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The Taliban Home Video
[1]
by Carol Valentine
Curator, Waco Holocaust Electronic Museum
http://www.Public-Action.com
Copyright, October, 2001
May be reproduced for non-commercial purposes
[The follwoing was received in the form of an e-mail newsletter published by Carol
Valentine]
===========================================
Foreword: Long live the principles of the American Revolution and
the Bill of Rights. Those who run our land today are traitors to the
Old Republic, which they brought down through cunning and stealth.
They lie like Pharisees and demand our loyalty to their imposter
state, even as they use it as a puppet to advance foreign interests.
Exposing these traitors and foreign agents is clearly my patriotic
duty. I will not be intimidated into silence. Let the truth be
told, and let the chips fall where they may.
==
October 15 -- By now you have seen and digested the Taliban home
video, allegedly showing Osama bin Laden and a couple of his buddies
sitting outside their cave in Afganistan, talking about Operation
911. The video happened to surface on a "Muslim" TV station
(al-Jazeera) in the puppet state of Qatar, just as the first US bombs
were falling on Afganistan.
If the US and its pals could fake such a video -- and they're easy to
fake, either with morphing or stand-in impersonators -- why wouldn't
they? Think about it. You're going to bomb a destitute people in a
destitute land. You want to neutralize world outrage that will
inevitably follow. So you have a man -- I'll call him Osama bin
Fake-It -- speak out as the bombs fall. Fake-It sends a message that
offends world conscience, praising the slaughter of New York
civilians, thereby neutralizing sympathy the world might have for bin
Laden's protectors (your intended bombing victims).
The makers of the Taliban Home Video rely upon us having a short
memory. They hope we won't remember an authentic CNN interview with
Osama Bin Laden, conducted by Peter Arnett and shown in March, 1997.
In that interview, bin Laden makes his views clear. In the 2001
Taliban Home Video, bin Fake-it turns Bin Laden's views around 180
degrees. Coincidentally, the 180 degree turns just happen to serve
US 2001 propaganda purposes.
The 1997 interview is now most newsworthy. Too bad CNN has not
re-released it, but keeping the public fully informed would not serve
the master's purpose. I have a copy of that 1997 CNN interview. It
was sent to me in 1998 and I distributed it with my commentary: Bin
Laden: A Patriot in His Own Land. Both are attached below for your
reading convenience.
I would like to compare what Osama bin Laden said in 1997 with what
with Osama bin Fake-It says in 2001. As I do this, you'll probably
want to refer to the transcript of bin Fake-It's remarks as shown on
US TV on October 7. I used the translation I found on the Houston
Chronicle webpage.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/special/terror/front/1079137
As you read, remember that bin Laden and his comrades brought the
giant USSR to its knees. He is credited with being an accomplished
strategist and tactician. Bin Laden is no fool.
http://www.afghan-web.com/history/articles/ussr.html
====
* Bin Laden on striking military targets, 1997 CNN interview *
Reporter: "Mr. bin Laden, you've declared a jihad against the United
States. Can you tell us why? And is the jihad directed against the
US government or the United States' troops in Arabia? What about US
civilians in Arabia or the people of the United States?"
Osama bin Laden: " . . . we have focused our declaration on striking
at the soldiers in the country of The Two Holy Places [Mecca and
Medina] ... "
Speaking of the bombings of US troops in Riyadh and Al-Khobar
(Dhahran), bin Laden patiently explained their purpose was to get US
occupation troops out of Arabia. He had high praise for those who
did the job.
Fair enough. In America, we also give high praise to our soldiers
when they perform heroically.
Elsewhere in the interview, Arnett asks bin Laden if the jihad will
stop when US troops leave Arabia. Bin Laden replies he wants US
troops out of *all* Muslim lands.
Let's consider the facts. US troops in Muslim lands have two
purposes: to suppress Arabs for Israel and to guarantee cheap oil for
the US. That is, US troop presence in Muslim lands is a violation of
our own Constitution, which says the armed forces are to be used for
the common defense of the Republic.
Our forces in the Muslim lands are occupation armies. Occupation
armies don't leave when politely asked. George Washington found
that out, so he had to kill lots of British soldiers and officers to
drive them out. Bin Laden sees his job as the same. Surely
occupation armies must be willing to take what they are willing to
dish out. Nothing Mr. Bin Laden says here is unusual or unreasonable.
* Bin Fake-It on striking military targets, 2001 Taliban Home Video *
Bin Fake-it makes no mention of military targets. Given bin Laden's
1997 goals, Bin Fake-It seems oblivious to the outrageous flaw in
Operation 911: no military damage to the enemy. How very odd.
* Bin Laden on striking civilian targets, 1997 CNN interview.*
In response to a question from Arnett, bin Laden says: "As for what
you asked whether jihad is directed against US soldiers, the
civilians in the land of the Two Holy Places (Mecca and Medina) or
against civilians in America, we have focused our declaration on
striking at the soldiers in the country of the Two Holy Places.
