That most progressive of all media outlets actually censored “Bin Laden’s” tape, only showing six of eighteen minutes, fearing it might make Binny seem weak. That’s the strongest evidence I have seen yet that it actually is Bin Laden. According to the New York Post:
Officials said that in the 18-minute long tape – of which only six minutes were aired on the al-Jazeera Arab television network in the Middle East on Friday – bin Laden bemoans the recent democratic elections in Afghanistan and the lack of violence involved with it.
On the tape, bin Laden also says his terror organization has been hurt by the U.S. military’s unrelenting manhunt for him and his cohorts on the Afghan-Pakistani border.
A portion of the left-out footage includes a tirade aimed at President Bush and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, claiming the war in Iraq is purely over oil.
The tape also sparked some concern that an attack aimed at disrupting Tuesday’s election may be planned.
But those who have seen the tape have said there was no specific information regarding an attack.
It’s those pesky elections again. If they come off well in Iraq and Kerry has won ours, what an irony that will be! (Let’s make sure it doesn’t happen.)
UPDATE: MEMRI (no surprise – they may be the greatest single information resource on the Internet) has the most complete analysis. Apparently (again no surprise) the US media mistranslated Bin Laden and there is more direct intervention in the US election intended by the “Sheik,” against Bush, of course. Hindrocket wonders why the mainstream media isn’t covering this. I assume… no, I know… he’s being rhetorical.
MEANWHILE: Via PeterUK, the Beeb’s readers react to the Bin Laden tape. [Pour yourself a double-brandy first.-ed.]
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