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December 16, 2004
Possible New Bin Laden Tape Surfaces
The voice sounded like the Al Qaeda terror chief's, and the tape was posted on a site known as a clearinghouse for militant Islamic comment.

The speaker said that while Saudi leaders blame "holy warriors" for trouble in the kingdom, "the truth is that the whole responsibility falls on the shoulders of the regime."

The speaker, in calm and even tones, accused Saudi rulers of "violating God's rules," a common theme of statements from bin Laden, who accuses Saudi rulers of being insufficiently Islamic and too close to the "infidel" United States.

Read more....

Posted by Michele at December 16, 2004 05:42 AM | TrackBack
Comments

I think the real import of this tape (at least as published so far) is that UBL is again stating the incompatibility of his interpretation of Islam with democratic government. He's throwing cold "holy" water on not just the Saudi elections, but those in Palestine and Iraq. Voting, in his view, is an example of man's abrogating the authority exclusively reserved to God.

Posted by: JFB [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 16, 2004 11:04 AM

Problem is Allah does not speak. Only those who purport to speak for Allah speak. And they are human, by definition fallable, or worse.
Some Muslim scholars argue this point very well in favor of consensual or democratic government and separation of Mosque and State, and find comfort for that position in the Quran.
But with media controlled by those who purport to speak for Allah, who hears that message?

Posted by: Loren [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 16, 2004 12:54 PM

all in the interpretation. usama's basic beliefs leave no room for negotiating. he is dirtied by the same sins that he would condemn others for. that's so normal in human nature. the one condemnation of 9-11 was that he didn't give notice so that people could convert to islam.

Posted by: peggie [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 16, 2004 05:33 PM

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