Truce from Bin Laden

[Jeremy]

"A new tape said to be al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden has offered a truce to European countries.

"I announce a truce with the European countries that do not attack Muslim countries," said the taped message which has been played on Arabic satellite TV channels.

The message said the truce would last three months and could be extended. The offer did not include the United States.

This truce, the message said, was to deny "the war mongers" further opportunities and because polls had shown that "most of the European peoples wanted reconciliation" with the Islamic world.


"Stop spilling our blood so we can stop spilling your blood"
-- voice of 'bin Laden'


The tape also refers to the 11 March bombings in the Spanish capital, Madrid, and the events of 11 September 2001.

It said the attacks were payment for US and Spanish actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories.

"What happened on 11 September and 11 March are your goods returned to you, so that you know security is a necessity for all," the voice said.

"Stop spilling our blood so we can stop spilling your blood."

The message also vowed revenge for Israel's killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

"We vow before God to take revenge for him from America for this, God willing."

The message said that American policy ignored the "real problem," which was "the occupation of all of Palestine."

The message also denounced the US war on Iraq, saying it was making "billions of dollars" for companies, "whether those that make weapons or those that take part in reconstruction," naming the American firm Halliburton.

Several tapes purporting to be by Osama Bin Laden have surfaced since the 11 September attacks.

The most recent, broadcast in January played on al-Jazeera, condemned the occupation of Iraq and attacked Arab nations which supported the war.

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) later said that analysis indicated the voice on the January tape was that of Osama Bin Laden."
AOL news.

[Puck]

I do not think that you should negotiate with terrorists, by doing this, you put them in control, and you lose it, not a wise thing to do.

[Robsladey]

You're right it's definately not a good idea.

After all this fighting and suddenly a truce? Doubtful.

[jbering69]

Perhaps bin Laden realized that while he may be difficult to catch, the rest of the Muslim world is suffering terribly because of his actions. Perhaps he would rather declare a truce to save them from continued destruction. I think it is premature to dismiss this offer.

[jbering69]

After I gave my initial response I went and read the article for myself, which is precisely what I should have done before responding. I'm whistling a different tune now. I agree that this 'offer' should be rejected. By the way has anyone seen 'RepublicanMan' lately? He just seems to have up and disappeared.

[Pah-Wraith]

[jbering69]

I agree. What I should have clarified was that I included ethnic profiling and general suspicion and mistrust by many other nations. My mistake.

[T. Dean]

I'm not sure if this is good or bad. Does Al Qaeda think it has enough power to negotiate with some the strongest governments in the world or are they paper tigers, bluffing in a desperate attempt to shake their enemies resolve.

[Puck]

That made me think several things:

A. we are getting to close to him

B. we are foiling to many of his plots

C. we are destroying to much of his network

D. he is running out of momey

E. all of the above