"The country of the Two Holy Places has in our religion a peculiarity
of its own over the other Muslim countries. In our religion, it is
not permissible for any non-Muslim to stay in our country. Therefore,
even though American civilians are not targeted in our plan, they
must leave ..."
That's clear. Bin Laden is not targeting American civilians. He
just wants them to leave his country.
* Bin Fake-It on striking civilian targets, 2001 Taliban Home Video.*
Speaking of the demolition of the World Trade Center, Bin Fake-It
says: "God has blessed a group of vanguard Muslims ... to destroy
America."
So now bin Fake-it is rejoicing that US civilians were killed,
despite the fact that killing civilians was not bin Laden's goal.
Bin Fake-It fails to mention that these US civilians were killed on
US soil, even though Bin Laden's 1997 goal was simply to get them to
leave the Muslim countries. What a stunning switch of strategy.
* Bin Laden's goal: Get US forces out of Muslim lands, 1997 CNN video.*
Arnett asks if bin Laden will quit the jihad if US troops leave Saudi
Arabia. Bin Laden replies US troops must leave Arabia and the rest
of the Muslim world. "... we have declared jihad against the US,
because in our religion it is our duty to make jihad so that God's
word is the one exalted to the heights and so that we drive the
Americans away from all Muslim countries."
So Bin Laden's goal was to get US military forces out of Muslim
lands. He does not say he wants to destroy America. He just wants
us to go away, much like we wanted the British to go away in 1776.
* Bin Fake-It's goal: To DESTROY America, 2001 Taliban Home Video.*
The obvious result of bin Fake-It's words "God has blessed a group of
vanguard Muslims ... to destroy America" will be used to justify
increased military presence in Muslim lands and provides the US with
a perfect public relations justification to flood Afganistan with US
bombs and troops.
Recall that in the war with the USSR, the Muslims did not pursue the
Russians onto Russian soil. The Muslims were satisfied with driving
them out of Afghanistan. But now bin Fake-It invites open war, a war
he cannot possibly win. Strategically, praising Operation 911 was a
disaster for an accomplished strategist and tactician.
* Bin Laden's expansive statements on Jewish control of the United
States, 1997 CNN interview.*
Search the 1997 text yourself for his words on this matter. "Due to
its subordination to the Jews ..." See his other references to the US
and Israel.
* Bin Fake-It's statements on Jewish control of the United States,
2001 Taliban Home Video.*
Bin Fake-It doesn't mention that the Jews control America. Surely
bin Laden wouldn't miss this golden opportunity to go to the heart of
the matter. After all, Operation 911 caused a big splash. We would
have had the patience to listen. But the Taliban Home Video was just
a minute or so long. Bin Fake-It was given just enough time to
provide Tee Vee sound bytes that damaged Muslims interests, but not
enough time to expose those who wish to tear out Islam's heart. Very
odd.
* Bottom Line *
Let's move on from those interviews and notice this: The US now says
it is "in no hurry" to catch bin Laden.
"The Pentagon is in no hurry to try to catch or kill Osama bin Laden
as it orchestrates a step-by-step bombing campaign over Afghanistan."
("Pentagon Will Not Rush Manhunt," Washington Times, October 9, 2001.)
But just a few weeks before the US DEMANDED that the Taliban hand bin
Laden over or the US would take military action . . . . The refusal
of the Taliban to hand bin Laden over without evidence or judicial
procedure was the causa belli of the military strikes.
Recall that the US is accusing bin Laden of masterminding the
slaughter of approximately 7,000 Americans, and has said that he is
the brains and the money behind the Taliban. If those statements are
true, capturing him should be the first priority. Indeed, by October
11, the FBI warns us that over the next several days, we should be
aware of new terrorist attacks, which would of course be directed by
the pesky bin Laden. The Senate and the House of Representatives pass
a draconian bill, allowing suspension of our rights, but, remember:
"The Pentagon is in no hurry to try to catch or kill Osama bin Laden
. . . "
On October 14, CNN.com reported President Bush again refused an offer
by the Taliban to surrender bin Laden to a third country if the US
would produce evidence of his complicity in Operation 911.
("Afganistan pounded in second week of airstrikes.")
No, capturing or otherwise placing Osama bin-Laden in custody would
spoil the fun. It's better to have bin Fake-It on the loose,
mouthing the words written by the NWO psyops team.
*Al-Jazeera*
The Taliban Home Video was first aired on the Qatar TV station
al-Jazeera. Al-Jazeera was founded only five years ago, during what
was probably the planning stages of this war. Al-Jazeera deserves
attention, and its getting some. It was the subject of a
breathlessly adoring article in the Washington Post's Style Section
on October 9, 2001 ("Qatar TV Station A Clear Channel To Middle
East." )
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28526-2001Oct8.html
" . . . it has the record of breaking exclusive news stories that
many American networks might envy," drools the Post. Al-Jazeera
followed up its broadcast of bin Fake-It "with an interview with
British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Other recent interview guests
have included Secretary of State Colin Power and Israeli Foreign
Minister Shimon Peres."
