Bin Laden Sounds the Call of Defeat in Iraq (updated 10/23 with transcript)

By Andrew Cochran

This new message from OBL is the second signal since early September that OBL smells and fears strategic defeat in Iraq. Look at Walid Phare's September 10 post about the September 8 video, in which he noted "unease among wider circles of the usually sympathetic commentators" and "a chaos unseen before" on jihadist websites, in reaction to his 9/11 commemoration video. Quoting Walid: "So the first reason behind the tape was a pressing need to show The Commander in command, to underline that the struggle continues." The quotes released thus far from this new audio include no boasts about America's weakness, as were made by his henchman Zawahiri in his tape on January 5 of this year. Instead, OBL whines about laziness and division in the ranks. Leaders on the road to victory never issue such demoralizing warnings.

This tape is the best confirmation of the crack-up on al-Qaida in Iraq, as reported here over the past month by Evan Kohlmann, and of the strategic turn of events in the Sunni triangle since the increase in U.S. troops and change in tactics. It's a desperate warning of defeat by a hidden, scared leader who senses that the basket into which he put many of his eggs has almost slipped irretrievably from his fingers.

EDIT: On Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes tonight, Steven Emerson characterized the tape as an "unprecedented admission of weakness" by OBL.

UPDATE, Oct. 23: Laura Mansfield provided an English transcript. Note the next-to-last paragraph, in which OBL prays for Allah to "bring relief to the captives and distressed everywhere," including "America" (what's that about?!):

Transcription/Translation of Osama Bin Laden Message of 10/23/2007

All praise is due to Allah who made jihad obligatory on his slaves to make his word supreme and strengthen his Sharia'h and suppress those who combat his Call. All praise is due to Allah, who said "Fight them, Allah will punish them at your hands and humiliate them and help you to victory over them and heal the chests of a people who believe. " (9:14)

And all praise is due to Allah, who said "and we will try you with something of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and lives and fruits; but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere who, when a misfortune overtakes them, say 'Verily to Allah do we belong and to him shall we return'". (2:155-156)

And prayers and peace be upon our Prophet, who said "He who is killed in defense of his grievance is a martyr" (Ahmad), and who said "he who is killed in defense of his wealth is a martyr, and he who is killed in defense of his life is a martyr, and he who is killed in defense of his religion is a martyr, and he who is killed in the defense of his family is a martyr" (narrated by Imam Ahmad).

As for what comes after:

To our persevering, steadfast people in resolute Iraq.

To our defiant mujahideen clans in promising Iraq.

To the blessed knights and lions protecting the creed and the religion, our heroes, the heroes of Fedayee operations everywhere, but especially in Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and in the Arabian Peninsula, the countries of the Maghreb, and Pakistan, and in Somalia and Chechnya, those whose brothers went before them and inflicted slaughter on the enemy, and broke his strength, humiliated his pride, tarnished his dignity, unsettled his steps, and foiled his plans:

I ask Allah to accept them among the martyrs and to make them intercessors for their families and to compensate them in the best way.

To the noble, high, towering chiefs whose faith prevented them from sitting behind with the womenfolk, and so they emigrated to jihad and defied every opponent, and left their loved ones behind them, to follow Muhammed (may Peace be upon him) and his Companions to the Supporters of jihad and mujahideen everywhere:

Peace be upon you, and mercy of Allah and his blessings.

Bush, his allies, along with those of the hypocrites and apostates who obeyed him ingited the unjust war in Iraq bringing fear and destruction meddling in your security, ruining your homelands, and killing the best of you. I ask Allah to accept them among the martyrs and hasten the healing of the sick and the wounded.

The residents have emigrated, unity has been destroyed, and unbelief has become more prominent and hypocrisy more arrogant. The foxes have become as lions and the wolves have been make shepherds, and he who makes the wolf a shepherd has done wrong.

And the only thing left for the free ones is the sharpened sword: if they are victorious they are happy and if they are killed they are martyrs.

