Bin Laden: Goal is to bankrupt U.S.

[Tonto 1]

Al-Jazeera releases full transcript of al Qaeda leader's tape
Tuesday, November 2, 2004 Posted: 0107 GMT (0907 HKT)

Osama bin Laden delivers a videotaped message broadcast on Arabic-language network Al-Jazeera.

(CNN) -- The Arabic-language network Al-Jazeera released a full transcript Monday of the most recent videotape from Osama bin Laden in which the head of al Qaeda said his group's goal is to force America into bankruptcy.

Al-Jazeera aired portions of the videotape Friday but released the full transcript of the entire tape on its Web site Monday.

"We are continuing this policy in bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy. Allah willing, and nothing is too great for Allah," bin Laden said in the transcript.

He said the mujahedeen fighters did the same thing to the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s, "using guerrilla warfare and the war of attrition to fight tyrannical superpowers."

"We, alongside the mujahedeen, bled Russia for 10 years until it went bankrupt and was forced to withdraw in defeat," bin Laden said.

He also said al Qaeda has found it "easy for us to provoke and bait this administration."

"All that we have to do is to send two mujahedeen to the furthest point east to raise a piece of cloth on which is written al Qaeda, in order to make generals race there to cause America to suffer human, economic and political losses without their achieving anything of note other than some benefits for their private corporations," bin Laden said.

Al-Jazeera executives said they decided to post the entire speech because rumors were circulating that the network omitted parts that "had direct threats toward specific states, which was totally untrue."

"We chose the most newsworthy parts of the address and aired them. The rest was used in lower thirds in graphics format," said one official.

U.S. intelligence officials Monday confirmed that the transcript made public Monday by Al-Jazeera was a complete one.

As part of the "bleed-until-bankruptcy plan," bin Laden cited a British estimate that it cost al Qaeda about $500,000 to carry out the attacks of September 11, 2001, an amount that he said paled in comparison with the costs incurred by the United States.

"Every dollar of al Qaeda defeated a million dollars, by the permission of Allah, besides the loss of a huge number of jobs," he said. "As for the economic deficit, it has reached record astronomical numbers estimated to total more than a trillion dollars.

The total U.S. national debt is more than $7 trillion. The U.S. federal deficit was $413 billion in 2004, according to the Treasury Department.

"It is true that this shows that al Qaeda has gained, but on the other hand it shows that the Bush administration has also gained, something that anyone who looks at the size of the contracts acquired by the shady Bush administration-linked mega-corporations, like Halliburton and its kind, will be convinced.

"And it all shows that the real loser is you," he said. "It is the American people and their economy."

As for President Bush's Iraq policy, Bin Laden said, "the darkness of black gold blurred his vision and insight, and he gave priority to private interests over the public interests of America.

"So the war went ahead, the death toll rose, the American economy bled, and Bush became embroiled in the swamps of Iraq that threaten his future," bin Laden said.

U.S. government officials said Friday that the tape appeared to be authentic and recently made. It was the first videotaped message from the al Qaeda leader in nearly three years.

It's the year of the Pig.

[skydyvr 0]

America has wiped Bin Laden out, evidenced by his just having made the most tepid election October Surprise in history. Is that all he has?

I bet he didn't sway three voters in the whole United States. Apparently, he doesn't have the wherewithall to make another 9/11, or it woulda happened by now.

Agree Kemo Sabi?

Don't be too bummed out, but the US has taken his money, his troops, his camps, and everything else but his dialysis machine and enough coin to make some video. Cool.

. . =(_8^(1)

[Frenchy68 0]

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America has wiped the guy out, evidenced by Bin Laden just having made the most tepid election October surprise in history.

Whoopdee doo.

We have taken his money, his troops, his camps, and everything but his dialysis machine and enough coin to make some video.

I truly hope you're right. But I think you may be claiming victory a little prematurely.
The whole "Mission Accomplished" thing is quite overrated these days.

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[skydyvr 0]

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I truly hope you're right. But I think you may be claiming victory a little prematurely.

Hehe, I see what you are saying, but "victory" is a bit more than I am claiming.

I believe the fundamental issues at hand will be settled when the sun runs out of energy, or we get hit by a giant asteroid, take your pick.

. . =(_8^(1)

[Frenchy68 0]

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I believe the fundamental issues at hand will be settled when the sun runs out of energy, or we get hit by a giant asteroid, take your pick

I'll take either one. As long as the fundamentalists go as well as the fundamental issues

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[piisfish 140]

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America has wiped Bin Laden out...

