Steve Quayle News Alerts

September 10, 2003

Al-Jazeera aired a video in which it said Osama bin Laden appeared with his top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

(CNN) -- On the eve of the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera broadcast Wednesday what it said was a new videotape of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his top deputy and audio voiceovers urging Muslims in Iraq to "devour the Americans."

In the audiotape accompanying the video, a voice purported to be that of Bin Laden's chief deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, warned that the battle with the United States was far from over and exhorted fighters in Iraq to "bury them [the Americans] in the graveyard of Iraq."

The purported voice of Al-Zawahiri also said the United States has so far experienced "just the first skirmishes" and not yet begun to realize the true volume of its casualties.

"Those fighters in Iraq, we greet them and salute them and support them and ask God to bless their efforts and their bravery in fighting the crusaders, and we tell them God is with you and the nation is supporting you, depend and rely on God and attack and devour the Americans and bury them in the graveyard of Iraq," the voice said.

It warned that "the real battle has not started yet. Prepare yourself for the punishment for your crimes."

"We recommend to the mothers of the soldiers, if you like to see your sons, then hasten to ask your government to return them rather than coming back to you in coffins," the voice said.

The videotape on Al-Jazeera showed bin Laden and al-Zawahiri walking down a rocky hillside path. It's not known when or where the videotape was shot, but Al-Jazeera speculated it could have been in April or May. It's also unclear when the audiotape statements were recorded.

On the audiotape, a voice claiming to be bin Laden praises the suicide hijackers who crashed jetliners into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field two years ago, killing more than 3,000 people.

"Those who don't agree with killing, then let them step out of the way," he says. "I would say to them, those who are afraid of climbing mountains will live in pits and holes."

The purported voice of al-Zawahiri also addressed "our Muslim brothers in Palestine."

"The wound of Palestine is bleeding in the heart of every Muslim, and with the help of God we will not let America enjoy peace and security until the Palestinian issue is resolved," the voice said.

"We tell them we are on the path of jihad, and we ask that the Muslim brothers not to be deceived by America," the voice said. "Palestine will not be liberated but with jihad, so never, never give up your weapons."

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/09/10/binladen.tape/index.html