So, o people of Iraq, you have girded yourselves and plunged into the fray of this violent war fearing no scowling weapon and you persevered in the battle and withstood the blows of the swords, just like your free and righteous forefathers who preferred death over unbelief, humiliation, and shame,

The falling of the sword on your faces is trifling but you would rather die than have them be slapped.

"We expose to the swords when we meet

Faces which are not exposed to slapping

And we refuse to be humiliated while there is in us a vein

We fight those who come to us with the sword"

You were steadfast in the war against Bush and his riffraff and were well-suited for that steadfastness and have much to your credit, for you are the children of wars, and many an oft-striking knight there is among you, and you are the people of armor and arms and stabbing and spears which you have inherited from your great forefathers, so stab every apostate and infidel.

The world has stood stunned amazed, delighted and wonder-struck watching America the tyrannical: watching its legions breaking apart under your strikes, its brigades being wiped out in front of your raids and its battalions being obliterated by the pounding of your squadrons. And the people have been most amazed as they see the champions of the Fedayee operations belittling their life for glory, striking with it all manner of ways and defying death with it as the armies meet, and rushing with their car bombs into the midst of the armored vehicles. And if the cause is known, amazement ceases; and the cause of the people's amazement is that they don't see what the Mujahedeen see in their sleep, and don't find what they find in their waking hours, The Mujahid might see what he wishes for: that he is a martyr entering Paradise, and so his reckoning differs from our reckoning, and his hour differs from our hour, so he sees the hour as if it is long days or nights, and he is unable to stand existence in this world in anticipation of the meeting. Thus, he advances with massive strength to aid the religion, and were the army of infidelity were to gather all its men and material, it would not be able to prevent him from his objective, for his zeal has been elevated over the mud and mire of this earth, and his soul has risen and yearns to reach heaven.

Young men who used to live a comfortable life, but abandoned it, and in a world of luxury but divorced it, and came to love paradise and passionately adore it. Young men in the prime of life who hadn't completed the years of their second decade, but their swords were sharp, their spears were strong and their minds were sober. Perhaps one of them found the wind of paradise, as it was found before Uhud, and so he no longer cared about any of the enemies, and he plunged into their midst without armor and didn't return, and split the polytheist's skull for him and removed from him his illusions.

So may Allah reward the Mujahedeen in the best way, and be generous to them, for they have raised the Ummah's head high - may Allah raise their standing - and have made it happy - may allah make them happy.

I see between the Euphrates and Barqab a striker walking the steeds above the skulls and the thrusts of chiefs whose hands seem to have known the spears before they knew their wrists He was protected from the enemies on every side by the swords of the children of Islam against every tyrant they are the masters of attack in the thick of battle and better than that is their competing in acts of generosity so very shy, except that in their competition they are less shy than the blades of the swords they find comfort in the quickest of deaths and life for them is cutting the necks

O Mujahedeen: your continuing in this blessed Jihad is fateful, and more awaits you around the corner. The entire world is following your magnificent victories, and it knows that its history has turned a new page with major changes, an d the map of the region will be redrawn at the hands of the Mujahedeen, with Allah's permission, and the artificial border's placed by the crusaders will be erased, for the state of truth and justice to eb established:

The greater state of Islam from the ocean to the ocean, Allah permitting. This quest is extremely dear, and infidelity on all its levels - international, regional and local - is combing its efforts to prevent the establishment of the state of Islam.

Your brothers have passed through a number of experiences which are not hidden from you, and we have witnessed them with your own eyes.

The enemy prevented the setting up of the state of the Muslims after the defeat of the Russians in Afghanistan. Then when the Taliban movement set up its state, the enemy blockaded it then fell upon it and toppled it.

And when the Sudan declared that it would begin to apply Islamic Sharia, the efforts of international infidelity were combined with those of the region's traitor states to put pressure on it until it went back on its promise. And this last role isn't far from you, for the governor of Riyadh again sought to convince the Sudanese president, this time to implement the demands of the Atheist United Nations to allow the entrance of crusader forces to Darfur.

