebanon, and I am the only one responsible for it. "The Afghan people and government knew nothing about it. America knows that," he said. "Europe went along with it [the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan] because they had no other alternative, only to be a follower," he said. Bin Laden urged Europeans to pull away from the fight in Afghanistan. "It is better for you to stand against your leaders who are dropping in on the White House, and to work seriously to lift the injustice against the believers," he said, accusing U.S. forces and their allies of intentionally killing women and children in Afghanistan. Al-Jazeera aired two brief excerpts of a few seconds each of the audiotape, titled "Message to the European Peoples," which al-Qaeda had announced Monday that it would release soon. Bin Laden issued four public statements earlier this year — on Sept. 7, Sept. 11, Sept. 20 and Oct. 22. The Sept. 7 video was the al-Qaeda leader's first in three years and was issued to mark the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The U.S.-led coalition invaded Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks because the Taliban regime was sheltering bin Laden — who eluded coalition troops and is believed to be hiding along the Afghan-Pakistan frontier.

Open for debate and opinions

[Dieval]

Quote by: bin laden "The Afghan people and government knew nothing about it. America knows that," he said."

Riiigght, the Taliban new nothing about you or your cronies there....suuuuure they didn't...

[Praxius]

Perhaps that is something lost in translation.... I suspect he meant that Afghanistan had nothing to do with what happened in New York....

I do somewhat admire him attempting to accept the blame entirely.... that is if it is actually Bin Ladden to begin with.

[another day]

he's right. however, if he is seriously feeling bad about it, then good. He should have known he would be bringing further hardship and war upon his people when he attacked the us.

but of course, he all know that's really what he wanted from it. to drag the usa over to their turf for a war.

[Rainbow]

O.bin-Laden either has lost touch with reality, or he is about to launch something within few years, what may suggest that he is planning to obtain non-conventional weapons - and use it against a desired target - when it will become available within his power and/or reach.
Maybe O.bin-Laden expects a pro-Islamic state to become one of his supplying sources.
Otherwise, he is suffering due to political delusions and/or ambitions.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: another day he's right. however, if he is seriously feeling bad about it, then good. He should have known he would be bringing further hardship and war upon his people when he attacked the us. but of course, he all know that's really what he wanted from it. to drag the usa over to their turf for a war.

Unfortunately, he is from Saudi Arabia, and not Afghanistan.

[Sonart]

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Quote by: Rainbow O.bin-Laden either has lost touch with reality, or he is about to launch something within few years,

This is nothing but a bit of political gamesmanship, the little kid yelling, "And stay out!!" after the bad guys have already fled.

It's common knowledge that Bush's "Coalition of the Willing" has been collapsing for years, with one country after another packing up their troops and leaving. With John Howard dumped out on his ass in Australia, watch for the Ozzies to be the next to leave.

Bin-Laden is simply taking political advantage by making gratuitous tough talk that piggybacks on an already existing trend.


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[Praxius]

Quote by: Rainbow O.bin-Laden either has lost touch with reality, or he is about to launch something within few years, what may suggest that he is planning to obtain non-conventional weapons - and use it against a desired target - when it will become available within his power and/or reach. Maybe O.bin-Laden expects a pro-Islamic state to become one of his supplying sources. Otherwise, he is suffering due to political delusions and/or ambitions.

Like causing instability in Pakistan for an overthrow the current government, which slacked ass on trying to crack down on him and the Taliban in the tribal areas? And then he has access to their nuclear arms perhaps to lob at whomever he wants to start the next WW?

It's a possibility, but I don't think so just yet.

[Praxius]

Quote by: Sonart . This is nothing but a bit of political gamesmanship, the little kid yelling, "And stay out!!" after the bad guys have already fled. It's common knowledge that Bush's "Coalition of the Willing" has been collapsing for years, with one country after another packing up their troops and leaving. With John Howard dumped out on his ass in Australia, watch for the Ozzies to be the next to leave.

You are mixing up your details here.... The "Coalition of the Willing" are in Iraq.... he's talking about Afghanistan/NATO..... two different wars.

Bin-Laden is simply taking political advantage by making gratuitous tough talk that piggybacks on an already existing trend.

True.... he's trying to buddy up to the rest of the world and trying to make it seem 9/11 was justified, and yet, what's happening in Afghanistan isn't

[Sonart]

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Quote by: Praxius You are mixing up your details here.... The "Coalition of the Willing" are in Iraq.... he's talking about Afghanistan/NATO..... two different wars.

The concept remains the same, Prax... the U.S. counted on allies to contribute troops to pick up the slack in Afghanistan so we could focus in Iraq. And NATO is simply a U.S. coalition under a different name...

NATO Getting Jittery over Canada, Netherlands Leaving Afghanistan -- Aug. 2007

As the allies squabble about burden-sharing, the situation on the ground is becoming increasingly grim. -- Nov. 2007

New Australian PM signals Iraq pullout -- Nov. 2007
How long can we expect them to stay in Afghanistan?

Yeah, there's a difference, but I still see bin-Laden as trying to piggy-back on an existing trend of U.S. allies deserting us, for Islamic PR consumption. If other NATO members continue to bolt from Afghanistan, bin-Laden can smirk and tell his fans that his threats "scared" them into it.

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[Rainbow]

Quote by: Praxius Like causing instability in Pakistan for an overthrow the current government, which slacked ass on trying to crack down on him and the Taliban in the tribal areas? And then he has access to their nuclear arms perhaps to lob at whomever he wants to start the next WW? It's a possibility, but I don't think so just yet.

That is one of possible scenarios.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Sonart NATO is simply a U.S. coalition under a different name...

It seems to be correct, especially since Talibans sheltered bin-Laden on within Afghanistan territory (at that time).