Apparently, he doesn't have the wherewithall to make another 9/11, or it woulda happened by now...

Don't be too bummed out, but the US has taken his money, his troops, his camps, and everything else...

really wiped out ?? where is he then ?? Are his ashes under a blanket ??

it certainly is not a goal of Al Quaida to crash planes every day/week/month on US buildings. But the post september 11 effects are much more important than just a couple of buildings and a few thousand deads... And each and every AQ member/terrorist/person killed during the Afghanistan/Irak wars are going to their heaven and will be treated like heroes there.

taken his money ?? I doubt it. His troops etc ?? I doubt it even more...

IMHO you are very optimistic about the issues of all this. But nothing is over. I wish it was.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[skydyvr 0]

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really wiped out ?? where is he then ?? Are his ashes under a blanket ??

Pretty much. He still breaths, but he no longer has the run of the world as he did before 9/11 and Bush came along.

Bin Laden is not yet dead, but again I point to the tape just released. It is an extremely weak ploy to manipulate our election -- so far the concensus is that he hasn't changed anyone's vote. In America, most people just don't give a shit what he has to say.

And if Bin Laden had more resources, we would have seen more from him than we have since 9/11. He's an impotent figurehead overlooking a broken army, hiding in fear of his life, and will be until he dies.

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it certainly is not a goal of Al Quaida to crash planes every day/week/month on US buildings.

Where did you get this info? The destruction of our nation and others is their stated goal. If Al-Queda had the means, they'd run a plane into a building every day of the week -- I'd like to know why you think otherwise. They don't bring the fight to us on a regular basis for one reason: they don't have the means.

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And each and every AQ member/terrorist/person killed during the Afghanistan/Irak wars are going to their heaven and will be treated like heroes there.

Personally, I hope they all rot in hell.

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taken his money ?? I doubt it. His troops etc ?? I doubt it even more...

The US and allies have taken about 3/4 of Bin Laden's money, and destroyed every known training camp he had. However, I do believe it is true that our current actions in Iraq are keeping the Al-Queda recruitment offices busy . . .

. . =(_8^(1)

[rhino 0]

Bin Laden has lost his grip. It was very evident in that video...

He went from KILL ALL AMERICANS, to I WILL BANKRUPT the USA...

Problem is... Now there are 10 Bin Ladens...

[rmsmith 1]

The problem today is that all one has to do is send an e-mail from a mosque saying the Golden Gate Bridge looks like a sweet target, and we over-react; cost of the e-mail v. our over-reaction?

[Tonto 1]

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The problem today is that all one has to do is send an e-mail from a mosque saying the Golden Gate Bridge looks like a sweet target, and we over-react; cost of the e-mail v. our over-reaction?

There's a history of cheap things sinking expensive things.

A few examples.

Cavalry - answer? Pike.
Suit of armour - answer? Bodkin arrow
Castle - answer? Cannon
Tank - answer? RPG

ect, ect,

e-mail is cheap. Manpower to check every threat is not.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[kallend 2,150]

Quote

Quote

The problem today is that all one has to do is send an e-mail from a mosque saying the Golden Gate Bridge looks like a sweet target, and we over-react; cost of the e-mail v. our over-reaction?

There's a history of cheap things sinking expensive things.

A few examples.

Cavalry - answer? Pike.
Suit of armour - answer? Bodkin arrow
Castle - answer? Cannon
Tank - answer? RPG

ect, ect,

e-mail is cheap. Manpower to check every threat is not.

t

Missile defense --- oh wait, that has never been shown to work in the first place.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Tonto 1]

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Missile defense --- oh wait, that has never been shown to work in the first place.

And 100kg of steel shot in low orbit would destroy it in about 2 years...

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

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The destruction of our nation and others is their stated goal.

No it isn't. That is what Bush wants you to think. Terrorist terrorize - terror is their army since they do not have the numbers to make a real army. Their goal is a religious belief - to have their own nation and to get back what they consider their land. They see the Western lifestyle as a threat, something that could overun their ancient (poorly interpreted)beliefs.

Look at Northern Ireland. The IRA occasionally blows something up to keep terror a constant issue. Their long term hope has been to annoy and bankrupt the UK in the norther six counties, in hopes they will pull out and leave. This is the same mindset that AQ and OBL has.