This is a brazen occupation and only an infidel apostate seeks it or agrees to it. So it is the duty of the people of Islam in the Sudan and its environs, especially the Arabian peninsula to perform Jihad against the Crusader invaders and wage armed rebellion to remove those who let them in.

I mention these events to remind you of the full size and weight of the responsibility placed on your shoulders and the full magnitude of the conspiracies being hatched against you.

My brothers the Mujahdeen in Iraq, just as you are deserving of praise and commendation, your open hearts and good humbleness makes you deserving of admonition and advice. You have done well by carrying out one of the greatest of duties which few carry out: repelling the attacking enemy. But some of you have been tardy in performing another duty which is also among the greatest of duties: combing your ranks to make them one rank, as loved by Allah (the Glorious and Great) , who said "Truly Allah loves those who fight in His cause in ranks, as if they were a solid cemented structure." (61:4) and said, "and hold fast, all together, to the rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves, and remember the favor of Allah which he bestowed upon you, when you were enemies then He united your hearts, so that by His grace, you became as brothers." (3:103)

And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "observe the group and avoid factionalism, for Satan is with the loner and father away from the pair, whoever wants the comfort of the Garden must stay with the group, and he whose good deed makes him happy and bad deed displeases him is the believer."

And Ibn Masood (with whom Allah was pleased) said, "O people, observe obedience and the group, for it is the rope of Allah to which He ordered us to cling." And he also said. "the group is that you be on the truth, even if you be by yourself."

Sticks refuse to break when banded together but if they come apart they break one by one.

My brothers, the amirs of the Mujahid groups: the Muslims are waiting for you to gather under one banner to enforce the truth. And when you carry out this act of obedience, the Ummah will enjoy the birth year of the group. And how it longs for this year, and perhaps it will come soon at your hands.

So seek - may Allah have mercy on you - to carry out this great, lost obligation. And it is incumbent on the sincere people of knowledge and virtue to make every effort to unify the ranks of the Mujahedeen, and to not tire of walking the path which leads to that. I ask Allah to grant them resolve and success.

And then I have a subject on which I would like to share some advice with my brothers. Allah, the Most High, says, "Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most righteous of you." (49:13)

And the Messenger said, "The most honorable of the people is the most fearing of them of Allah" (Agreed upon). And Umar Bin Al-Khattab said to his son Abdullah when the latter inquired about the reason for his favoring of Usama Bin Zaid over him in gifts, "Usama was more beloved to the messenger of Allah than you were, and his father was more beloved to the messenger of Allah than your father was." So this is our balance and our trusting in people to shoulder the trust of invitation and Jihad increases in proportion to piety, not in proportion to kinship, lineage or who is affiliated to the organization.

Returning to our subject, the nature of man is to err, and the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "every one of Adam's children makes mistakes, and the best of those who make mistakes are the repenters." (Ahmad)

It is impossible for the people not to make mistakes, and when they happen differences break out between them. Major sins were committed in the best of eras.

Indeed, Quraysh were concerned about the woman who committed theft, and so they sent Usama Bin Zaid to intercede on her behalf. At that, the face of the messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) changed color and he said, "Do you intercede in one of Allah's punishments? And he also said "Those before you were ruined because when the nobleman among them stole, they would let him go, but when the weak among them stole, they would execute on him the punishment.

And by He is whose Hand is my soul, were Fatima, daughter of Mohammed, to steal, I would cut off her hand." Then he ordered the woman's hand to be cut off (Agreed upon)

So this great Hadeeth clarifies the path to destruction, which is through suspending the punishment. And the path to salvation is through establishing them. And with this rights are protected and the Muslim group is purified and kept intact. This, then, is the path of the believers.

As for those in whose hearts there is a disease, they look for the faults and lapses of the Mujahideen and exaggerate them, and perhaps allege that they are a consequence of the devotion of Jihad, which they label violence and terror. Allah suffices me against them. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "O community of those who have believed with their tongues but faith has not entered their heart, don't backbite the Muslims and don't search for their faults, for Allah searches for the fault of those who search for their faults, and whoever has his fault searched for by Allah, Allah unmasks him in his house."

