Anonymous Comrade writes: "Possible Bin Laden "Farewell Message" Posted Online

URL: http://www.ict.org.il/spotlight/det.cfm?id=716

December 9, 2001

A site run by supporters of Osama bin Laden published a letter this
morning, believed by some to be a message of farewell from bin Laden
to his followers. The letter, entitled "Usama bin Laden's Message for
the Youth of the Muslim Ummah" was posted online today on azzam.com, a
known outlet for statements issued by bin Laden's al-Qaida
organization.

The message, addressed to young Muslims, harks back to the defeat of
the USSR in Afghanistan by Muslim fighters, and calls upon Muslims to
rally to the cause of Islam against the only remaining superpower.
However, the letter continues, "We should realise that this life is
temporary and eventually we have to return to Allah...."

Reuven Paz, ICT's Islamic affairs specialist, pointed out that the
message is out of keeping with the Saudi militant's usual style. "This
is very different from his usual language. What's lacking is his
self-confidence--his agressiveness," he said.

"This message is unusually somber and subdued; it has the feel of some
sort of 'last will and testament' or farewell message." While Paz
cautioned that there is no guarantee of the statement's authenticity,
"the general tone is still bin Laden's."

Azzam Publications is well known for its dissemination of bin Laden's
declarations. It would be inconsistent with the organization's
reputation as a mouthpiece for al-Qaida for it to publish any
statement in bin Laden's name that did not have his sanction and
support.

It is unclear how the message was relayed to the web publishers at
Azzam Publications. Paz said that the message could have been
prewritten, with instructions to publish it at a prearranged time.
However, he said that the somber tone of the message would seem to
point to its being fairly current. Previous messages are believed to
have been sent by email from internet cafes in Pakistan, though
whether al-Qaida's agents are currently able to slip across the border
into Pakistan is not known.

According to Reuters news agency, bin Laden is believed to be staging
a defiant stand in the Afghan mountains as the Taliban surrendered its
last stronghold. A spokesman for the Northern Alliance was quoted as
saying that bin Laden was leading the defense of his mountain hideouts
in person, with about 1,000 loyal fighters from his al-Qaida
organization.

Below is the full text of bin Laden's statement:

09 December 2001

Usama Bin Laden's Message for the Youth of the Muslim Ummah

KANDAHAR (Islam News): What follows is the message which Usama Bin
Laden conveyed to the youth of the Muslim Ummah.

"My beloved brothers in Islam,

Assalamu-alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

We have been struggling right from our youth; we sacrificed our homes,
families and all the luxuries of this worldly life in the path of
Allah (we ask Allah to accept our efforts). In our youth, we fought
with and defeated the (former) USSR (with the help of Allah), a world
super power at the time, and now we are fighting the USA. We have
never let the Muslim Ummah down.

We should realise that this life is temporary and eventually we have
to return to Allah (SWT), the lord of the Heavens and the earth.

"Truly To Allah we belong and truly, to Allah we shall return."

Muslims are being humiliated, tortured and ruthlessly killed all over
the world and it is time to fight these satanic forces with the utmost
strength and power. Today, the whole of the Muslim Ummah is
dependening (after Allah) upon the Muslim youth, hoping that they
would never let them down.

The Jihad (fighting in the way of Allah) has become Fard-Ain
(obligatory) upon each and every Muslim. We advise the Muslim youth
not to fall victim to the words of some scholars who are misleading
the Ummah by stating that Jihad is still Fard-Kifayah. The time has
come when all the Muslims of the world, especially the youth, should
unite and soar against Kufr and continue Jihad till these forces are
crushed to nought, all the anti-Islamic forces are wiped off from the
face of this Earth and Islam takes over the whole world and all the
other false religions."

"And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and
polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion
(worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world].
But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then
certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do."
[Surah Al-Anfal]

We ask Allah (SWT) to rank us amongst His Truthful slaves.

Wassalamu-alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

Your brother,

Usama Bin Laden

Source: www.azzam.com"