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New Bin Laden Video Declares War On Pakistan

September 20th, 2007
By JOE GANDELMAN, Editor-In-Chief

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Osama bin Laden has a released a new video and this time there truly is something new:

The terrorist chief is signaling that Al-Qaeda going to pull out all stops now to try and topple the Pakistani government — a government that is fragile by any measurement since it walks a political tightrope in trying to cooperate with the United States on the war on terror and trying to contain rage by many of its Muslims over the fact it is doing that:

Al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden called on Pakistanis to rebel against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf in a new recording released Thursday, saying his military’s siege of a militant mosque stronghold makes him an infidel.

That is basically spin, though.

It is no secret that Al-Qaeda wants to get Musharraf (who has survived various assassination attempts) because Pakistan is strategically located, Al-Qaeda now has operations in its remote areas, Pakistan has a large and Muslim population that is partially-radicalized, some internal security forces are reportedly sympathetic to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda — and because Pakistan has nuclear weapons. It would be a prime plum:

The storming of the Red Mosque in Islamabad in July “demonstrated Musharraf’s insistence on continuing his loyalty, submissiveness and aid to America against the Muslims … and makes armed rebellion against him and removing him obligatory,” bin Laden said in the message.

“So when the capability is there, it is obligatory to rebel against the apostate ruler, as is the case now,” he said.

Bin Laden’s voice was heard over video showing previously released footage of the terror leader. The video was released Thursday on Islamic militant Web sites and first reported by Laura Mansfield, an American terrorism expert who monitors militant message traffic.

The message, titled “Come to Jihad,” was the third from bin Laden this month in a flurry of videos and audiotapes marking the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.

The Pakistani government vows to continue its present policies:

Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad, a Pakistani army spokesman, said the army will continue its fight against terrorism, regardless of any threats it faces.

“We have the aim and objective, as our national duty, to eliminate terrorists and eradicate extremism. The Pakistan army will continue to carry out its role against terrorists wherever they are found, whether in the tribal areas (of northwest Pakistan) or elsewhere.”

“Such threats issued through videos or in any other way cannot deter us from fulfilling our national duty,” he said.

But will it be business as usual? Now that bin Laden has basically urged Pakistanis to overthrow the government, it would not be surprising to see the government step up its efforts to clamp down.

ALSO READ Ed Morrissey who discusses an earlier video by bin Laden’s second in command. Morrissey notes how Al-Qaeda’s clout seems to be on the wane.



This entry was posted on Thursday, September 20th, 2007 at 8:23 am and is filed under Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, Pakistan, Terrorism, 9/11, War On Terror. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

 
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