Al Qaeda Confirms Bin Laden's Death, Will Release His Final Tape

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Fri May 06, 2011 at 09:56:07 AM EST
Tags: Osama bin Laden (all tags)

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Here's the English translation of Al Qaida's statement confirming the death of Osama bin Laden. It says it will release Osama's final taped statement made one week before he was killed.

"The sheikh (OBL) didn’t leave this world before taking part in sharing the joy with his Muslim Umma (nation) regarding its revolutions when the nation has risen in the face of injustice and the tyrants and may God have mercy on him, the sheikh recorded an audio message one week before his killing that we will release soon, God willing and his audio message included a congratulation greeting, advices and a guidance.

Aside from the usual threats, the group had a warning about what would happen if bin Laden's body was mistreated and demanded that the other bodies at the compound be turned over to the families of the deceased: [More...]

Moreover, we warn the Americans of any injustice to be made to the corpse of Sheikh Osama, God's mercy be upon him or that he will be mistreated in any despicable manner and this warning includes the mistreatment of any member of the sheikh's honorable family whether they are dead or alive and that the bodies must be handed over to the families because any inappropriate treatment will open the doors of double evil and you will only be blaming yourselves for your own deeds. We call upon all Muslims to do their duty in enforcing this right.”

The group also reminds America that while it killed bin Laden, it didn't kill al Qaeda:

Even when the Americans managed to kill Osama, they managed to do ONLY that by disgrace and betrayal. Men and heroes only should be confronted in the battlefields but at the end, that’s God’s fate. Still we ask, will the Americans be able thru their media outlets, their agents, their instruments, soldiers, intelligence services and their might be able to kill what Sheikh Osama lived for and was killed for? How far! How impossible! Sheikh Osama didn’t build an organization that will vanish with his death or fades away with his departure.

On a related note, Pakistan officials say their intelligence shows Bin Laden split with al-Zawahri six years ago, and al-Zawahri has the bigger following. The Wall St. Journal describes the official as saying bin Laden had been marginalized:

bin Laden had been sidelined because he no longer had the funds to support al Qaeda operations and that his popularity in the network was slipping

The U.S. says it has no such information and is skeptical. The U.S. seems to continually revert to a pyramid type structure when describing al Qaida, with one person at the top. It seems more likely that for many years since 9/11, Al Qaida has been a bunch of loosely affiliated, geographically diverse and independent groups. While they share a belief system, their aspirational targets likely are different. It sounds like we're about to spend a ton of money going after al-Zawahri, which in the long run, won't have any more impact in eliminating al Qaida than did killing Osama.

Update: Britain seems to think the lead replacement for bin Laden is cleric Anwar al Awlaki.

< Osama Bin Laden Raid: Inconsistencies and Unanswered Questions | Friday Afternoon Open Thread >

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Al Qaeda Confirms Bin Laden's Death, Will Release His Final Tape | 66 comments (66 topical)

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Excuse me (5.00 / 10) (#1)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:24:42 AM EST

"Men and heroes only should be confronted in the battlefields" - coming from Al Qaida this is disgusting and sickening.

F*ck Al Qaida!

Second that (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by star on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:43:57 AM EST

Screw em.. this kind of false bravado is what they use to recruit gullible uneducated youth.


: I will always remember the kids (5.00 / 1) (#52)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:45:04 PM EST

from the Mumbai attack. The interviews with the only one that survived made my heart cry. The videos of them, some of them shoeless, fascinated by the size of the television screens, and when they showed the lone survivor the faces of his friends that did not shine golden in death when dying for Jihad, it all made my heart cry.

Seriously... (none / 0) (#5)
by kdog on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:43:16 AM EST

Is there anybody, anyone at all, in a leadership position, of any nation or terrorist group, that is not totally and utterly full of hypocritical sh*t?

Anarchy sounds so good right now...No tsars, no presidents, no kings, no sheikhs! Cuz they all suck.


One of AQ's stated goals is to (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by ruffian on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:41:54 AM EST

bleed our economy dry fighting them. They will probably spend more time in their propaganda efforts reminding us they are around than they will in actual attacks.

