New bid Laden Tape UPDATED Content Released

Well, Osama bin Hidin' is at it again.

Fox News is reporting that a "new" al Qaeda tape will be released at any time now, complete with bin Laden's message for the anniversary of 9-11.

The warning was posted Sept. 2 on a site frequented by radical groups and said in part that "there will be a special gift coming on the day of the blessed invasion of Manhattan."

Federal officials told FOX News they are trying to determine if it might be a specific warning or just part of broad chatter that has been heard during the last few months.

Postings talking about "gifts" have been seen before in the days leading up to the anniversary of Sept. 11.

The still photos floating around show a much more sickly-looking bin Laden, bags under his eyes, with a dyed-black beard. His clothing and the backdrop of the video, look the same as the video he released in October of 2004, the last known "true" bin Laden message.

It will take some time to determine if this is the real deal or not.

Photo courtesy of The Blotter.

***UPDATED***: He takes propaganda to a whole new level. Some highlights, via ABC News:

"People of America:  the world is following your news in regards to your invasion of Iraq, for people have recently come to know that, after several years of tragedies of this war, the vast majority of you want it stopped.  Thus, you elected the Democratic Party for this purpose, but the Democrats haven't made a move worth mentioning.  On the contrary, they continue to agree to the spending of tens of billions to continue the killing and war there."

[snip]

According to the transcript, bin Laden says there are two ways to end the war:

"The first is from our side, and it is to continue to escalate the killing and fighting against you."

The second is to do away with the American democratic system of government.  "It has now become clear to you and the entire world the impotence of the democratic system and how it plays with the interests of the peoples and their blood by sacrificing soldiers and populations to achieve the interests of the major corporations."

Ah, OK. All we have to do is renounce our system of government. Yup, we'll get right on that.

And then this:

He also speaks to recent issues grabbing headlines in the United States, referring to "the reeling of many of you under the burden of interest-related debts, insane taxes and real estate mortgages; global warming and its woes..."

"To conclude," bin Laden says, "I invite you to embrace Islam."  He goes on to say:  "There are no taxes in Islam, but rather there is a limited Zakaat [alms] totaling 2.5 percent."

Yup, convert to Islam, live in a cave, and your tax rate and mortgage will be lower. You'll also be safe from global warming, and the large private jet Mr. Green Al Gore flies all over the world.

Anyway, he seems to be still alive and apparently has satellite to watch the cable news. He references some recent interviews of American soldiers, via the MSM, and mentions the anniversary of Hiroshima on August 6th. He berates the Democrats for their failure to end the war, but only fools believed they would really do that if they were elected to office.

All in all, it's the same old song and dance. Nothing specific, apparently, just trying to jangle our nerves a bit. But let's keep our eyes open anyway.

Constant vigilance!

Hot Air has video and the transcript.

CBS News says he's bin Hidin' in the Chitral district of northern Pakistan. Damn, let's send Obama in to get him!