After almost a year of silence, Osama bin Laden has issued his third tape in less than two months. Based on excerpts from bin Laden’s latest audio tape, titled “Message to the people of Iraq,” he views the situation in Iraq as dire. Bin Laden is clearly concerned with the defection of Sunni insurgents to the Awakening movements and local security forces, the possibility of the Sunnis reconciling with the government, and the failure of al Qaeda leaders to unite the Sunni fighters under al Qaeda’s banner. Bin Laden takes on the failure of al Qaeda leaders to recruit Sunni insurgent groups into the fold of the Islamic State of Iraq, and the defection of previous allies to the Iraqi government and Coalition forces. “Some of you have been lax in one duty, which is to unite your ranks,” bin Laden said. “Beware of division … Muslims are waiting for you to gather under a single banner to champion righteousness. Be keen to oblige with this duty.” According to the Associated Press, bin Laden said leaders should not build themselves up as the sole authority, and that instead mujahedeen should follow “what God and his prophet have said.” Bin Laden also acknowledges the grave errors made by the leaders of al Qaeda in Iraq, and warned that the violators of al Qaeda’s laws should be punished. “Everybody can make a mistake, but the best of them are those who admit their mistakes,” bin Laden said. “Mistakes have been made during holy wars but mujahedeen have to correct their mistakes … The mujahideen are the children of this nation … they do right things and wrong things … Those who are accused of violations of God’s commandments should face trial.”
Print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account
Digital subscriber? Click here to login/register your account.