They have so many stated goals :) (none / 0) (#38)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 12:51:36 PM EST

Yeah, but this is one they are achieving (5.00 / 2) (#40)
by ruffian on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:00:05 PM EST

Now now.........Al Qaeda (none / 0) (#42)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:06:04 PM EST

didn't deregulate, make liar loans to create AAA securities, create derivatives and over leverage us into hades. Unless Goldman Sachs is a branch of Al Qaeda....hmmmmm, I think you might be onto something.


I have often noted (5.00 / 1) (#46)
by Rojas on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:34:37 PM EST

We're killing the wrong people.


LOL....can we get a Seal raid on Goldman Sachs? (none / 0) (#48)
by ruffian on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:36:43 PM EST

: The pen is mightier than the sword (none / 0) (#58)
by Rojas on Fri May 06, 2011 at 02:47:27 PM EST

Kill them softly, slowly, death by a thousand cuts at the hands of a crakerjack team of CPAs.

I hate killing anyone (none / 0) (#50)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:40:54 PM EST

My goal is taking into custody and incarceration if guilty whenever I can get it, and I ain't getting anything taken into custody or incarcerated out of the Wall Street branch of Al Qaeda. And they live right here :) No deployments involved.


One could argue post 9/11 (none / 0) (#41)
by Harry Saxon on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:00:56 PM EST

that this particular goal was achieved, albeit with the help of GWB who diverted our resources into Iraq, which surely made Osama very, very, happy.


I don't make that argument (none / 0) (#43)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:08:30 PM EST

Granted that Iraq brought us a lot of debt, but it isn't what is destroying our economy. The destruction of aggregate demand is what is killing our economy. And sadly....dealing responsibly with Al Qaeda creates jobs and market stability if you want to get wildly into market speculation :)


The 1 tillion+ we have spent on these wars (5.00 / 3) (#47)
by ruffian on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:35:06 PM EST

would have bought a lot of economic stimulus. Opponents of stimulus would not have the deficit excuse to fall back on. We would have come out of the recession caused by the things you describe a lot faster.


It would have if you could (none / 0) (#49)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:37:20 PM EST

legislation through appropriating funds to do nothing other than create jobs. But you can't get that done.


sigh, I know...I'm a dreamer (none / 0) (#51)
by ruffian on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:44:18 PM EST

They have no other choice in the end (none / 0) (#53)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:46:59 PM EST

I hate that so much more damage will occur though because Tim Geithner sucks.....but he's such a great guy and a real charmer with the ladies :)


Spending a billion a month in Iraq. (none / 0) (#54)
by Harry Saxon on Fri May 06, 2011 at 02:21:40 PM EST

probably did make a difference.

As Mater Saxon used to quote David Mahmet:

Don't bullsh*t a bullsh*tter.

You guys forget though (none / 0) (#55)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 02:24:11 PM EST

that there were a lot of jobs created. I like Maddow's portrayal of what happened, it was a restructuring of our economy geared towards combat zone providers. Those are almost all middle class jobs too.


Yes, and think of the medical advances (none / 0) (#59)
by ruffian on Fri May 06, 2011 at 02:47:45 PM EST

Not worth it.


: Not worth it (5.00 / 1) (#60)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 02:58:42 PM EST

But happening all the same. We contributed some funds toward an experimental procedure they are going to do on one of the MP canines. He has some paralysis from shrapnel that he took during a suicide bombing. He can walk, but it is far from perfect and it is a spinal cord type injury. They are going to do a grafting of cells to see if they can improve it. If it works it could be easily adapted to human mammals.

: Middle class jobs are middle class jobs (none / 0) (#61)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 03:00:48 PM EST

though and aggregate demand is aggregate demand. If all those military middle class jobs just disappeared tomorrow you would get more contraction of your economy, fewer people paying fewer taxes, things would be even worse for everyone. There has to be job creation in something other than the military to make up for it.

But that's a temporary fix (none / 0) (#62)
by Harry Saxon on Fri May 06, 2011 at 03:04:47 PM EST

unless we decide to annex Iraq to the USA.


: Oh yes (none / 0) (#63)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 03:29:21 PM EST

The new Bush combat zone jobs can never be anything but temporary. Any combat zone job should wear the label temporary. So we really need jobs creation. We desperately need it.