"What makes al-Jazeera's scoops all the more remarkable is that the
24-hour satellite news station is the creation of one of the world's
smallest countries, Qatar, and broadcasts out of a region with little
tradition of press freedom . . . "
"Just as CNN became compulsory viewing around the world during the
1991 Gulf War, so too is al Jazeera becoming an indispensable source
of intelligence on events inside Afghanistan . . .
To those who live far away from the Washington, D.C. beltway, the
significance of a Post STYLE article may not be apparent, but know
this: Whom our Jewish supremacist masters wish to raise up or cast
down -- these are accorded a feature article in STYLE section of the
Washington Post.
Yes, al-Jazeera is just as Jewish as Seinfeld. Expect more bin
Fake-It news and bin Fake-It photos from al-Jazeera.
* Votes, Please *
So, how do you vote? Was the Taliban Home Video a morphing job, or
was an Osama bin Laden impersonator used?
The FBI votes for the impersonator. How do I know? Look at the
FBI's Most Wanted page and see the image of bin Laden they are using.
http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/topten/fugitives/laden.htm
Not the grainy image we see in the Taliban Home Video, is it? I have
downloaded this FBI webpage for safekeeping, and advise you to do the
same, before the photo is replaced with another image.
http://www.Public-Action.com/911/wtstandin.gif
http://www.Public-Action.com/911/standin.gif
(From Washington Times, October 8, 2001, pg. A3.)
Note that the FBI says of its photo: "Date of Photograph unknown."
Why not use a current image, the one in the Taliban Home Video, if
you believe that image is true?
Come to think of it, why can't the FBI offer a date for its photo of
Public Enemy Number One? The world's foremost investigative agency
should know the source of its own material and find out when the
photo was taken. Is that too difficult?
But don't expect reason or truth. Remember who you are dealing with.
Israel's puppet state -- let's agree to call it USrael --is one of
the most deceitful and ruthless nations on Earth, and the FBI is one
of its fix-it arms. You only need to remember the Waco Holocaust to
know that. So of course the case against Osama bin Laden, together
with the hokie Taliban Home Video, STINKS.
Now, here is the 1997 CNN interview and my commentary
=== "Bin Laden: A Patriot In His Own Land" and CNN March 1977 Interview ===
by Carol A. Valentine
Curator, Waco Holocaust Electronic Museum
http://www.Public-Action.com/SkyWriter/WacoMuseum
Copyright, August 1998
May be reproduced for non-commercial purposes.
In March, 1997 Osama Bin Laden was interviewed by CNN. In that
interview, Bin Laden he made a number of incontestable points:
* " . . . the US government is unjust, criminal and tyrannical . .
. . The mention of the US reminds us before everything else of those
innocent children who were dismembered, their heads and arms cut off
in the recent explosion that took place in Qana (in Lebanon) . . . "
[We're reading you, Mr. Bin Ladin. We watched the US butcher
American children in Waco. See:
http://www.Public-Action.com/SkyWriter/WacoMuseum/death/death.html
.
For video of the Qana massacre:
http://www.middleeast.org/mer117.htm ]
* The US is subordinated to Jewish/Israeli interests;
* The government of Saudi Arabia is a US-puppet government;
* The US-puppet Saudi government artificially holds down the price of oil;
* The US-puppet Saudi government thus conspires in the theft of
Arabian natural resources;
* The price of oil should be set by the free market.
"The US . . . wants to occupy our countries, steal our resources,
impose on us agents to rule us based not on what God has revealed and
wants us to agree on all this. If we refuse to do so, it will say we
are terrorists . . . At the time that they condemn any Muslim who
calls for his rights, they receive the highest top official of the
Irish Republican army at the White House as a political leader, while
woe, all woe, to the Muslims if they cry out for their rights.
Wherever we look we find the US as the leader of terrorism and crime
in the world."
Osama Bin Laden sounds much like one of our own Founding Fathers
facing the tyranny of King George III. That we have gained the
enmity of this man is a bitter commentary on our own imperialism and
our own betrayal of the principles of the American Revolution.
Notice how quickly the reporter gets down to the key issue: the
price of oil if Arabia was not a US puppet state (see third question).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Thanks to Norm at
http://www.flinet.com/~politics/aipac/
for bringing my attention to the CNN interview.
===Transcript of Osama Bin Laden interview====
The first-ever television interview with Osama
Bin Ladin was conducted by Peter Arnett in eastern Afghanistan in
late March 1997. Questions were submitted in advance. Bin Ladin
responded to almost all of the questions. CNN was not allowed to ask
follow up questions. The interview lasted just over an hour.
