Fact file: Osama bin Laden statements

MSNBC.com

Fact file Osama bin Laden statements

Since Sept. 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden has issued 13 statements, either audio or video. Here, in reverse order, is a list of the statements, whether audio or video and when the U.S. intelligence community believes they were recorded:

Oct. 29, 2004 (Contemporaneous)
In a videotape broadcast on al-Jazeera, bin Laden warns Americans that "your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al-Qaida. Your security is in your own hands." He also claims full responsibility for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

April 15, 2004 (Contemporaneous)
In an audio tape message, bin Laden offers a truce to European countries if they leave the Middle East within 90 days, threatening that if they don't, al-Qaida will attack European targets.

Jan. 4, 2004 (Contemporaneous)
The al-Qaida leader said in an audio tape that Muslim and Arab leaders were jolted by Saddam's ouster since it showed that dictatorial regimes could be toppled by foreign forces.

Oct. 18, 2003
Al-Jazeera broadcasts two audiotapes said to be made by Osama bin Laden, vowing more suicide attacks inside and outside the United States and demanding the United States withdraw from Iraq. "We, God willing, will continue to fight you and will continue martyrdom operations."

Sept. 10, 2003 (Most likely shot in 2001)
Al-Jazeera airs a combined audio and videotape showing bin Laden walking down a mountain path with Ayman al Zawahiri, his chief lieutenant. U.S. officials noted that the audio from bin Laden did not make any references to current events, while Zawahiri did, leading them to believe that Zawahiri's comments were recent and bin Laden's had been recorded at some point in the past.

April 8, 2003 (Contemporaneous)
On the eve of the U.S. capturing Baghdad, bin Laden urges suicide attacks and calls on Muslims to rise up against Arab governments that support the U.S.-led attack on Iraq.

Feb. 16, 2003 (Contemporaneous)
Entitled, "Bin Laden's Sermon for the Feast of the Sacrifice," the statement as broadcast on al-Jazeera, criticizes President Bush and British Prime Minister Blair for planning the war on Iraq. In it, bin Laden states the plans do not end with Iraq: "The preparations underway at present for an attack upon Iraq are but one link in a chain of attacks -- [currently] in preparation -- on the countries of the region, including Syria, Iran, Egypt and Sudan."

Feb. 11, 2003 (Contemporaneous)
Bin Laden criticizes U.S. plans for war on Iraq, citing Baghdad's historical role as a capital of Islam. In the statement, carried on al-Jazeera, bin Laden states: "We are following up with great interest and extreme concern the crusaders' preparations for war to occupy a former capital of Islam."

Nov. 12, 2002 (Contemporaneous)
Bin Laden calls Bush the "pharaoh of this age" and lists recent attacks in a statement carried on al-Jazeera. Specifically, he notes: "The incidents that have taken place since the raids on New York and Washington up until now -- like the killing of Germans in Tunisia and the French in Karachi, the bombing of the giant French tanker in Yemen, the killing of marines in Failaka [in Kuwait] and the British and Australians in the Bali explosions, the recent operation in Moscow and some sporadic operations here and there -- are only reactions and reciprocal actions." It is the first bin Laden message that can be dated in nearly a year.

April 17-18, 2002 (Shot in Oct. 2001)
The "Riverside tape," believed shot in October 2001, is shown on Arabic language broadcasters MBC and al-Jazeera in slightly different versions. In this tape, bin Laden praises the impact the Sept. 11 attacks had on the U.S. economy.

Dec. 27, 2001 (Shot late Nov. 2001)
The "Gaunt Tape," so named because bin Laden is haggard and doesn't move his left arm, is believed to have been recorded around Nov. 19, 2001. In the tape, bin Laden refers to the U.S. bombing of a mosque in Khost "several days" earlier. The U.S. bombed a mosque in Khost on Nov. 16. Bin Laden does not move his left arm and his appearance is both gaunt and pale. Al-Jazeera airs the tape.

Nov. 3, 2001 (Shot late Oct./early Nov.)
Bin Laden, dressed in camouflage and armed with an AK-47, says in a tape aired by al-Jazeera that the war in Afghanistan is in a religious war. "The people of Afghanistan had nothing to do with this matter. The campaign, however, continues to unjustly annihilate the villagers and civilians, children, women and innocent people."

Oct. 7, 2001 (Shot in late Sept./early Oct.)
A threatening tape released at the start of the U.S. attacks on Afghanistan and shown on al-Jazeera. It is believed to have been shot in late September or early October. Also on tape are bin Laden spokesman Abu Ghaith, chief lieutenant Ayman al Zawahiri, and Mohammed Atef, bin Laden's military commander.

Source: NBC News
© 2007 MSNBC.com

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6363306/