How Rich (5.00 / 3) (#7)
by ScottW714 on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:48:19 AM EST

Even when the Americans managed to kill Osama, they managed to do ONLY that by disgrace and betrayal. Men and heroes only should be confronted in the battlefields but at the end, that's God's fate.

Wow, isn't that rich coming from the clowns that use bombs to indiscriminately kill civilians, women, and children. When exavtly did Manhattan before a battle field ?

The one thing that bothers me most about terrorist organizations is the level of reasoning rarely manages to get past an average US 6th grader. They operate as such a base level, them bad, we good, type of mentality. Seems like if we spent a tenth of what we spend killing them, on education, their shtick would become a punch line.

The irony of calling us cowards and blather about battlefields and desecrating bodies, from the very people who's only claim to fame is the very acts they are apparently opposed to. When exactly has Al Qaeda engaged in battlefield warfare? Afghanistan, somewhat, but it's certainly not their forte.

Well, given that al Qaida's (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by Anne on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:56:57 AM EST

theatre of operations has never been on a battlefield, I guess this:

Men and heroes only should be confronted in the battlefields

means they are neither men, nor heroes, but cowards.

But, really, what else would we expect them to say about themselves and their mission?


What do they mean? (none / 0) (#13)
by star on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:58:55 AM EST

'we warn the Americans of any injustice to be made to the corpse of Sheikh Osama, God's mercy be upon him or that he will be mistreated in any despicable manner '

They already know he was shot twice and about the burial at sea in islamic tradition. so what is this warning about ?


: I Doubt They Believe... (none / 0) (#28)
by ScottW714 on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:28:15 AM EST

... anything we say. Most American's don't, whjy should they.
I wonder why they didn't do an autopsy, see if he was taking anything, how he was living recently, or whatever other kinds of intelligence a body could provide.
When the President travels abroad, they collect his waste so other governments can't analyze it, we have a whole body, which presumably is far more useful. The whole buried as sea immediately just seems to... final.
I guess dragging dead US soldiers though town doesn't count as despicable in their minds.

: Bluster (none / 0) (#66)
by cal1942 on Fri May 06, 2011 at 07:58:34 PM EST

'we're tough and you infidels better be scared'
Meant for their followers.

Chuckle, chuckle, yawn... (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by Dadler on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:58:33 AM EST

Amazing how AQ statements always sound like Monty Python bits. Wake me when we can address the real problems facing the nation.

The good thing, though, is that I could find quotes from innumerable American politicians that are just as obscene and hypocritical as AQ's propaganda blathering. That makes me feel better.

Ahem.

And remember to donate... (none / 0) (#14)
by Dadler on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:59:52 AM EST

...to the People's Front of Judea. or the Judean People's Front. Or, uh, hold on a second.


Tellin ya bro... (none / 0) (#16)
by kdog on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:03:09 AM EST

If you sat down and did nothing but read press releases from the nations and organizations of the world on Monday, you'd be an anarchist by Tuesday.

If you have half a clue, they all read like Monty Python...good call.

How do we get the sheep out of all these human beings who listen and buy this crap? Their crap or our crap.


If anarchy every came into being (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by nyjets on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:16:19 AM EST

If anarchy every came into being, we would have a facist regime within a couple years.
There is nothing good that can come from anarchy. Honestly anarchy and facism are simply 2 sides of the same ugly coin.


Fascism... (none / 0) (#30)
by kdog on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:31:02 AM EST

by the merger of government and corporate power definition? We're there dude.

I'm thinking good and bad would follow anarchy, like every "ism"...its goods sound really good, and the bads not so bad, right about now anyway.


Anarchy (5.00 / 2) (#31)
by Ga6thDem on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:33:49 AM EST

would only be good for about 30 seconds and people who didn't have the money to live behind gated communities and hire armed guards would suffer the most. Look no further than a lot of places in this world who border on anarchy.


Instead of the status quo... (none / 0) (#34)
by kdog on Fri May 06, 2011 at 12:13:56 PM EST

where we subsidize the mercenaries and military protecting them and their wealth?

