Bin Laden: Pope Leading Anti-Islam Crusade

In New Audiotape, Al Qaeda Leader Threatens Severe Reaction Against Europe

(AP)  Osama bin Laden accused Pope Benedict XVI of helping in a "new Crusade" against Islam and warned of a "severe" reaction to European publications of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that insulted many Muslims.

Bin Laden's new audiotape message raised concerns al Qaeda was plotting new attacks in Europe. Some experts said bin Laden, believed to be in hiding in the rugged Afghan-Pakistan border area, may be unable to organize an attack himself and instead is trying to fan anger and inspire his supporters to violence.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said bin Laden's accusation that the pope has played a role in a worldwide campaign against Islam is "baseless." Lombardi said the pope on several occasions has criticized the cartoons, first published in several European newspapers in 2006 and republished by Danish papers in February.

The pope angered many in the Muslim world in 2006, when he cited a medieval text that characterized some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman," particularly "his command to spread by the sword the faith."

The pope later said he was "deeply sorry" and stressed the remarks did not reflect his own opinions. He has since led a public campaign for dialogue with Muslims.

Bin Laden's audiotape was posted late Wednesday on a militant Web site that has carried al Qaeda statements in the past and bore the logo of the extremist group's media wing Al-Sahab.

"The response will be what you see and not what you hear and let our mothers bereave us if we do not make victorious our messenger of God," said a voice believed to be bin Laden's, without specifying what action would be taken.

He said the cartoons "came in the framework of a new Crusade in which the Pope of the Vatican has played a large, lengthy role," according to a transcript released by the SITE Institute, a U.S. group that monitors terror messages.

"You went overboard in your unbelief and freed yourselves of the etiquettes of dispute and fighting and went to the extent of publishing these insulting drawings," he said. "This is the greater and more serious tragedy, and reckoning for it will be more severe."

The five-minute message, bin Laden's first this year, came as the Muslim world marks the Prophet Muhammad's birthday on Thursday. It made no mention of the fifth anniversary Wednesday of the U.S.-led invasion in Iraq.

A U.S. counterterrorism official in Washington said "CIA analysis assesses with a high degree of confidence it is Osama bin Laden's voice on the tape" and that there was "no reason to doubt bin Laden is alive."

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the intelligence matters involved.

On Feb. 13, Danish newspapers republished one of the cartoons, which shows Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban, to illustrate their commitment to freedom of speech after police said they had uncovered the beginnings of a plot to kill the artist.

Muslims widely saw the cartoons as an insult, depicting the prophet as violent. Islamic law generally opposes any depiction of the prophet, even favorable, for fear it could lead to idolatry.

The original 12 cartoons, first published in a Danish newspaper and then in several papers across Europe, triggered major protests in Muslim countries in 2006.

There have been renewed protests in the last month, though not as large or widespread. A few dozen university students waved banners and chanted slogans against Denmark on Thursday in Islamabad. The students said they had not seen the bin Laden message.

Ben Venzke, the head of IntelCenter, a U.S. group that monitors militant messages, called Wednesday's message a "clear threat against EU member countries and an indicator of a possible upcoming significant attack."

Talat Masood, a retired Pakistani general and security analyst, said bin Laden was likely too isolated to organize an attack. But the al Qaeda leader may be hoping to use anger over the cartoons to inspire violence, he said.

"Even if he has not got the capacity (to launch an attack), he will try to infuse hatred," Masood said.

Denmark's intelligence agency said Thursday that bin Laden's warnings "don't immediately give reason to change" its assessment of the threat level against the country.

Last week, the intelligence agency had warned that reprinting the cartoon had brought "negative attention" to Denmark and may have increased the risk to Danes at home and abroad.

[quetzal0666]

He is wrong, its not the Pope, this time its John Hagee and company...

[randynason]

In my next life, I hope there aren''t any more fundamentalists. Reason and science should be the religion-du-jour. Thank, you.

[hotpaulie]

Um, does bin Laden want to start a war against the whole European continent because of some cartoons?

[forthepeopl1]

ITS TIME FOR AMERICANS TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAIN, AND TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK.

ITS OUR RIGHT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION..IT STATES THAT IF OUR GOVERNEMNT IS NOT FOLLOWING WHAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT, THAN ITS UP TO AMERICANS TO CHANGE THAT, AND START OVER WITH A NEW GOVERNEMNT FOR THE PEOLPE BY THE PEOLPE..

