Author: Reuters
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: September 9, 2007
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/215256.html
Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden said in a
video issued ahead of the sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks that
the United States was vulnerable despite its economic and military power.
Excerpts:
"Despite America being the greatest economic
power and possessing the most powerful and modern military arsenal, and despite
it spending on this war and its army more than the entire world spends on
its armies and being the major state influencing the world's policies as if
it has a monopoly on the unjust right of veto ... 19 young men were able ...
to change the direction of its compass."
"People of America: the world is following
your news in regards to your invasion of Iraq, for people have recently come
to know that ... the vast majority of you want it stopped."
"So in answer to the question about the
causes of the Democrats' failure to stop the war, I say: they are the same
reasons which led to the failure of former president (John F.) Kennedy to
stop the Vietnam war. Those with real power and influence are those with the
most capital." "Iraq and Afghanistan ... and the reeling of many
of you under the burden of interest-related debts, insane taxes and real-estate
mortgages; global warming and its woes; and the abject poverty and tragic
hunger in Africa: all of this is but one side of the grim face of this global
system." "Despite this brazen attack on the people, the leaders
of the West - especially Bush, Blair, Sarkozy and Brown still talk about freedom
and human rights..."
"To conclude, I invite you to embrace
Islam, for the greatest mistake one can make in this world .... is to die
without surrendering to Allah."