ARNETT: Mr. Bin Ladin, could you give us your main criticism of the
Saudi royal Family that is ruling Saudi Arabia today?
MR. BIN LADIN: Regarding the criticisms of the ruling regime in Saudi
Arabia and the Arabian peninsula, the first one is their
subordination to the US. So, our main problem is the US government
while the Saudi regime is but a branch or an agent of the US. By
being loyal to the US regime, the Saudi regime has committed an act
against Islam. And this, based on the ruling of Shari'a (Islamic
jurisprudence), casts the regime outside the religious community.
Subsequently, the regime has stopped ruling people according to what
God revealed, praise and glory be to Him, not to mention many other
contradictory acts. When this main foundation was violated, other
corrupt acts followed in every aspect of the country, the economic,
the social, government services and so on.
REPORTER: Mr. Bin Ladin, if the Islamic movement takes over Arabia,
what kind of society will be created and will Saudi Arabia, for
example, return to the laws of the Qur'an at the time of the Prophet?
BIN LADIN: We are confident, with the permission of God, Praise and
Glory be to Him, that Muslims will be victorious in the Arabian
peninsula and that God's religion, praise and glory be to Him, will
prevail in this peninsula. It is a great pride and a big hope that
the revelation unto Muhammad, Peace be upon him, will be resorted to
for ruling. When we used to follow Muhammad's revelation, Peace be
upon him, we were in great happiness and in great dignity, to God
belong credit and praise.
REPORTER: Mr. Bin Ladin, if the Islamic movement takes over Saudi
Arabia, what would your attitude to the West be and will the price of
oil be higher?
BIN LADIN: We are a nation and have a long history, with the grace of
God, Praise and Glory be to Him. We are now in the 15th century of
this great religion, the complete and comprehensive methodology, has
clarified the dealing between an individual and another, the duties
of the believer towards God, Praise and Glory be to Him, and the
relationship between the Muslim country and other countries in time
of peace and in time of war. If we look back at our history, we will
find there were many types of dealings between the Muslim nation and
the other nations in time of peace and in time of war, including
treaties and matters to do with commerce. So it is not a new thing
that we need to come up with. Rather, it already, by the grace of
God, exists. As for oil, it is a commodity that will be subject to
the price of the market according to supply and demand. We believe
that the current prices are not realistic due to the Saudi regime
playing the role of a US agent and the pressures exercised by the US
on the Saudi regime to increase production and flooding the market
that caused a sharp decrease in oil prices.
REPORTER: Mr. Bin Ladin, you've declared a jihad against the United
States. Can you tell us why? And is the jihad directed against the US
government or the United States' troops in Arabia? What about US
civilians in Arabia or the people of the United States?
BIN LADIN: We declared jihad against the US government, because the
US government is unjust, criminal and tyrannical. It has committed
acts that are extremely unjust, hideous and criminal whether directly
or through its support of the Israeli occupation of the Prophet's
Night Travel Land (Palestine). And we believe the US is directly
responsible for those who were killed in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq.
The mention of the US reminds us before everything else of those
innocent children who were dismembered, their heads and arms cut off
in the recent explosion that took place in Qana (in Lebanon). This US
government abandoned even humanitarian feelings by these hideous
crimes. It transgressed all bounds and behaved in a way not witnessed
before by any power or any imperialist power in the world. They
should have been considerate that the qibla (Mecca) of the Muslims
upheaves the emotion of the entire Muslim World. Due to its
subordination to the Jews the arrogance and haughtiness of the US
regime has reached, to the extent that they occupied the qibla of the
Muslims (Arabia) who are more than a billion in the world today. For
this and other acts of aggression and injustice, we have declared
jihad against the US, because in our religion it is our duty to make
jihad so that God's word is the one exalted to the heights and so
that we drive the Americans away from all Muslim countries. As for
what you asked whether jihad is directed against US soldiers, the
civilians in the land of the Two Holy Places (Saudi Arabia, Mecca and
Medina) or against the civilians in America, we have focused our
declaration on striking at the soldiers in the country of The Two
Holy Places. The country of the Two Holy Places has in our religion a
peculiarity of its own over the other Muslim countries. In our
religion, it is not permissible for any non-Muslim to stay in our
country. Therefore, even though American civilians are not targeted
in our plan, they must leave. We do not guarantee their safety,
because we are in a society of more than a billion Muslims. A
reaction might take place as a result of US government's hitting
Muslim civilians and executing more than 600 thousand Muslim children
in Iraq by preventing food and medicine from reaching them. So, the
US is responsible for any reaction, because it extended its war
against troops to civilians. This is what we say. As for what you
asked regarding the American people, they are not exonerated from
responsibility, because they chose this government and voted for it
despite their knowledge of its crimes in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and
in other places and its support of its agent regimes who filled our
prisons with our best children and scholars. We ask that may God
release them.