The Mujahedeen are the sons of this ummah, just like the Hajj pilgrims and those who pray. And just like them, they are both correct and mistaken, and whoever is accused of violating one of Allah's Hudood is referred to the judiciary. And there is no room for conflict between the Muslims who truly surrender to the order of Allah (The most high) and the order of his messenger.

Every matter and every dispute is referred to Allah and his Messenger. Allah, the most high, says, and if you differ in anything, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you are believers in Allah and the last day. That is best and most commendable in the end."

Referring every dispute to Allah and the Messenger is the hallmark of faith, and refusing to do so is the hallmark of unbelief. It is obligatory to judge according to the law of Allah, and it is then that claims are sorted out and proof is presented. The Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Were the people to be given according to their claims, some people would claim the blood and wealth of men, but the burden of proof is on the claimant, and the oath is on the one who denies." (Ahmad) and he also said "If two men come to you to be judged, don't judge in favor of the first until the other has his say. Then you will know how to judge." (Tirmidhi)

It is incumbent on the men of knowledge, amirs of the mujahedeen, and sheikhs of the clans to make every effort to engender reconciliation between every two parties in dispute, and they must judge between them according to the law of Allah.

And the two disputing parties must respond to those sincere men of knowledge calling for reform but beware of suing one another before the evil judges and men of knowledge in general and those in the land of the Two Sanctuaries in particular, who forbid the Mujahideen from fighting the army and police of the traitors - like al-Alawi, al-Jafari, and al-Maliki - though they know that they are tools of the American occupation helping it to kill the people of Islam which is obvious apostasy on the part of the soldiers.

And worst of all is that the men of knowledge consider the idol-king of Riyadh to be the guardian of the Muslims' affairs and call on the Muslims to rally around him, although they know that he is the biggest promoter of the American-Zionist project in the region, and is one of those who called on it to invade Iraq.

These, "they are the enemies, so beware of them, Allah curse them, how they lie!" (63:4)

And before concluding, I advise myself and the Muslims in general and the brothers in the Al Qaeda organization everywhere in particular to beware of fanatical partiality to men, groups, and homelands. The truth is what Allah (most High) said and what the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, and everyone's statement is to be accepted or rejected except the Messenger's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): his order is to be accepted with pleasure.

So beware, beware lest your share of this issue be only a theoretical understanding which you contradict in your practical reality. You must judge everyone's statement by the Book of Allah the most high and the Sunnah of his Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and take what conforms to the truth and abandon what opposes it.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said "He who is killed under an ambiguous banner aiding partisanship or out of partisan anger is one killed in the Time of Ignorance." (Muslim) And he said "What is with these calls of the People of the Time of Ignorance? Abandon them, for they are offensive." (Agreed

upon)

So the brotherhood of faith is what ties the Muslims together, not belonging to the tribe, homeland or organization. And the interests of the group take priority over the interests of the individual, and the interests of the Muslim state take priority over the interests of the group, and the interests of the Ummah take priority over the interests of the state. These concepts must be practically implemented in our lives.

And I say: it behooves each and every one of the men of knowledge among the Muslims, the commanders of the Mujahideen and the leaders of the sincere groups to repeat to their brothers what Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq (with whom Allah was pleased) said: "Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger. If I were to disobey Allah and his Messenger, then there is no obedience to me due from you."

And he said, "O people, I am a follower and not an innovator, so if I do good, then help me, and if I go astray, then straighten me out."

And Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said, "One is only ever an Imam on this condition."

We repeat these statements to them to remove the exaggeration which has grown among some of them, through their exalting the orders of the group and the orders of its commanders. One of them will imagine that they of necessity are nothing but the truth, and so he deals with it in his practical reality as though they are infallible texts, even if he theoretically believes that infallibility is only for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

So he shows fanatical partiality to the order of his group and its leaders, and he doesn't comply with a verse of Allah's Book or a Hadeeth of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and this is clear misguidance.

