The latest al-Qaeda videotape with different speakers calling for worldwide martyrdom to secure Muslim causes includes a vintage 50-second footage of Osama bin Laden. For long, there are speculations of Laden being severely affected by multiple kidney related diseases and use of a previous clip of the global terror symbol is an indication of his falling health.
The newest videotape titled ‘A Special Surprise from As-Sahab. Heaven’s Breeze Part I’, translated from Arabic by CNN and contains a 40-minute recording of various members of top Al Qaeda leadership. Though the tape is claimed to be made in last four weeks, the portion in which Laden appeals to the Muslims for open war and martyrdom looks an old one. It also includes a video message by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Al Qaeda supreme commander in Iraq eliminated by the US forces in June last year.
Analyzing the surroundings in which the videotape was shot and its authenticity, media experts doubt its claim of being new. In the tape, Osama bin Laden is appearing to address an audience with his bodyguard standing in the background. It is an indication that he was in the midst of an open meet of his followers, which doesn’t look possible at present seeing the combing operations led by the US forces in Pakistan-Afghanistan border using satellite and aerial inspection. The surroundings also look akin to the environment of the videotape released by Al Qaeda just before the WTC bombing on September 11, 2001.
This videotape of Osama bin Laden released after a year of his last tape and that too an aged one, is a hint that all is not well with the world’s numero-uno enemy. Though there is hardly any link between the release of Laden tapes and any major terror activity, yet the security agencies are not in a mood to let any misadventure happen. But, the call for ruthless attacks and killings in the name of Islam and its great prophet is sure to raise concerns both among Muslims and non-Muslims.
Via: CNN