REPORTER: Mr. Bin Ladin, will the end of the United States' presence
in Saudi Arabia, their withdrawal, will that end your call for jihad
against the United States and against the US ?
BIN LADIN: The cause of the reaction must be sought and the act that
has triggered this reaction must be eliminated. The reaction came as
a result of the US aggressive policy towards the entire Muslim world
and not just towards the Arabian peninsula. So if the cause that has
called for this act comes to an end, this act, in turn, will come to
an end. So, the driving-away jihad against the US does not stop with
its withdrawal from the Arabian peninsula, but rather it must desist
from aggressive intervention against Muslims in the whole world.
REPORTER: Mr. Bin Ladin, tell us about your experience during the
Afghan war and what did you do during that jihad?
BIN LADIN: Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the
worlds, that He made it possible for us to aid the Mujahidin in
Afghanistan without any declaration for jihad. It was rather the news
that was broadcast by radio stations that the Soviet Union invaded a
Muslim country. This was a sufficient motivation for me to start to
aid our brothers in Afghanistan. I have benefitted so greatly from
the jihad in Afghanistan that it would have been impossible for me to
gain such a benefit from any other chance and this cannot be measured
by tens of years but rather more than that, Praise and Gratitude be
to God. In spite of the Soviet power, we used to move with confidence
and God conferred favors on us so that we transported heavy equipment
from the country of the Two Holy Places (Arabia) estimated at
hundreds of tons altogether that included bulldozers, loaders, dump
trucks and equipment for digging trenches. When we saw the brutality
of the Russians bombing Mujahidins' positions, by the grace of God,
we dug a good number of huge tunnels and built in them some storage
places and in some others we built a hospital. We also dug some
roads, by the grace of God, Praise and glory be to Him, one of which
you came by to us tonight. So our experience in this jihad was great,
by the grace of God, praise and glory be to Him, and the most of what
we benefitted from was that the myth of the super power was destroyed
not only in my mind but also in the minds of all Muslims. Slumber and
fatigue vanished and so was the terror which the US would use in its
media by attributing itself super power status or which the Soviet
Union used by attributing itself as a super power. Today, the entire
Muslim world, by the grace of God, has imbibed the faithful spirit of
strength and started to interact in a good manner in order to bring
an end to occupation and the Western and American influence on our
countries.
REPORTER: Mr. Bin Ladin, what was the significance of the Afgan war
for the Islamic movement? Veterans of that war are fighting for
Islamic movements and conflicts from the former Soviet republics such
as Chechnya to Bosnia to Algeria. Can you explain that phenomenon to
us?
BIN LADIN: As I mentioned in my answer to the previous question, the
effect of jihad has been great not only at the level of the Islamic
movement but rather at the level of the Muslim nation in the whole
world. The spirit of power, dignity and confidence has grown in our
sons and brothers for this religion and the power of God, Praise and
Glory be to Him. And it has become apparent even to the Islamic
movement that there is no choice but return to the original spring,
to this religion, to God's Book, Praise and Glory be to Him, and to
the sunna of His Prophet, Peace be upon him, as understood by our
predecessors, may God be pleased with them. Of this, the acme of this
religion is jihad. The nation has had a strong conviction that there
is no way to obtain faithful strength but by returning to this jihad.
The influence of the Afghan jihad on the Islamic world was so great
and it necessitates that people should rise above many of their
differences and unite their efforts against their enemy. Today, the
nation is interacting well by uniting its efforts through jihad
against the US which has in collaboration with the Israeli government
led the ferocious campaign against the Islamic World in occupying the
holy sites of the Muslims. As for the young men who participated in
jihad here, their number, by the grace of God, was quite big, Praise
and Gratitude be to Him, and they spread in every place in which non
believers' injustice is perpetuated against Muslims. Their going to
Bosnia, Chechnya, Tajikistan and other countries is but a fulfillment
of a duty, because we believe that these states are part of the
Islamic World. Therefore, any act of aggression against any of this
land of a span of hand measure makes it a duty for Muslims to send a
sufficient number of their sons to fight off that aggression.
REPORTER: Can you tell us now about your expulsion from Saudi Arabia
and your time you spent in Sudan and your arrival here in Afganistan?
BIN LADIN: I was, by the grace of God, Praise and Glory be to Him, in
the great spot that is dear to God, Praise and Glory be to Him,
al-hijaz, especially Venerable Mecca, where is God's Ancient House.
