February 11, 2009 4:16 PM
- Text
Bush: Osama Video Underscores Threats
(AP)
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, deny al Qaeda safe haven and support young democracies," Bush said. The video was 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.
Bush made the rare move of speaking about an al Qaeda video, answering a question during a photo opportunity with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The two leaders are in Australia for the annual summit of 21 Pacific Rim nations. The president called it interesting that bin Laden brought up the Iraq war.
"Iraq is part of this war against extremists," Bush said. "If al Qaeda bothers to mention Iraq, it's because they want to achieve their objectives in Iraq, which is to drive us out."
The tape, he said, is "a reminder about the dangerous world in which we live, and it is a reminder that we must pull together to protect our people against these extremists who murder the innocent in order to achieve their political objective."
"It's important that we show resolve and determination to protect ourselves, deny al Qaeda safe haven and support young democracies," Bush said. The video was 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.
Bush made the rare move of speaking about an al Qaeda video, answering a question during a photo opportunity with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The two leaders are in Australia for the annual summit of 21 Pacific Rim nations. The president called it interesting that bin Laden brought up the Iraq war.
"Iraq is part of this war against extremists," Bush said. "If al Qaeda bothers to mention Iraq, it's because they want to achieve their objectives in Iraq, which is to drive us out."
The tape, he said, is "a reminder about the dangerous world in which we live, and it is a reminder that we must pull together to protect our people against these extremists who murder the innocent in order to achieve their political objective."
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