SO ARE WE READY YET TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK..THEY CANT KILL US ALL IF WE THE PEOPLE OF WHAT 27500000 MILLION STAND UP AND MARCH DOWN TO WASHINTON THE OTHER 2500000 ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MAKEING BILLIONS ON US POOR..THATS THE ONE PERCENT THAT IS RUNNING AMERICANS AND AMERICA BROKE..

READY YET..LETS GO

I WATCH A MOVIE LAST NIGHT THAT SAYS IT ALL

HANG EM HIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gwagener]

ITS TIME FOR AMERICANS TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAIN, AND TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK.
------------
Posted by forthepeopl1 at 11:18 AM : Mar 20, 2008

Armed overthrow of the Government is treason, there isn''''t another word for it.
The administration does not have to do what the majority wants or they would be pulling out of Iraq right now.
There are legal ways to redress your complaints to the Government and we have elections. You prefer treason. So get out of my country!

[indivthinker]

forthepeopl1, you are an idiot. 27500000 MILLION is the same as 27.5 trillion people. Get your numbers right.

And also tell me where in the Constitution it says that if the government doesn''t do what the majority of the people want, then we should overthrow them and start a new government. No, you idiot, if you don''t like your representatives, then vote new ones in. Unfortunately, people like you can''t accept the fact that 52% of the country voted for Bush. Even if they don''t like his policies, they voted for him.

And for heaven''s sake, stop with the "I watched a video" cr@p, because you have not been enlightened. Those conspiracy videos are so full of $hit. People put bits and pieces together to sell a movie regardless of how truthful it is, and people like you buy it. Heck, I could make a movie that proves that Osama is a homosexual if I wanted, but that doesn''t make it true. Relative truth is truth that we tell ourselves is real because we want to believe it. Absolute truth is based on scientific evidence and reason.

Oh, and fix your grammar, because it sucks.

[zootallures2]

9/11 was an inside job.

[mudrose-2009]

Every Easter, some jerk has to do a documentary about finding the bones of Jesus and therefore that means he''s not God. They we have the Dung Mary Portrait, The **** Jesus, the Huge Chocolate Naked Jesus and it goes on and on. Yet, you hear rumblings from the Christian community, but never the ruckus these lame brains pull because someone criticized their religion. Get over it.

[bigsk8fan]

i guess that bin laden''s cave under the big rock does not have internet access. hey bin laden, this is so much old news. i just don''t see how this guy can be seen as germaine, even to radical muslims anymore.

[mudrose-2009]

9/11 was an inside job.
Posted by zootallures2

Yes it was. Inside Afghanistan and Iraq.

[ptruth2]

So Osama and other Moslims don''t like that Danish cartoonists depict Mohammed and Islam as violent. So they say they''ll kill the Pope and anyone else who thinks they''re violent. I guess that''s Osama''s and Islam''s interpretation of peace.

[bobnjersey]

[There are legal ways to redress your complaints to the Government and we have elections. ]
[Posted by gwagener at 12:58 PM : Mar 20, 2008]

does that work?

[parrot123-2009]

i guess that bin laden''''s cave under the big rock does not have internet access. hey bin laden, this is so much old news. i just don''''t see how this guy can be seen as germaine, even to radical muslims anymore.
Posted by bigsk8fan at 01:13 PM : Mar 20, 2008

Where is the OUTRAGE from Repugs ? Why is this POS still alive - anywhere ? This is a real enemy of this country and i don''t understand why they don''t kill him.

[flyboyozw]

Thank you mudrose!! you beat me to it!!
Only a moron would believe all that conspiracy bull***

[bobnjersey]

[People put bits and pieces together to sell a movie (idea) regardless of how truthful it is, and people like you buy it.]
[Posted by indivthinker at 01:01 PM : Mar 20, 2008]

this sounds strangely like the case they made for war in iraq.

[bobnjersey]

[(9/11 was an inside job.)
(Posted by zootallures2)

Yes it was. Inside Afghanistan and Iraq.]
[Posted by mudrose at 01:14 PM : Mar 20, 2008]

911 was planned in iraq? was pakistan involved too?

[j-whitman]

mudnose,,,, Our Pentagon says Iraq had nothing to do with Al Queda

[flyboyozw]

Most likely yes, Muslims in Pakistan helped with the planning. That is the problem with fighting an enemy that spread out in many countries.

[daniel.harris6]

Where is the OUTRAGE from Repugs ? Why is this POS still alive - anywhere ? This is a real enemy of this country and i don''''t understand why they don''''t kill him. - Posted by parrot123

Believe it or not, it can be pretty difficult to find a person like Bin Laden in a remote, sparsely populated 3rd world location. It''s not like he makes regular credit card transactions and stops by the local Wal-Mart for some shopping...you know?