However, the Saudi regime imposed on the people a life that does not
appeal to the free believer. They wanted the people to eat and drink
and celebrate the praise of God, but if the people wanted to
encourage what is right and forbid what is wrong, they can't. Rather,
the regime dismisses them from their jobs and in the event they
continued to do so, they are detained in prisons. I have rejected to
live this submissive life, by God's favor, Praise and Gratitude be to
Him, that is not befitting of man let alone a believer. So, I waited
for the chance until, God, Praise and Glory be to Him, has made it
possible for me to leave the country of the Two Holy Places. I hope
God, Praise and Glory be to Him, would confer upon me His favor to
return one day when God's law rules in that country. I went to the
Sudan and stayed there for about five years during which I visited
Afghanistan and Pakistan to work against the Communist government in
Kabul. When the Saudi government transgressed in oppressing all
voices of the scholars and the voices of those who call for Islam, I
found myself forced, especially after the government prevented Sheik
Salman al-Awdah and Sheik Safar al-Hawali and some other scholars, to
carry out a small part of my duty of enjoining what is right and
forbidding what is wrong. So, I collaborated with some brothers and
established a committee for offering advice and we started to publish
some declarations. (The Advice and Reformation Committee). However,
the Saudi regime did not like this and started to exercise pressure
on the Sudanese regime. The US government, the Egyptian government
and the Yemeni government also helped in doing so. They requested me
explicitly from the Sudanese regime and the pressure continued. Saudi
Arabia dropped all of its conditions put to the Sudanese regime in
return that I be driven out of the Sudan. The US government had
already taken the same stance and pulled out its diplomatic mission
from Khartoum and put forth their condition to return only after I
have left. Unfortunately, the Sudanese government was in some
difficult circumstances and there was a tendency inside the
government that was inclined to reconciliation or surrender. Then,
when they insisted initially that I should keep my mouth shut, I
decided to look for a land in which I can breathe a pure, free air to
perform my duty in enjoining what is right and forbidding what is
wrong. I ask God, Praise and Glory be to Him, for increase in
prosperity for this great land, the Land of Khurasan (Afghanistan) in
order to carry on this duty. So, we implore God, Praise and Glory be
to Him, that He accept (our deeds) from us and the Muslims.
REPORTER: Now, the United States government says that you are still
funding military training camps here in Afganistan for militant,
Islamic fighters and that you are a sponsor of international
terrorism; but others describe you as the new hero of the
Arab-Islamic world. Are these accusations true? How do you describe
yourself?
BIN LADIN: After the collapse of the Soviet Union in which the US has
no mentionable role, but rather the credit goes to God, Praise and
Glory be to Him, and the Mujahidin in Afghanistan, this collapse made
the US more haughty and arrogant and it has started to look at itself
as a Master of this world and established what it calls the new world
order. It wanted to delude people that it can do whatever it wants,
but it can't do this. It leveled against me and others as many
accusations as it desired and wished. It is these (accusations) that
you mentioned. The US today as a result of the arrogant atmosphere
has set a double standard, calling whoever goes against its injustice
a terrorist. It wants to occupy our countries, steal our resources,
impose on us agents to rule us based not on what God has revealed and
wants us to agree on all these. If we refuse to do so, it will say
you are terrorists. With a simple look at the US behaviors, we find
that it judges the behavior of the poor Palestinian children whose
country was occupied: if they throw stones against the Israeli
occupation, it says they are terrorists whereas when the Israeli
pilots bombed the United Nations building in Qana, Lebanon while was
full of children and women, the US stopped any plan to condemn
Israel. At the time that they condemn any Muslim who calls for his
right, they receive the highest top official of the Irish Republican
Army (Gerry Adams) at the White House as a political leader, while
woe, all woe is the Muslims if they cry out for their rights.
Wherever we look, we find the US as the leader of terrorism and crime
in the world. The US does not consider it a terrorist act to throw
atomic bombs at nations thousands of miles away, when it would not be
possible for those bombs to hit military troops only. These bombs
were rather thrown at entire nations, including women, children and
elderly people and up to this day the traces of those bombs remain in
Japan. The US does not consider it terrorism when hundreds of
thousands of our sons and brothers in Iraq died for lack of food or
medicine. So, there is no base for what the US says and this saying
does not affect us, because we, by the grace of God, are dependent on
Him, Praise and Glory be to Him, getting help from Him against the
US. As for the last part of your question, we are fulfilling a duty
which God, Praise and Glory be to Him, decreed for us. We look upon
those heroes, those men who undertook to kill the American occupiers
in Riyadh and Khobar (Dhahran). We describe those as heroes and
describe them as men. They have pulled down the disgrace and
submissiveness off the forehead of their nation. We ask Allah, Praise
and Glory be to Him, to accept them as martyrs.
REPORTER: Let's go to the bombings of United States troops in Riyadh
and Dhahran. Why did they happen and were you and your supporters
involved in these attacks?
BIN LADIN: We ask about the main reason that called for this
explosion. This explosion was a reaction to a US provocation of the
Muslim peoples, in which the US transgressed in its aggression until
it reached the qibla of the Muslims in the whole world. So, the
purpose of the two explosions is to get the American occupation out
(of Arabia). So if the U.S. does not want to kill its sons who are in
the army, then it has to get out.
