Transcript of Osama bin laden

Oct. 7, 2001 -- This is an uncorrected transcript of a translation from Arabic to English of Osama bin Laden's response to the start of military action against the Taliban in Afghanistan. This statement by bin Laden, videotaped prior to the beginning of the military action, appeared on Al-Jazeera, the Arabic satellite station.

Let the whole world know that weshall never accept that the tragedy of Andalucia (ph) would berepeated in Palestine. We cannot accept that Palestine will becomeJewish.

And with regard to you, Muslims, this is the day of question.This is a new (inaudible) against you, all against the Muslims andMedina. So be like the followers of the prophet, peace be upon him,and all countrymen (ph), lovers of God and the prophet within, and anew battle, great battle, similar to the great battles of Islam, likethe conqueror of Jerusalem. So, hurry up to the dignity of life andthe eternity of death.

Thanks to God, he who God guides will never lose. And I believethat there's only one God. And I declare I believe there's no prophetbut Mohammed.

This is America, God has sent one of the attacks by God and hasattacked one of its best buildings. And this is America filled withfear from the north, south, east and west, thank God.

And what America is facing today is something very little of whatwe have tasted for decades. Our nation, since nearly 80 years istasting this humility. Sons are killed, and nobody answers the call.

And when God has guided a bunch of Muslims to be at the forefrontand destroyed America, a big destruction, I wish God would lift theirposition.

And when those people have defended and retaliated to what theirbrothers and sisters have suffered in Palestine and Lebanon, the wholeworld has been shouting.

And there are civilians, innocent children beingkilled every day in Iraq without any guilt, and we never hear anybody.We never hear any (inaudible) from the clergymen of the government(ph).

And every day we see the Israeli tanks going to Jeanine (ph),Ramallah, Beit Jalla and other lands of Islam. And, no, we never hearanybody objecting to that.

So when the swords came after eight years to America, then thewhole world has been crying for those criminals who attacked. This isthe least which could be said about them. They are people. Theysupported the murder against the victim, so God has given them backwhat they deserve.

I say the matter is very clear, so every Muslim after this, andafter the officials in America, starting with the head of theinfidels, Bush. And they came out with their men and equipment andthey even encouraged even countries claiming to be Muslims against us.So, we run with our religion. They came out to fight Islam with thename of fighting terrorism.

People — event of the world — in Japan, hundreds of thousandsof people got killed. This is not a war crime. Or in Iraq, what our— who are being killed in Iraq. This is not a crime. And those,when they were attacked in my Nairobi, and Dar Es Salaam, Afghanistan,and Sudan were attacked.

I say these events have split the whole world into two camps:the camp of belief and the disbelief. So every Muslim shall take — shall support his religion.

And now with the winds of changehas blown up now, has come to the Arabian Peninsula.

And to America, I stay to it and to its people this: I swear byGod the Great, America will never dream nor those who live in Americawill never taste security and safety unless we feel security andsafety in our land and in Palestine.