Thank you, Sheikh Obvious. But the message then sets to work on spinning a devastating, embarrassing loss that handed an intel goldmine to the Navy SEALs as a victory, and of course, vowing revenge. They also appear to demand bin Laden’s body, knowing full well he has been buried at sea, thus making an impossible demand the condition for avoiding attacks, which, of course, would also have been in the works if bin Laden were still on dry land. “Al Qaeda threats, terror plans surface,” from CNN, May 6:
(CNN) — Saber-rattling al Qaeda warnings against the United States emerged Friday as Osama bin Laden’s killing yielded a trove of ominous intelligence, including details about a possible attack on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
Al Qaeda, the bin Laden terror network that masterminded the deadly attack on the U.S. 10 years ago, confirmed its leader’s death on Friday in a Web statement, using that opportunity to taunt and threaten the United States.
“Sheikh Osama didn’t build an organization that will vanish with his death or fades away with his departure,” according to the statement, which CNN could not independently authenticate.
The statement, which congratulates the “Islamic Nation on the martyrdom of their devoted son Osama,” repeated themes and threats made over the years in al Qaeda statements, before and after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
“The blood of the mujahed sheikh, Osama bin Laden, may God have mercy on him, is very dear to us and more precious to us and to every Muslim from being shed in vain,” the statement said. A mujahed is defined as a Muslim engaged in what he considers to be jihad.
“This blood will be a curse that will chase the Americans and their agents, a curse that will pursue them inside and outside their country, and soon — with God’s help — we pray that their happiness turns into sorrow and may their blood mix with their tears and let Sheikh Osama’s resonate again.”
Al Qaeda frequently cites the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in its pronouncements, and it did so again, saying America “will neither enjoy nor live in security until our people in Palestine live it and enjoy it.”
“The soldiers of Islam in groups and as individuals will continue to plan and plot without any fatigue, boredom, despair, surrender or indifference until you receive from them a cunning misfortune that will gray the hair of the child even before he gets old,” the statement said.
Pakistanis were urged to revolt and “rise up,” cleansing the “disgrace that was brought upon them by a handful of traitors and thieves” and “their country from the filth of the Americans who have wreaked havoc in the land.”
The statement surfaced as protesters packed the streets of Abbottabad — where bin Laden was shot and killed — in a rally organized by Jamrat-E-Islami, Pakistan’s largest Islamist party. The demonstrators denounced the U.S. and Pakistani governments.
Also, the statement disdained the United States, both its efforts and its motives, saying that the Americans managed to kill bin Laden “by disgrace and betrayal.” Bin Laden was slain in a U.S. Navy SEAL raid on a compound early Monday in Abbottabad, a military garrison town north of the capital of Islamabad.
Ironic statement from a group that is one of the most prolific users of asymmetrical warfare, and of human shields (e.g., Mrs. Osama), and the deliberate targeting of civilians:
“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 through 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!”
After bin Laden was shot and killed, he was buried at sea in what U.S. officials described as a proper Islamic burial.
But the statement said if Americans treat the bodies of bin Laden or his family members improperly, either dead or alive, or do not hand over the bodies to families, there will be retribution.
“Any offense will open unto your doors of multitudes of evil for which you will only have yourselves to blame.”
According to the statement, bin Laden recorded an audio message one week prior to his death, regarding the revolutions sweeping the Muslim world and offering advice and guidance. Al Qaeda indicated that the release of this message is forthcoming….