Q: On the same issue of the American troops in Saudi Arabia, do you
think there will be more bombing attacks on them? or attacks on U.S.
civilians in Arabia? or assassination attempts for example, on the
Saudi royal families?
BIN LADIN: As for the previous question, the explosion of Riyadh and
the one in Al-Khobar (Dhahran). It is no secret that during the two
explosions, I was not in Saudi Arabia, but I have great respect for
the people who did this action. I say, as I said before, they are
heroes. We look upon them as men who wanted to raise the flag of
"There is no God but Allah", and to put an end the non believers and
the state of injustice that the U.S. brought. I also say that what
they did is a great job and a big honor that I missed participating
in.
Q) Do you think there will be more bombing attacks on American troops
in Saudi Arabia? or attacks on American civilians in Saudi Arabia? or
will there be assassination attempts on the Saudi Arabian ruling
family?
BIN LADIN: It is known that every action has its reaction. If the
American presence continues, and that is an action, then it is
natural for reactions to continue against this presence. In other
words, explosions and killings of the American soldiers would
continue. These are the troops who left their country and their
families and came here with all arrogance to steal our oil and
disgrace us, and attack our religion. As for what was mentioned about
the ruling (Saudi) family those in charge, do bear the full
responsibility of everything that may happen. They are the shadow of
the American presence. The people and the young men are concentrating
their efforts on the sponsor and not on the sponsored. The
concentration at this point of Jihad is against the American
occupiers.
Q) What are your views about Sheik Omar Abdul Rahman and have you
ever met him? Do you know him?
BIN LADIN: Sheik Omar Abdul Rahman is a Muslim scholar well-known all
over the Muslim world. He represents the kind of injustice that is
adopted by the U.S. A baseless case was fabricated against him even
though he is a blind old man. We ask Allah, The Almighty, to relieve
him. The U.S. sentenced him to hundreds of years just to please its
caprice and the whims of the Egyptian regime. He is now very badly
treated and in no way fit for an old man like him or any Muslim
scholar.
Q) The U.S. State Department quoting a Pakistani official says that
Ramzi Yousef, a convicted bomber in the World Trade Center in New
York City stayed in the house you funded in Peshawar, Pakistan for
those receiving training during the Afghan conflict after the Trade
Center bombing, is that true? Did Ramzi Yousef stay in your house in
Peshawar?
BIN LADIN: I do not know Ramzi Yousef. What the American government
and Pakistani intelligence has been reporting is not true at all. But
I say if the American government is serious about avoiding the
explosions inside the U.S., then let it stop provoking the feelings
of 1,250 million Muslims. Those hundreds of thousands who have been
killed or displaced in Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, do have brothers and
relatives. They would make of Ramzi Yousef a symbol and a teacher.
The U.S. will drive them to transfer the battle into the United
States. Everything is made possible to protect the blood of the
American citizen while the bloodshed of Muslims is allowed in every
place. With this kind of behavior, the U.S. government is hurting
itself, hurting Muslims and hurting the American people.
Q) Mr. Bin Ladin, were you involved in financing the bombing of the
World Trade Center in New York City?
BIN LADIN: I have no connection or relation with this explosion.
Q) Mr. Bin Ladin, in a recent interview with an Arabic newspaper, you
said that Arabs who fought in the Afghan war killed U.S. troops in
Mogadishu, Somalia. Can you tell us about that?
BIN LADIN: The U.S. government went there with great pride and stayed
there for some time with a strong media presence wanting to frighten
people that it is the greatest power on earth. It went there with
pride and with over 28,000 soldiers, to a poor unarmed people in
Somalia. The goal of this was to scare the Muslim world and the whole
world saying that it is able to do whatever it desires. As soon as
the troops reached the Mogadishu beaches, they found no one but
children. The CNN and other media cameras started photographing them
(the soldiers) with their camouflage and heavy arms, entering with a
parade crawling (on the ground) and showing themselves to the world
as the "greatest power on earth". Resistance started against the
American invasion, because Muslims do not believe the U.S.
allegations that they came to save the Somalis. A man with human
feelings in his heart does not distinguish between a child killed in
Palestine or in Lebanon, in Iraq or in Bosnia. So how can we believe
your claims that you came to save our children in Somalia while you
kill our children in all of those places?
With Allah's grace, Muslims over there, cooperated with some Arab
"Mujahideen" who were in Afghanistan. They participated with their
brothers in Somalia against the American occupation troops and killed
large numbers of them. The American administration was aware of that.
After a little resistance. The American troops left after achieving
nothing. They left after claiming that they were the largest power on
earth. They left after some resistance from powerless, poor, unarmed
people whose only weapon is the belief in Allah The Almighty, and who
do not fear the fabricated American media lies. We learned from those
who fought there, that they were surprised to see the low spiritual
morale of the American fighters in comparison with the experience
they had with the Russian fighters. The Americans ran away from those
fighters who fought and killed them, while the latter were still
there. If the U.S. still thinks and brags that it still has this kind
of power even after all these successive defeats in Vietnam, Beirut,
Aden, and Somalia, then let them go back to those who are awaiting
its return.
