Bin Laden tape blasts US-led war on Iraq
The purported voice of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has blasted the US-led war on Iraq as part of a new “crusade” against Islam, in an audiotape aired on Arabic TV station Al Arabiya.
The voice on the tape, aired yesterday, criticised Western models of parliamentary representation and democracy in the Arab world and reiterated the belief that US-backed governments in the region would ultimately act on Washington’s behalf.
“Know that this war is a new crusade against the Islamic world and is a critical war for the whole Islamic nation.”
Pointing his finger at the West, the voice said: “(Voices) in Iraq, as before in Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and others are calling for the peaceful democratic solution in dealing with the apostate governments.
“We need to be aware of the seriousness of this humiliating, errant path which contradicts the law of God…Those who have entered the ‘assembly of idolatry’ — legislative assemblies — have torn down Islam.
“They are making a big mistake. God knows that Islam has nothing to do with their actions. Islam is the religion of God and the legislative assemblies are the religion of the “age of ignorance.”
Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri, his deputy, are believed to be in the mountainous border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to US intelligence reports.
US officials have said the audiotape replayed clips aired in October by Al-Jazeera, based in Doha, Qatar.
Citing clues to the timing of the tape, an unnamed US official said the voice on the tape mentioned former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, who resigned September 6.
