2007 Osama bin Laden video

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." [Citation |last=Ross |first=Brian |title=Al Qaeda Announces New Bin Laden Video |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/09/al-qaeda-announ.html |accessdate=2007-09-12]

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. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videos_of_Osama_bin_Laden#October_29.2C_2004]

By September 7, 2007, US authorities had managed to obtain a copy of the video, even though it had not been officially released. [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] Soon after, the Reuters news agency released a 1-minute excerpt which it obtained from a micro-news service called BreakingNewsOn shortly before.

Contents

"Note: The following description was compiled after consideration of the video and transcript as hosted by [http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/09/obl_transcript.php#025752 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:

* The 62nd anniversary of the US Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
* The influence of the Democratically-controlled congress
* The influence of major corporations
* Global warming & the Kyoto Accord
* The current war in Afghanistan
* The collapse of the Soviet Union
* The Kennedy Assassination
* The Vietnam war
* The extermination of Native American Indians
* The Spanish Inquisition
* The Capitalist / Communist Governments who "take their people for Fools"

Individuals mentioned in the video include:

* Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair
* Current UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown
* French President Nicolas Sarkozy
* Author & political activist Noam Chomsky
* Author & former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer

As with bin Laden's 19 January 2006 audio tape where he endorses William Blum's book, ", in the September 7th 2007 Osama bin Laden video he endorses Michael Scheuer's ". bin Laden states:

"And our holding firm to this magnificent Book is the secret of our strength and winning of the war against you despite the fewness of our numbers and materiel. And if you would like to get to know some of the reasons for your losing of your war against us, then read the book of Michael Scheuer in this regard."

He also suggests that the viewer read "the European thinker who anticipated the fall of the Soviet Union". Although not named by bin Laden that thinker is Emmanuel Todd. [Citation |last=Weinberger |first=Sharon |title=Osama's Book Club: Michael Scheuer, Emmanuel Todd|url=http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/09/osamas-reading-.html|accessdate=2007-09-19] [ [http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=22e_1190554540 Liveleak.Com - Michael Scheuer We Shouldn'T Be The Sole Supporter Of Israel ] ] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WgqUb8X6AA YouTube - Broadcast Yourself ] ] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZNfuIvtLos YouTube - Michael Scheuer Mentioned in Bin Laden Tape FOX News ] ] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqm4XVylLLc YouTube - Michael Scheuer on the Sept 2007 bin laden message ] ] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTtoHx-ia8A YouTube - Michael Scheuer on "Inside 9/11" ] ]

Bin Laden further suggests that notice should be taken of comments made by a US soldier serving in Iraq named Joshua:

: "It would benefit you to listen to the poignant messages of your soldiers in Iraq, who are paying -- with their blood, nerves and scattered limbs....Among them is the eloquent message of Joshua which he sent by way of the media, in which he wipes the tears from his eyes and describes American politicians in harsh terms and invites them to join him there for a few days".

The soldier's comments were made in an ABC News story dated July 16, 2007, and although bin Laden seems to be attributing them to one Corporal Joshua Lake who appears in the story, they were actually made by another soldier in the story Specialist Michael Vassell. [Citation |last=Baker |first=Brent |title=Osama bin Laden Cites ABC News Story in Denouncing U.S. Role in Iraq|url=http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2007/09/07/osama-bin-laden-cites-abc-news-story-denouncing-u-s-role-iraq|accessdate=2007-09-19]

Authenticity Speculations

Several alleged "peculiarities" in the video have been a source of urban speculation and led to frequent sensationalistic accusations by speculative conspiracy traffickers :-

* Osama bin Laden sports the trimmer, blacker beard and the same clothing he wore in the 2004-10-29 video. [Citation |last=Krawetz |first=Neal |title=Secure Computing: Sec-C |url=http://www.hackerfactor.com/blog/ |accessdate=2007-09-13] [ [http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9777136-7.html Researcher: Bin Laden's beard is real, video is not | Tech news blog - CNET News.com ] ]

* 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. [Citation |last=Maschke |first=George |title= Latest Bin Laden Video Is a Forgery: All References to Current Events Are Made During Video Freeze |url=http://www.boomantribune.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2007/9/9/61032/95401 |accessdate=2007-09-12]

* 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.

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". [Citation |last=Wolfson |first=Paula |title=Bush Reacts to Bin Laden Video |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-09-08-voa2.cfm |accessdate=2007-09-12]

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". [Citation |last= |first= |title=Transcript: Fran Townsend on 'FOX News Sunday' |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296202,00.html |accessdate=]

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".Citation |last=Ghazi |first=Jalal |title=America's Media Darling: Osama bin Laden |url=http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/62416/ |accessdate=2007-09-13]

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".

: Note: A full analysis of Osama bin Laden's video statement by Scheuer can be viewed at [http://www.jamestown.org/news_details.php?news_id=274 The Jamestown Foundation]

Security analyst M.J. Gohel of the Asia-Pacific Foundation speaking to the Washington Post:

: "This has the language and hallmarks of Adam Gadahn and is very reminiscent of his own messages in terms of style and content". [Citation |last=Whitlock |first=Craig |title=Converts To Islam Move Up In Cells|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091402265.html?hpid=topnews |accessdate=2007-09-15]

: Note: Gadahn is a US citizen who converted to Islam and is a media adviser for Al-Qaeda.

econd 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 identified 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. [Citation |last=Nasr |first=Octavia |title= New bin Laden video surfaces |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/11/binladen.video/index.html |accessdate=2007-09-12]

ee also

*Videos of Ayman al-Zawahiri
*2004 Osama bin Laden video
*Videos of Osama bin Laden
*

References

External links

* [http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=1898712767284671230 Full Osama bin Laden video on Google Video] Dead link|date=May 2008
* [http://www.lcnj.com/Lebanese-Newsletter.htm 2007 Osama bin Laden video]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eJWc5b6xKk Bin Laden Preaches]
* [http://www.svt.se/content/1/c6/90/47/62/BINLADIN.asx The first 1:10min of the video message from SVT, Swedish state television. (Windows Media Player Format)]
* [http://www.reuters.com/news/video/videoStory?videoId=65856&newsChannel=newsOne First 1:10min Flash version from Reuters]
* [http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/transcript2.pdf Complete Transcript from ABC News]
* [http://www.nowpublic.com/bin-laden-transcript Text Transcript type from ABC News via NowPublic]

News articles

* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6904496,00.html No Overt Threats in New Bin Laden Video] - The Guardian, September 7 2007
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6982803.stm Bin Laden 'to issue 9/11 video'] - BBC News, September 7 2007
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6984102.stm 'Embrace Islam' Bin Laden urges] - BBC News, September 7 2007
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6985086.stm Trimmed Bin Laden in media-savvy war] - BBC News, September 8 2007
* [http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/09/obl_transcript.php FULL Transcript]