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[rickjump1 0]

Hey Tonto, please tell me you don't get warm and fuzzy when you read crap like this. It hasn't been that long ago that your country was making nukes and trying to destabilize your neighbors.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[Tonto 1]

No, I don't get warm and fuzzy. I do see the US doing a lot more than destabilising it's neighbors though. Sure, SA built nukes, and SA publicly dismantled them too. When are you going to step back from the brink?

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[rickjump1 0]

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No, I don't get warm and fuzzy. I do see the US doing a lot more than destabilising it's neighbors though. Sure, SA built nukes, and SA publicly dismantled them too. When are you going to step back from the brink?

t

We haven't completely stepped back yet, but we are further than we ever were during the cold war. The elimination of all nuclear weapons is the eventual goal of some of us; myself included.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[wmw999 2,589]

My first thought on reading this was that people attribute the Soviet Union's demise to Reagan's having bankrupted them trying to keep up with the US. So maybe, just maybe, OBL is just trying to take credit for the same thing. Kind of tacky and silly, and not real original.

It's better to make the whole text of the tape available. And to publicize areas where there is doubt in the translation. By and large, an informed population is better off than one that "can't handle the truth."

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Tonto 1]

Well... I don't have the tape.

I just posted what was on the CNN website.

The ANC did the same thing with the Apartheid Government. The Military was spending millions of Rands a day to shoot an 18 year old in the bush with a $40 AK-74 every second day.

The army was made up largely of conscripts who were constantly drawn away to this war on "camps" lasting anything from a month to three months. Kinda tricky starting a business or keeping a job with that going on.

I don't think the National party and F W De Klerk suddenly had a moral epiphany and decieded to change their ways. It just became clear that it costs too much not letting 80% of the population have what they want.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[wmw999 2,589]

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Well... I don't have the tape.

I'll admit I was just kinda generally pontificating (I'm really good at that), and not accusing you of selective editing. Of course, I'd imagine that your own little means you saw right through me.

So would that mean that the US cooperated with Al-Qaeda to bring down the Soviet Union?

Would that make them the US's friend or enemy? I'm so confused . Folks, in our (that would be the US's) attempts to stay on top, we'd better be damn good and sure that the friends we buy stay friendly. What a heck of a way to live.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Tonto 1]

Well the US was helping SA to stay on top too.

I know guys who were 1000km into Angola when that support just vaporised and the guys had a long hard slog to make it back to Nam.

Not many Pro US guys among them these days. The US is really good at dropping people when it suits them.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[rickjump1 0]

Not many Pro US guys among them these days. The US is really good at dropping people when it suits them.

t

[cloudseeker2001 0]

I guess this comes to a surprise to most people.

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[Tonto 1]

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We not only betray,

I don't think that was a betrayal. There was a clear policy shift for the US at that time and they decieded to withdraw support because the Angolan government controlled the oil rich North of the country. Dispite the fact that 15000 Cuban troops were stationed in Angola, the US still traded with them for oil.

SA withdrew to the south and supported Unita in a 25 year civil war, while they watched our backs against SWAPO. Unita lasted till Savimbi got slotted, and Swapo got Namibia when it went independant in 1990. (I think)

When you're the guy out hiking in the sun, the politics mean little. I just think that few of those guys would trust an American who said "I got your back" again.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[Tonto 1]

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I guess this comes to a surprise to most people.

And so it should. It was a low profile war nearly 30 years ago, and the US had been out of Vietnam about a year. It was a different world, a different time. It certainly doesn't matter now.

Some insight here.

http://www.flashpoints.info/countries-conflicts/Angola-web/angola_briefing.html



t

It's the year of the Pig.

[AdD 1]

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They see the Western lifestyle as a threat, something that could overun their ancient (poorly interpreted)beliefs.

Bin Laden is not a spokesman for Islam. People may buy into what he says on religious grounds, but then again he would not be the first person to use religion as a justification for war. He has simply modified the doctrine of armed Jihad which the US used to mobilize Arabs against the USSR in Afghanistan and turned it against the USA, which taught him the basics of low intensity warfare in the first place. You have misinterpreted his message, which really calls for an end to Western interference in the region. He says that as long as we kill Muslims, he will continue to wage a terrorist war against the West. It is wrong to assume that political Islam, Islamic fundamentalism and Islamic terrorism are the same thing, because they are not. The great parts of the Western lifestyle do not really conflict with Islamic beliefs, which are centered around freedom from oppression. What people don't realize are the real reasons many Muslims hate the West, which are basically that we trample their rights by supporting tyrannical governments and denying them the right to self determination we hold so dear in the West.

Life is ez
On the dz
Every jumper's dream
3 rigs and an airstream