OSAMA'S RALLYING RANT

BIN LADEN'S WORDS WERE TOUGH, BUT DELIVERY WASN'T By DON RUSSELL russeld@phillynews.com

Millionaire terror boss Osama bin Laden is ready for war.

In the most important TV appearance of his tenure as the world's most wanted man, bin Laden yesterday pulled on a camouflage jacket and talked tough.

"To America, I say only a few words to it and its people," bin Laden said with a Khalishnikov assault rifle at his side. "I swear by God, who has elevated the skies without pillars, neither America nor the people who live in it will dream of security before we live it in Palestine, and not before all the infidel armies leave the land of Muhammad, peace be upon him."

If that sounded like bold talk coming from an outlaw with 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles headed his way, it's partly because the speech was likely videotaped days ago.

Nonetheless, bin Laden spoke like a man trying to rally an army of Islamic faithful. Peppered with references to Allah and a holy war, his speech was largely intended for his fellow Arabs, possibly to provoke street protests that could force uneasy American allies in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere to reconsider their support.

"Every Muslim has to rush to make his religion victorious," he urged in a remarks broadcast on Qatar's Al Jazeera TV, the CNN of the Persian Gulf.

From a western image-is-everything perspective, bin Laden seemed oddly subdued.

The prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terror attacks had a worldwide audience on the edge of its seat, yet he took no credit for masterminding the atrocity. Instead, he explained that God has blessed a group of "vanguards of Islam" to destroy America . . .I pray to God to elevate their status and bless them."

Indeed, bin Laden rarely takes credit for the nefarious misdeeds of his al-Qaida network of terrorists. It's not just humility; bin Laden's brand of Islamic militancy is shared by tens of thousands in the Middle East, across South Asia and beyond. Terrorism experts say the widespread, independent nature of al-Qaida goes far beyond the pathology of a single madman, and thus will be harder to crush.

Castro, Gaddafi, Sadaam - the world's most notorious Anti-American megalomaniacs - share a fire in the belly, a rage of unleashed fury.

Not bin Laden.

Holding his microphone loosely in yesterday's speech, he showed all the emotion of a second-rate Atlantic City lounge act at 3 in the morning.

He droned on in lifeless monotone, Allah this, infidel that.

Even as he deplored Israeli tanks that "infest Palestine," his eyelids sagged heavily.

He seems tired and drawn.

Especially in contrast with the suddenly energized Leader of the Free World.

President Bush appeared on TV to announce yesterday's assault just hours before bin Laden's speech was broadcast. Speaking from the White House Treaty Room, Bush appeared with the usual symbols of American righteousness: flags, a red-white-and-blue pin, the Capitol in the background.

Bin Laden, meanwhile, spoke in front of rocks.

America's "greatest buildings were destroyed, thank God for that," he declared.

If he had been talking on MSNBC at that moment, we'd get instant video of a jetliner slamming into the World Trade Center, with an urgent crawl message at the bottom of the screen.

On Al Jazeera, it was just rocks. *

http://dailynews.philly.com/content/daily_news/2001/10/08/local/BINN08C.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 09, 2001

Answers

Hyperlink: http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/011008/2001100832.html

Terrorism will not come to end without just solution to Arab-Israeli conflict

Egypt-Regional, Politics, 10/8/2001

In a meeting with the Egyptian community in Dubai and northern Emirates, Dr. Mustafa El-Fiqi Deputy Chairman of External Affairs committee of the Egypt People's Assembly asserted that the Arab and Islamic world is not open to US military strikes, as if we were motionless bodies. Our skies are not vulnerable to anyone, whatever his military power is, due to the existence of international law, and world public opinion.

Excerpts:

-No Arab country backs or supports terrorism.

-Egypt has much suffered from terrorism, and therefore nobody is entitled to outbid Egypt in this respect.

-Egypt is against the punishment of an entire people because of a crime committed by an individual.

-Egypt is against haphazard striking of some regions, and against settlement of accounts under a double-standard policy.

-The Palestinian issue could gain or lose in the present circumstances, pursuant to the Arab's capacity to address a new media discourse.

-The Arab media should take advantage of the 11 September events, to realise peaceful settlement, and less biased US policy.

-Egypt has made a great deal of sacrifices and peace initiatives, in favor of the Arab and Islamic cause, and its national security as well.

-Egypt is directly targeted by Israel, and has entered in a long-term and unavoidable conflict, which it has to confront.

-Terrorism is the legitimate son of pressure, frustration, and hopelessness.

-We sympathize with the victims of the 11 September events.

-Ending terrorism cannot be realised by force alone, but through probing the causes and roots of its vicious circle.

-The stance of President Mubarak was unexpected by the USA and the world countries. It conforms to the feelings of the Egyptian people, Muslins as well as Christians. Copyright © 1995-2001 Arabic News.com, Fair Use for Educationa and Research Use Only

-- Robert Riggs (rxr.999@worldnet.att.net), October 09, 2001.

I think we should cut off Egypt immediately; after all we've done for them? Now we get this?

-- Nancy7 (nancy7@hotail.com), October 09, 2001.

I think that we should cut off that guy's head immeadiately.

-- jimmie-the-weed (thinkasur@aol.com), October 09, 2001.

"-Egypt is directly targeted by Israel, and has entered in a long- term and unavoidable conflict, which it has to confront." Where does he get off saying this? Me thinks Dr. Mustafa El-Fiqi suffers from delusion and needs treatment.

-- Steve McClendon (ke6bjd@yahoo.com), October 09, 2001.