2004 Osama bin Laden video
| Industry | Broadcasting, Media |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 1, 1996 in Doha, Qatar |
| Headquarters | Doha , Qatar |
| Products | Television news, documentaries, video broadcasts |
| Website | www |
On October 29, 2004, at 21:00 UTC, Al Jazeera aired segments from a videotape featuring Osama bin Laden addressing the American public. In this footage, he claims responsibility for the September 11 attacks, criticizes the Bush administration's reaction, and portrays the attacks as acts of retaliation and deterrence inspired by witnessing devastation during the Lebanese Civil War in 1982. Experts suggested that the timing of this release was intended to impact the 2004 U.S. presidential election, which took place four days later.
Content
The recording lasts approximately 18 minutes, with bin Laden speaking for 14 minutes and 39 seconds.[1] On November 1, 2004, Al-Jazeera published a complete transcript.[2]
Bin Laden is shown dressed in a turban and white robe accented with a golden cloak, positioned against a simple brown backdrop while reading from notes on a lectern. He gestures with both hands, dispelling rumors about any injury, and appears older with more gray hair compared to earlier videos. Speaking in Arabic but addressing citizens of the United States, he warns that "the best way to avoid another Manhattan" (referring to the September 11 attacks) is to cease threatening Muslim countries such as Palestine and Lebanon.
He declares his aim to financially exhaust the U.S., stating:
“It is easy for us to provoke this administration. All it takes is sending two mujahidin eastward to plant a flag bearing al-Qaeda’s name, which will prompt generals to react and cause America human, economic, and political setbacks. We have extensive experience employing guerrilla warfare and attrition tactics against superpowers; alongside the Afghan mujahideen, we drained Russia over ten years until it went bankrupt and withdrew in defeat.”
Bin Laden challenges President Bush’s assertion that Islamic extremists "hate freedom," questioning: "If Bush claims we hate freedom, why haven’t we attacked Sweden? Those who despise freedom do not possess spirits like those of the 19."[2]
He accuses Bush of deceiving Americans for three years: "As we enter the fourth year after September 11, Bush continues to mislead you and conceal the truth; thus, there remain reasons to repeat what occurred." He also condemns Bush’s conduct on the day of the attacks: "We never imagined that the Commander-in-Chief would abandon 50,000 people inside the twin towers during their greatest hour of need—because he prioritized talking to a little girl about goats."[2]
Immediate reactions
George W. Bush responded:
“Let me be absolutely clear: Americans will neither be intimidated nor swayed by enemies of our nation. I am confident that Senator Kerry shares this view. We are engaged in a war against these terrorists, and I am certain we will succeed.”[1]
Democratic candidate Senator John Kerry stated:
“Let me make this perfectly clear: as Americans, we stand united in our resolve to pursue and eliminate Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network. They are barbarians, and I will stop at nothing to capture or kill them wherever they may be.”[1]
Intelligence response
While Al Jazeera chose not to reveal the source during the broadcast of the footage, confirmation from U.S. intelligence officials identified the individual speaking as bin Laden. The mention of 2004 presidential contender John Kerry in the message verified that bin Laden was alive at least by mid-2004, a fact that had been previously uncertain.
Agence France-Presse reported that U.S. diplomatic representatives stationed in Qatar obtained a copy of the video prior to its airing on Al Jazeera and made unsuccessful efforts to block its transmission. The United States State Department formally requested that Qatar's authorities discourage Al Jazeera from broadcasting the tape.
American intelligence agencies scrutinized the video for any hidden communications; however, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan indicated there were no intentions to elevate the U.S. terrorism alert level, as the tape did not contain any explicit threats.
Similar views were shared by India's government analyst Bahukutumbi Raman, who also expressed skepticism regarding the timing and purpose of the release.
Public response
Following the release of the 2004 tape, President Bush experienced a rise in approval ratings, achieving a six-point advantage over Kerry in the initial opinion poll conducted after the broadcast. Nonetheless, among voters who regarded the tape as "very important," Kerry maintained a lead with 53% compared to Bush's 47%, according to CNN's exit polling data.
See also
- Videos and audio recordings of Osama bin Laden
- 2007 Osama bin Laden video
- October surprise
- The One Percent Doctrine
Sources
- Full Arabic transcript of Osama bin Laden's 2004 videotape on Al-Jazeera
- Complete English translation of Osama bin Laden's 2004 videotape on Al-Jazeera
- Michael, Maggie. Bin Laden addresses U.S. public, claims responsibility for September 11 attacks. The Associated Press. October 29, 2004.
- Selected excerpts from BBC News. October 29, 2004.