Allah the Most High said, "So let those who go against his order beware lest a trial afflict them or a grievous punishment overtake them." (24:63) Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said, "That is, against the order of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), which is his path, methodology, way, Sunnah and Shari'ah. Statements and actions are to be weighed by his statements and deeds, and what agrees with them is accepted, and what differs with them is rejected, whoever it might be who said or did it, for it has been established in the two Sahihs and elsewhere that

the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever does a deed which is not from our affair is rejected."

That is, those who contradict the Shari'ah of the Messenger openly or secretly should fear and beware 'lest a trial afflict them' i.e., in their hearts, whether it be unbelief, hypocrisy or innovation 'or a grievous punishment overtake them' i.e. in this world, whether it be

killing, lashing or detention or the like." And even worse than that is when his group and its commanders embark on the greatest of cardinal sins, and order him to embark on them, like entering the polytheistic parliaments and legislatures and electing its members,

as both the voter and candidate have committed polytheistic deeds, and there is neither strength nor power except with Allah. I advise myself and my brothers to be pious and patient, for that is the provision and weapon of he who hopes for victory.

And I tell my brothers: beware of your enemies, especially the hypocrites who infiltrate your ranks to stir up strife among the Mujahid groups, and refer such people to the judiciary. And you must check and verify and avert the Hudood through doubts. You must protect your secrets and excel in your actions, for among the things which sadden the Muslims and delight the unbelievers is the hindering of some combat operations against the enemy because of negligence in any of the stages of preparation for the operation, whether it be reconnaissance of the target, training, integrity and suitability of

weapons and ammunition, quality of the explosive device or other such arrangements. And when you lay a mine, do it right, and don't leave so much as one wounded American soldier or spy. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Allah loves it when one of you performs and action and excels in it." (al-Bayhaqi)

And he said, "Seek help in fulfilling needs by keeping them secret." (al-Bayhaqi) And beware, beware of treachery, for it is sin, shame and dishonor, and the free man doesn't commit treachery. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "For every treacherous one there is a flag on the Day of Resurrection which will be raised for him in proportion to his treachery. And there is no treachery greater than the treachery of an Amir of the people." (Muslim)

In closing, I tell our people in Iraq, the patient ones garrisoned on the first line of defense of the religion and sanctities of the Muslims: the malice has increased, and the darkness has become pitch-black, and with the likes of you, nations reinforce themselves and climb summits. The Ummah had reserved you for the darkest of nights, because you are their lions who don't care. And you are suited for them and the most deserving of the people for them, and you have driven away their darkness with the glitter of your swords,

and have removed their gloom with your fine stances, for your souls are defiant like the souls of Khalid and 'Ali, with pride and haughtiness of the first degree.

O our free and defiant clans, O my people and family, your morals and manners remind us of the first generation: honesty and generosity; courage and resolve; compliance with covenants and fulfillment of promises; you fight the oppressor and defend the oppressed, even if that means certain death.

When the crier cries, "Come to Jihad," you welcome death with war material, and you bid each other a final farewell, and you are a people who avoid dishonor.

It is as if generosity is born with them
And they are not excused by youth or old age

A people whose definition of manhood

Is piercing the throats of the warriors, not puberty

Your faith refused to let you allow the Roman infidels drag their feet over the land of Iraq, and you refused to abandon the homeland to the unbelievers, or allow their tanks to roar between the Tigris and Euphrates, and so you resolved to fight them until death, and whoever is eager to die is blessed with life. You massacred the enemy and applied yourself to fighting them, until they became prisoners of their bases and the Green Zone, fearing danger.

So continue to make the soldiers of unbelief drink from the bitter cup of death, and

leave not one of them on the soil of Iraq.

O our free and defiant clans: you attack and fight to preserve the creed and Ummah, so preserve the trust, and for he who has stored up strength for a severe day, now is the time, and the free man will not give up his trust.

O lions of the war; O hawks high in the sky: the backs of horses were your cradles, and on them you inherited defiance.

