Bin Laden Threatens Americans in New Tape

Al-Qaeda Leader Blames Obama for Swat Valley Crackdown

A new audio tape was released by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden today. On the tape, the elusive terrorist condemned US President Barack Obama, blaming him for the bloodshed and humanitarian disaster in Pakistan’s Swat Valley.

Bin Laden said the president is “walking the same road of his predecessors to build enmity against Muslims and increasing the number of fighters, and establishing more lasting wars.” He added that the US pressure that led to the Swat Valley offensive had generated “new seeds of hatred and revenge against America.”

The tape is the first public assessment of the Obama Administration’s policy made by the reclusive bin Laden. It is believed that the recording may be several weeks old, and was made at the peak of the Swat Valley offensive.

The offensive, which came after public US opposition to a peace deal between the Pakistani government and several Taliban-styled groups, drove millions of civilians from their homes and laid waste to what was at one time a popular tourist destination.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.