Q) Mr. Bin Laden, your family is a rich powerful family in Saudi
Arabia. Have they, or the Saudi Arabian government asked you to stop
your activities?
BIN LADIN: They have done that a lot. They have pressured us a lot,
especially since a lot of our money is still in the hands of the
Saudi ruling family due to activities of the our family and company
(Saudi construction giant, the Bin Ladin Group). They sent me my
mother, my uncle, and my brothers in almost nine visits to Khartoum
(Sudan) asking me to stop and return to Arabia to apologize to King
Fahd. I apologized to my family kindly because I know that they were
driven by force to come to talk to me. This regime wants to create a
problem between me and my family and in order to take some measures
against them. But, with Allah's grace, this regime did not get its
wish fulfilled. I refused to go back. They (my family) conveyed the
Saudi government's message that if I did not go back, they'll freeze
all my assets, deprive me of my citizenship, my passport, and my
Saudi I.D. and distort my picture in the Saudi and foreign media.
They think that a Muslim may bargain on his religion. I said to them
do whatever you may wish. It is with Allah's bounty, we refused to go
back. We are living in dignity and honor for whom we thank Allah. It
is much better for us to live under a tree here on these mountains
than to live in palaces in the most sacred land to Allah, while being
subjected to disgrace not worshipping Allah even in the most sacred
land on earth, where injustice is so widespread. There is no strength
except with Allah.
Q) Mr. Bin Ladin, have Saudi agents attempted to assassinate you? Are
you targeted by the U.S. government? Are you in fact in fear of your
life?
BIN LADIN: The U.S. pressures are no secret to you. The Saudi
pressures are also in response to American pressures. There were
several attempts to arrest me or to assassinate me. This has been
going on for more than seven years. With Allah's grace, none of these
attempts succeeded. This is a proof in itself to Muslims and to the
world that the U.S. is incapable and weaker than the picture it wants
to draw in people's mind. A believer must rest assured that life is
only in the hands of Allah, and sustenance is also in the hands of
Allah, the Almighty. As for fearing for one's life, it is difficult
to explain to you how we think of ourselves, unless you have full
belief. We believe that no one could take out one breath of our
written life as ordained by Allah. We see that we see that getting
killed in the cause of Allah is a great honor wished for by our
Prophet (PBUH). He said in his Hadith: "I swear to Allah, I wish to
fight for Allah's cause and be killed, I'll do it again and be
killed, and I'll do it again and be killed". Being killed for Allah's
cause is a great honor achieved by only those who are the elite of
the nation. We love this kind of death for Allah's cause as much as
you like to live. We have nothing to fear for. It is something we
wish for.
Q) What are your future plans?
BIN LADIN: You'll see them and hear about them in the media, God willing.
Q) Mr. Bin Ladin, if you had an opportunity to give a message to
President Clinton, what would that message be?
BIN LADIN: Mentioning the name of Clinton or that of the American
government provokes disgust and revulsion. This is because the name
of the American government and the name of Clinton and Bush directly
reflect in our minds the picture of children with their heads cut off
before even reaching one year of age. It reflects the picture of
children with their hands cut off, the picture of the children who
died in Iraq, the picture of the hands of the Israelis with weapons
destroying our children. The hearts of Muslims are filled with hatred
towards the United States of America and the American president The
President has a heart that knows no words. A heart that kills
hundreds of children definitely, knows no words. Our people in the
Arabian Peninsula will send him messages with no words because he
does not know any words. If there is a message that I may send
through you, then it is a message I address to the mothers of the
American troops who came here with their military uniform walking
proudly up and down our land while the scholars of our country are
thrown in prisons. I say that this represents a blatant provocation
to 1,250 million Muslims. To these mothers I say if they are
concerned for their sons, then let them object to the American
government's policy and to the American president. Do not let
themselves be cheated by his standing before the bodies of the killed
soldiers describing the freedom fighters in Saudi Arabia as
terrorists. It is he who is a terrorist who pushed their sons into
this for the sake of the Israeli interest. We believe that the
American army in Saudi Arabia came to separate between the Muslims
and the people for not ruling in accordance with Allah's wish. They
came to be in support of the Israeli forces in occupied Palestine,
the land of the "Israa" of our Prophet (PBUH).
From:
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/impact/9705/09/feature/transcript.ladin.html
--
Carol A. Valentine
President, Public Action, Inc.
Copyright, October, 2001. May be reproduced for non-commercial purposes.
See the handiwork of the world's leading terrorist organization, the FBI:
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[1] For an important update, see the
Bin Laden: The Ummat Interview
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