[quetzal0666]

#2 of 2
MAJOR ROOT CAUSE%u2026 %u2026TO TEACH THEM HATE

A horrendously paralleled situation is unfolding right before our eyes today, only coming from ill-conceived teachings and preaching of incitement of hate, within a large portion of the Souther Baptist Community.....

Somehow using religion with its awesome, Godly, ''''RIGHTEOUSLY INFALLIBLE'''' appeal, still works well to blind and manipulate so many religious followers..........

Currently, John Hagee''s evil inspired end of time teachings, along with Van Impe, and Hal Lyndsey.
I-Am-Holier-Than-Everyone False Teachings, continues to employ their Religio-political power tool, that they learned by example. After all, it worked for the Catholic Church! itll work again.

Putting an end to teaching and preaching of hate must become our highest priority, from WHEREVER it comes. The world has wrongfully permitted such teachings in the past..

Unless nations and leaders within the Civilised World put an end to such continuing teaching and incitement of hate, we in the Citizens of the World, will soon have no choice but to take NECESSARY, CORRESPONDING, PREVENTATIVE, AND THOROUGH ACTIONS, against the grave RELIGIOUS threat that we ALL face.....

I Agree!!!!!

[flyboyozw]

What make%u2019s it even harder is the millions of radical Muslim terrorists that are hiding him.

[daniel.harris6]

What''s worse, is I have actually read opinions from people that honestly believe the fact Bin Laden can''t be instantly zapped dead is proof of some dark US conspiracy. Go figure.

It truly baffles me how some people''s minds work.

[ici2i]

It''''s not like he makes regular credit card transactions and stops by the local Wal-Mart for some shopping...you know?

Posted by commenter1

Well there''s one thing that was clear to most of us five years ago, he''s not in Iraq! That''s why somebody clevelry gave him the name "binforgotten". If the US and it''s so-called coalition had super saturated Afganistan with even one third the force and money we sent to Iraq, maybe,just maybe, we''d be closer to smelling out the rat. But no, we''ve just made ourselves some new enemies. Besides, we can''t fuel our cars with opium now can we?

[ici2i]

correction: cleverly

[daniel.harris6]

Well there''''s one thing that was clear to most of us five years ago, he''''s not in Iraq! That''''s why somebody clevelry gave him the name "binforgotten". If the US and it''''s so-called coalition had super saturated Afganistan with even one third the force and money we sent to Iraq, maybe,just maybe, we''''d be closer to smelling out the rat. But no, we''''ve just made ourselves some new enemies. Besides, we can''''t fuel our cars with opium now can we? - Posted by iCi2i

Bin Laden left Tora Bora and entered Pakistan before major ground forces even arrived. 5th group green berets got close, but could not catch him. So your point is moot, unless you advocate sending major ground forces into Pakistan...

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II dismisses the latest tape from Osama Bin Laden, repeating his stand of several years: He simply doesn''t think about him anymore!

The Great Emperor has more important things to think about such as how rich he will be after "retiring" and writing books (that only neocon Fascist Nazis will buy and read) and addressing the Nazi faithful at rallies and book burnings.

He intends on leaving Osama Bin Laden as just another problem for his successor to worry about, which he expects to be "The Geritol Kid", John "The Great Pretender" McCain!!!

McCain, on the other hand, intends on addressing the problem of Osama Bin Laden as soon as he can remember who Bin Laden is and where he has heard that name before!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil (more of the same), McCain????

[lilbambella]

Why does anyone pay ANY attention to this muslim idiots? We should draw LOTS of pictures of Muhammed and air drop them all over the muslim world. Let them kill each other and then they''''ll be gone. Bunch of freaks. Backwards, primitive lunatics. There are many more important news stories to worry about than this.


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Posted by MyOpinion1 at 01:41 PM : Mar 20, 2008


You''re an ignorant fool. Bin Laden is not some kind of highly regarded muslim scholar that millions of muslims seek his teachings. In fact, as an American Muslim, I think he''s on the White House payroll. He only surfaces when Bush needs his approval ratings to go a little higher and he only seems to really matter to the people here in America...

[ici2i]

Bush is right we%u2019re winning!!
Posted by flyboyOZW

We''re winning??? That''s news to me. It''s just not possible to win a religious war that''s already been going on for centuries. They''re raising new jihadists every day. We might win over, at least temporarily, the sympathy and support of those who share a common fear of them and we control some real estate, but the war will go on as long as there are Jews,Christians & Muslims walking this world. Don''t be disilusioned by a victory or two and a few who who would take advantage of an opportunity to lie their way into power only to back stab you later. The Taliban was our ally once too and so were the Chinese while we helped defeat the Japanese.

