Stop the presses! It seems that Osama bin Laden is working to establish (gasp) an Islamic state! I have discussed this in five books now and innumerable articles, and so I am glad to see that AP is coming around. (Thanks to OBL r Us for the link.)
An alleged militant on trial for a terror conspiracy targeting the US and Israeli embassies claimed today that terror masterminds Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will soon set up a Muslim caliphate state.
Abed al-Tahawi made the statement in brief remarks to reporters before the military court convened to hear the prosecution sum up its case in his trial.
“Although they accuse them of being terrorists, the heroes Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will come back to the scene soon to set up an Islamic caliphate state,” he said….
Saudi-born bin Laden has long advocated the creation of a caliphate, where Islam would be the source of the law and the state ruled by a religious leader, known as the caliph — a title taken by the successors of the prophet Muhammad….