Listen to what 'Aasha Qais said in regard to the loyalty and defiance of your free ancestors on the day of Dhi Qaar. They refused lowliness and humiliation, and refused to surrender the daughters of al-Nu'man to Khosrow, even if that led to their death and eradication, one and all, and so they were resolute and fought.

So what about you, who Allah has favored with Islam and perfected your morals and manners, something with He favored your forefathers before, and so they conquered Iraq from the top of the Euphrates to its bottom, and defeated Khosrow and his allies. Said al-'Aasha: [bin Laden speaking; no subtitles 28:27-29:18]

So O our beloved and majestic clans, and I mention specifically our people in Diyala who these days are confronting the campaign of unbelief and treason: standing in the shade of swords, despite the deaths that it entails, is a magnificent reserve today, which will

benefit you tomorrow on the Day of Reckoning.

And it is the requirement of piety and devoutness, and worldly glory is its consequence, so work towards that Day, and the one who is patient wins, and caution doesn't ward off destiny, and facing death is better than turning one's back on it, and being stabbed in the throat is more honorable than being stabbed in the back. And it is not on our heels that our wounds bleed

But it is on our feet that blood drips

So where are those who prefer the religion to the lives of themselves and their children?

Where are the people of Tawheed and those who topple the banner of unbelief and polytheism?

Where are those who find torture to be pleasant and don't fear the blows? Where

are those who find difficulty to be easy and bitterness to be sweet, because they are certain that the fire of Hell is much hotter? Where are those who go out to fight the Romans, as on the day of Tabuk?

Where are those who pledge to fight to the death, as on the day of Yarmuk? Where are the soldiers of the Levant and the reinforcements of Yemen? Where are the knights of the Quiver (Egypt) and the lions of the Hijaz and al-Yamamah? Come and aid your brothers in Mesopotamia and relieve them by coordinating with them by way of dependable guides.

O people of Iraq, O riders of the unfettered steeds and bearers of the white swords, O guardians of Islam, O eminent ones of the Turks, Kurds and Arabs: the affair of unbelief has been shaken and confused, and the time of his fleeing is nigh, so increase his confusion and disarray, and strike some more at his neck and hit it with the bone-cutting sword.

The bearer of the banner of the Cross has increased his soldiers, and claimed that he will defeat the soldiers of faith, so be resolute - may Allah be merciful to you - and remember Him much, for he is watching you. So be faithful in battle, and let Him see from you that which pleases Him and angers the enemies. Don't compromise or disgrace the Muslims today - may Allah conceal your faults and remove your fear. O my people: be severe and serious, for death is a must - may I and my father and grandfather be your ransom.

O Allah, grant us patience and steady our feet and grant us victory over the unbelieving people.

O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Mover of the clouds and Defeater of the confederates: defeat them and grant us victory over them.

O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Mover of the clouds and Defeater of the confederates: defeat them and grant us victory over them.

O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Mover of the clouds and Defeater of the confederates: defeat them and grant us victory over them.

O Allah, protect us with Islam when we stand, protect us with Islam when we sit, and protect us with Islam when we sleep, and don't allow the enemies and envious ones to gloat at our misfortune.

O Allah, help us against the ones who wronged us until You show us in him our revenge. O Allah, this is a day among Your days, so turn the hearts and heads of the youth of Islam towards Jihad in your path. O Allah, strengthen their hearts, steady their feet, guide their fire and bring them together. O Allah, send down your aid on your slaves the Mujahideen, and bring relief to the captives and distressed everywhere, in Palestine, Iraq, the Land of the Two Sanctuaries, Afghanistan, Kashmir, the Philippines, Somalia, Chechnya, the Islamic Maghreb, America, India and Pakistan.

You are able to do all things. O Allah, make good for us our religion in which is the safeguarding of our affair, and make good for us our worldly life in which is our sustenance, and make good for us our hereafter in which is our return, and make this life for us full of every good thing, and make death a rest from every evil thing. Our Lord, give us in this world good, and in the hereafter good, and save us from the punishment of the Fire. And send prayers and peace, O Allah, on our Prophet Muhammad and on all his family and Companions.

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