[ici2i]

I''m sure you''re right commenter1, but he wasn''t in Iraq and that was my main point. We had an ally in Pakistan at one point but we couldn''t hold onto that one any more than we could catch the cave rats. I know we did what we could but Iraq was not necessary at least not at the time.

[flyboyozw]

You know, all you people that brainlessly refer to Bush as Fascist really need to look in a dictionary once in a while. Look it up moron not even close. Hitler took over countries to increase his power and tyranny. The USA invades to give the people the right to choose the government they want. Better yet, talk to one of the millions that actually got to vote in Iraq for the first time. You might just have a better appreciation for what the US HAS done over there.

[truthword08]

damnedrelign,

Just thought I''d let you know that the poster Quetzal666 re-worded your original part 2 of 2 post to reflect his own hatred of Christians. Didn''t know if you caught that or not.

But this poster has been observed for the past few months of hating Christians in just about every one of his posts from an outsider looking in.

What you say about the Roman Catholic Church and the teaching of hatred by these Middle Eastern Muslim nations is entirely true. I just wanted to make sure you caught Quetzal666''s remarks where he switched your words.

That is all.

TW08

You''''re an ignorant fool. Bin Laden is not some kind of highly regarded muslim scholar that millions of muslims seek his teachings. In fact, as an American Muslim, I think he''''s on the White House payroll. He only surfaces when Bush needs his approval ratings to go a little higher and he only seems to really matter to the people here in America...

Posted by lilbambella
------------------
It''s getting harder and harder to avoid the conclusion that the idiot son and neocons came to the cynical conclusion that bin laden was a heckuvalot more valuable to them alive than dead.

[quetzal0666]

TruthWord08 ...

Welcome Back singinchick...

[bobnjersey]

[Most likely yes, Muslims in Pakistan helped with the planning. That is the problem with fighting an enemy that spread out in many countries.]
[Posted by flyboyOZW at 01:26 PM : Mar 20, 2008]

so then ... what''s the criteria for invasion and deposing leaders?

[daniel.harris6]

I will say that the death of Bin Laden (should it occur as a result of US action) would be more of a symbolic victory than a tactical one. The problem is not one man; the problem is an ideology, namely Islamic extremism.

Here''s the current conundrum; what should be our role in the Mid-East? Most Democrats would say immediate withdrawal from Iraq, with a swift drawn down of troop presence in Afghanistan to follow shortly thereafter. Most Republican argue for a continued strong presence in Iraq and Afghanistan to establish secure democracies in both countries.

If we stay, we could face severe economic penalties without a definite possiblity of success. If we leave, we create a vaccum in both areas that would be filled on short order by groups who would be able to subdue and overcome all competitors. In other words, only the nastiest, most brutal groups would fill the void.

Iran will have nuclear weapons in 5-10 years unless Israel destroys their facilities (which would be hard and very controversial). I would say Iran eventually having nukes is almost a certainty. They will not be afraid to share these weapons with those nasty people I mentioned earlier.

So which situation has the best risk/benefit ratio?

[aerodog]

Oh dear! Muslims being insulted??? WHO GIVES A SHEE-OT? They all need to leave America - go, go, go - don''t care where - just go!

[bobnjersey]

[The USA invades to give the people the right to choose the government they want. Better yet, talk to one of the millions that actually got to vote in Iraq for the first time. ]
[Posted by flyboyOZW at 01:56 PM : Mar 20, 2008]

when was this defined as the reason for deposing saddam?

if this is the reason ... and the elections have occured ... and the local government is in place ... why are we still there?

are there other reasons for staying? will there ever be a reason not to be there?

[DaveGress]

I''ve seen the phrase "muslim scholar" in some of the posts. Isn''t that an oxymoron. Being a scholar implies someone with a brain and actually uses it. Muslim''s no doubt have a brain but alah told them not to use it.

[DaveGress]

some poster said:
Here''''s the current conundrum; what should be our role in the Mid-East? Most Democrats would say immediate withdrawal from Iraq, with a swift drawn down of troop presence in Afghanistan to follow shortly thereafter

I''m a dem and I want the bubonic plague released over there. Guess you pegged one of us wrong.

Religion;
The ignorant consider it true.
The wise consider it a lie.
Those who would rule consider it useful.

Islam isn''t the problem, just one of the symptoms of the problem.

[roughtimes]

Dont Worry!! Obama will keep you safe from Osama!!!