That doesn't sound so bad...at least the royals would be paying their own freight:)


kdog (5.00 / 2) (#36)
by CST on Fri May 06, 2011 at 12:22:41 PM EST

Anarchy just means that the biggest bully with the biggest gun wins, not just the wars we fight, but "wins" that slice of bread, or that woman walking down the street, or whatever the hell they feel like taking. It may feel that way today at times too. But any reading of history will show you that it's not even close.


Allright, allright... (none / 0) (#37)
by kdog on Fri May 06, 2011 at 12:47:12 PM EST

ya sold me on the status quo that criminalizes and robs me for another day...but if we get to efficient at this statist tyrannical grifter's paradise thing I'm revisiting the issue! :)


: But but but.... (none / 0) (#39)
by kdog on Fri May 06, 2011 at 12:58:00 PM EST

right now the biggest lobby wins...less bloody, but not exactly good.
I'll never have a billion bucks and a team of lobbyists, like most people...but I will always have two hands...and that means a chance.
And a rigged statist game manufacturers bullys, and fuels resentment and hate and inequality that leads to violence...more or less so than a stringless society? I don't know, but it is interesting to ponder.

Well (none / 0) (#35)
by Ga6thDem on Fri May 06, 2011 at 12:20:54 PM EST

we get some protection from it now whereas we would get no protection under anarchy. As a matter of fact the wealthy might like anarchy even better. That way they would only be paying for themselves and no one else and they would get the added bonus of having the poor and the middle class die off. At least with the system now as imperfect as it is we have somewhat of a chance.


Thanks for saying it, Ga6thdem (none / 0) (#64)
by christinep on Fri May 06, 2011 at 03:56:41 PM EST

Yep, thanks for pointing out the ramifications so succinctly, the ramifications for all but the kazillionaires. Yep, the ol' everyone for themselves motif some would want. Think a bit about it...as you said.


I disgree (none / 0) (#33)
by nyjets on Fri May 06, 2011 at 12:02:05 PM EST

Sorry, I do not agree we live in facism. Not even close. And the bad that comes with anarchy is much worse than what exists right not and far outways what little good that comes from anarchy


: Its the "not even close" (5.00 / 1) (#44)
by NYShooter on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:12:57 PM EST

that's problematic.
You maybe should revisit the definition of "fascism."

No good at all (none / 0) (#67)
by cal1942 on Fri May 06, 2011 at 08:10:08 PM EST

Anarchy is the aim of people who advocate small government.. No rules, no one to enforce any kind of rules.

The very rich would control everything without any constraints. Rule of law ended.

When western Rome collapsed the rich formed alliances with the invaders. The average Joe ... so screwed.


A future history book... (none / 0) (#68)
by kdog on Fri May 06, 2011 at 09:25:13 PM EST

might say "preceding the fall of the US, corporate power formed alliances with government. The average Joe was so screwed."

Maybe its perpetual no matter what you do, I just can't help but wonder if the strings were cut the average Joe would stand a better chance, forming voluntary community associations. It would require a massive increase of responsibility and work by the average Joe. An evolutionary hop, if not a leap, is likely required.


: Beyond unlikely (none / 0) (#69)
by cal1942 on Sat May 07, 2011 at 12:27:19 AM EST

"preceding the fall of the US, corporate power formed alliances with government. The average Joe was so screwed."
Large corporations do not want government regulating their activity, taxing them, etc. They, in effect, want small government. The corps want courts, armed forces, etc. to protect them but do not want to allow average joes to hold them accountable in those same courts.
The only time corps want government is when government might buy something from them or when they want governments to protect or enable their foreign incursions ... er, I mean opportunities.
Absent government however corporations would be the ruling power.
The average joe isn't organized, corporations are. Corporations will hire down and out average joes for goon squads.

I have no idea, my man (none / 0) (#19)
by Dadler on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:11:39 AM EST

The streets, baby, always the streets. We're just allergic to that sh*t en masse in this country. Or we will be until ALL the sh*t hits the tornado.

I worry for my son.

But, hey, he's got his big audition for the Peninsula Youth Orchestra today, so I'm just gonna stay excited for him until tonight.

