Bush: Bin Laden’s video underscores threats

SYDNEY, Australia - President Bush said Saturday that Osama bin Laden's first video appearance in three years is a reminder of "the dangerous world in which we live."

"It's important that we show resolve and determination to protect ourselves, to deny al-Qaida safe haven and support young democracies, which will be a major defeat to their ambitions," Bush said about the video released just days before the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

In a 30-minute speech addressed to Americans, bin Laden boasts about the impact of the 2001 attacks, mocks the democratic system of government in the United States and lambastes the Bush administration for initiating the war in Iraq. The video was obtained by the U.S. government, NBC News and other news organizations Friday.

"I found it interesting that on the tape, Iraq was mentioned, which is a reminder that Iraq is a part of this war against extremists," Bush said. "If al-Qaida bothers to mention Iraq, it's because they want to achieve their objectives in Iraq, which is to drive us out and to develop a safe haven. And the reason they want a safe haven is to launch attacks against America or any other ally."

In the tape, bin Laden criticizes Democrats for failing to stop the Iraq conflict that the "vast majority" of Americans want stopped.

“You elected the Democratic Party for this purpose," he says, according to a translated transcript of the tape. “On the contrary, they continue to agree to spending of tens of billions to continue the killings and the war there.”

The video contains no specific threat. Bin Laden is shown wearing a white robe, a white circular cap and a beige cloak as he reads the address to the American people.

Tape presumed to be authentic
Although the CIA has not completed a full analysis, intelligence officials told NBC News that they "presume the tape is authentic, and this is bin Laden."

A technical analysis suggests the voice on the video is that of bin Laden, a different intelligence official said. He said he had no analysis of bin Laden's physical appearance on the tape.

The video gives a rare look at the al-Qaida leader, who has likely avoided appearing in videos as a security measure.

Although U.S. officials said there were "no specific threats" in Osama bin Laden's video, I did see implied threats and calls to action. Bin Laden suggests that an attack may already be in the planning stage, saying "Muslim blood will not be spilled in vain" and that the "morrow" is near. Bin Laden goes to great lengths to describe America as the world’s economic, military and political superpower, but then points out how 19 youths were able to "change the compass" of history. Bin Laden is telling a David vs. Goliath story. This is a message of inspiration, furthering al-Qaida’s transformation from a strictly militant group to one that inspires other radical groups. Bin Laden is telling similar small groups of followers not to be intimidated by the United States' power. — Richard Engel, NBC Middle East correspondent

His emergence now underlines the U.S. failure to catch him after six years and comes at a time when terrorism experts believe al-Qaida is regrouping in the lawless Pakistan-Afghanistan border region.

The al-Qaida leader has not appeared in new video footage since October 2004, and he has not put out a new audiotape in more than a year.

Bin Laden starts his speech with praise to God, adding, "and from His law is retaliation in kind: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and the killer is killed."

He goes on to deride Bush, saying Washington was backing Shiites against Sunnis in Iraq but that events in Iraq had gotten "out of control," and Bush had become "like the one who plows and sows the sea: he harvests nothing but failure."

'Embrace Islam'
Bin Laden says the prestige of the mujahideen — or holy warriors — has "grown globally" while America has been "bled dry economically."

Bin Laden also recommends reading books by American authors Noam Chomsky and Michael Scheuer, a former CIA analyst. Chomsky's book cites various examples of American imperialism, while Scheuer's book argues that the U.S. does not understand the Islamic predicament.

Bin Laden urges the U.S to embrace Islam if they want the war in Iraq to end.

"There are two solutions to stopping it. One is from our side, and it is to escalate the fighting and killing against you. This is our duty, and our brothers are carrying it out," bin Laden says, according to the transcript.

"The second solution is from your side," he says. "I invite you to embrace Islam."

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