[mcvet]

It''''s getting harder and harder to avoid the conclusion that the idiot son and neocons came to the cynical conclusion that bin laden was a heckuvalot more valuable to them alive than dead.


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Posted by hadenough43 at 02:01 PM : Mar 20, 2008
+ report abuse

No I think he and the entire Republican Party were overcome with shear greed. They thought the Enemy was defeated so they''d go on a little Nation Building Mission to an OIL Rich Country. Visions of Grandure were in their small little minds as the dollar signs made them giddy. Then you have to add the Power they could take from this. Disgusting situation all the way around, because NOW he''s as strong as ever and ready to take our kids on.. those are kids who have, some of them, served 4 tours in Iraq. Sieg Heil Bush

[truthword08]

"Bin Laden Leading Anti-Christian Crusade"

would be much, much, much closer to the truth
Posted by mocaIeo

-Definitely.

[mcvet]

You''''''''re an ignorant fool. Bin Laden is not some kind of highly regarded muslim scholar that millions of muslims seek his teachings. In fact, as an American Muslim, I think he''''''''s on the White House payroll. He only surfaces when Bush needs his approval ratings to go a little higher and he only seems to really matter to the people here in America...

Posted by lilbambella

Like I give a rat''''s a.s.s. what you think about my opinion LOL. Like Bin Laden showing up will make people think highly of Bush. HAHA, now THAT makes YOU look like the fool. Whatever lmao.


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Posted by MyOpinion1 at 02:14 PM : Mar 20, 2008
+ report abuse

YOU think this is something that pathetic piece of human trash wouldn''t do? ROFLMAO Have you looked back at some of the LIES that guy has told us??? Man there are so many of them and so bad that few can remember them. Not to worry though, you will see them all in the next few months...in fact I''d say they''ll start showing up in after the Republican Convention EVERY place Mr. McCain goes. Something funny about American''s...when you LIE to them as a Pol they forget... EXCEPT when that lie kills their Kids. Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

I''''ve seen the phrase "muslim scholar" in some of the posts. Isn''''t that an oxymoron. Being a scholar implies someone with a brain and actually uses it. Muslim''''s no doubt have a brain but alah told them not to use it.


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Posted by degress12 at 02:21 PM : Mar 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Please don''t do that!! Muslims aren''t any different than other religions. This guy is a Criminal no different than our own Klan. YOu people who what to turn this into some sort of bigoted assult on Islam certainly do not know how to fight and win against Extremist Criminals. Sieg Heil Bush.

[truthword08]

YOu people who what to turn this into some sort of bigoted assult on Islam
posted by MCVet

-MCVet, that''s the same thing that Bin Laden is accusing Christians of sir.

Looks like you 2 would get along pretty well.

[mcvet]

Just because Muslims ''''occasionally'''' crash planes into buildings, and ''''occasionally'''' strap bombs to themselves and wander into embassys and markets, and ''''occasionally'''' explode a few IEDs, does not mean that they are bad!


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Posted by DaVicar2 at 02:44 PM : Mar 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Oh Please! This GUY is a Criminal, his religion has NOTHING to do with it. You freaks are some sort of wackos here. We need Muslims, we have Friends or at least ONCE had friends that were Muslims. If we are EVER to deal with these extremist we NEED Moderate and Liberal Muslims help. No wonder you people are getting the Krap kicked out of you... Sieg Heil Bush.

[quetzal0666]

MCVet ...
Truthward is SinginChick,
dont get him to quoting scriptures.....ohh man...

[truthword08]

Just because Muslims ''occasionally'' crash planes into buildings, and ''occasionally'' strap bombs to themselves and wander into embassys and markets, and ''occasionally'' explode a few IEDs, does not mean that they are bad!
Posted by DaVicar2

-LOL. They also "occasionally" teach their children to become suicide bombers for allah and teach them to hate the Jews(Israel) and the USA "occasionally" as well.

:) Good one my friend.

[mcvet]

"Bin Laden Leading Anti-Christian Crusade"

would be much, much, much closer to the truth
Posted by mocaIeo

-Definitely.


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Posted by TruthWord08 at 02:50 PM : Mar 20, 2008
+ report abuse

And your point is??? OH! I get it! You freaks want to turn this into a religious war... LOL I noticed the Fascist approach there. Why don''t you extremist on OUR side and the extremist on Their side just go to an Island and kill each other until you are happy? My best friend in Nam was a Muslim...saved my life several times. Course that wouldn''t matter to a bunch of bigots on a crusade huh? Sieg Heil Bush.