Oh, and I'm gonna maybe link to this in an Open Thread, but, as always, I'll give you a sneak. Been diddling on this short story forever (got the idea back when Iraq started), then the stuff with Mubarak, Gaddafi, now bin Laden, got me to pull it outta the drawer and finish it. Tell me what you think when you get a chance. (LINK)


If he keeps blowin' that horn... (none / 0) (#25)
by kdog on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:17:45 AM EST

there will still be beauty in the world...so we got that goin' for us. I mean if you're gonna live in a perpetual war world with world leaders with no interest in peacemaking, at least maintain a quality soundtrack. I wanna still be hearing live horns when I'm 64...I'm counting on him:)

Tell Lil' Dadler to break a leg, and thanks for the new dropped science.


: I'll let him know... (none / 0) (#26)
by Dadler on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:22:48 AM EST

...that he's got an east coast fan club. ;-)

: Thank you (none / 0) (#65)
by Dadler on Fri May 06, 2011 at 05:18:57 PM EST

He's very nervous, needs the good vibes. His audition is in a couple of hours. Mahalo.

Oh Yeah (5.00 / 1) (#45)
by Militarytracy on Fri May 06, 2011 at 01:16:36 PM EST

Forgot to mention....when Pakistani intelligence tells me something, I don't get too excited one way, or the other way, or any way :)

you mean Osama... (none / 0) (#3)
by CST on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:36:57 AM EST

I hope.

Sorry (none / 0) (#8)
by Ga6thDem on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:50:42 AM EST

You are right.


had to delete the comment (none / 0) (#20)
by Jeralyn on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:12:35 AM EST

because of the misidentification. It would show up in Google as coming from here. Feel free to repost with Osama's name.


: That's (none / 0) (#21)
by Ga6thDem on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:14:48 AM EST

fine. I'm glad you deleted it.

We don't (none / 0) (#9)
by Ga6thDem on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:54:03 AM EST

get to type Osama much so I guess my finger automatically goes to the B instead of the S.

Hopefully, after this is all over, we'll never hear the name Osama ever again.


: honestly (none / 0) (#10)
by CST on Fri May 06, 2011 at 10:55:08 AM EST

it's a reasonable mistake.

And five years secluded in two rooms (none / 0) (#15)
by Dadler on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:02:01 AM EST

Would made the best episode of Hoarders ever. Yes, he was hording wives and children and, apparently, Grecian Formula, but still...

2 rooms (none / 0) (#17)
by star on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:06:36 AM EST

bigger than a cave. he was comfortable in a cave. so 2 rooms must have been a luxury.

: I'm wondering (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by Ga6thDem on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:16:26 AM EST

if that is true. I think that he probably did stay in those two rooms most of the time but I'm willing to bet that he went all over the house. I mean the whole house was fortified so what would be the risk of going to another floor?

And of course Pakistan (none / 0) (#18)
by SOS on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:11:12 AM EST

Of course they knew he was there. He was their cash cow. Why would they want the U.S. to find him when they have been getting 1.5Billion/yr. in aid from the United States? He was very comfortable there. He didn't have his cyanide capsules or his pistol near. He assumed he was untouchable. He assumed incorrectly.

: That Doesn'ty Make Sense (5.00 / 1) (#32)
by ScottW714 on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:35:42 AM EST

They are risk of losing those funds because of OBL and I doubt 1.5 billion is a cash cow to any country.
The aid money had/has nothing to do with OBL.

Interesting that al Qaida (none / 0) (#24)
by Jeralyn on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:17:26 AM EST

didn't mention Osama's son who was killed by name, wasn't he also a hero to them for dying for their cause? There's still no definitive articles on whether it was Khalid, Hamza or another one. Pakistan isn't mentioning the name of the son either. Wouldn't the wife who was shot have told them which son(s) were present?

: This statement (none / 0) (#27)
by star on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:26:32 AM EST

from Al Qaeda is really weird. it looks a bit like a pre designed statement to be released when ever Osama gets killed.

: Maybe (none / 0) (#29)
by Ga6thDem on Fri May 06, 2011 at 11:28:56 AM EST

but Pakistani ISI was on the news last night saying that they were asking the same questions just in a different order every day to see if they got the same answers. It may be that she is saying something to the ISI but they may not think she is telling the truth.
Maybe AQ is waiting for the ISI or the US to tell them who was killed.