>By the way, this mailing list (a swell bunch of lefty posters, too) is
>the busiest I've ever seen. Have you thought of creating a public
>newsgroup for this subject, say alt.politics.lbo? Creating an alt.
>group is pretty easy; I've done it once myself. The advantage would be,
>the whole world could read the discussions here; the disadvantage is
>that, probably, some right-wing loonies would occassionally spam us with
>nonsense and insults. Just a thought.
Maybe I've read too much alt.politics.socialism.trotsky, but newsgroups depress the hell out of me. The volume is high, I know, but most of it is pretty damn good, so I can't think of anything I'd sacrifice for brevity's sake.
Here's the fatwa; sorry for the volume for those not interested.
Doug
----
Summary/Review of Reports Concerning Threats by Osama Bin Laden to Conduct Terrorist Operations Against the United States and/or her Allies - 23 Feb 98 to 16 Jun 98 (includes original February "fatwa")
ORIGINAL REPORT -- FATWA: "KILL AMERICANS EVERYWHERE "
Saudi Arabia: Bin-Ladin, Others Sign Fatwa To 'Kill Americans' Everywhere
London Al-Quds al-'Arabi in Arabic -- 23 Feb 98, Page 1
"Bin-Ladin, al-Zawahiri, Rifa'i Taha Issue Fatwa To 'Kill Americans Everywhere' in Retaliation for Threats To Strike Iraq; Saddam-Annan Meeting Produces Agreement, Washington Voices Reservations Pending Details"
London, Amman, Washington, Al-Quds al- 'Arabi -- [passage omitted on reports of agreement reached during Annan-Saddam meeting] At another level, a number of fundamentalist groups leaders have issued a statement in which they issued a fatwa to "kill the Americans, civilians and military," in retaliation for any U.S. attack on Iraq. The text of the fatwa -- contained in a statement faxed to Al- Quds al-'Arabi and signed by Shaykh Usamah Bin-Muhammad Bin-Ladin (the prominent Saudi oppositionist); Ayman al-Zawahiri, amir of the Jihad Group in Egypt; Abu-Yasir Rifa'i Ahmad Taha, a leader of the [Egyptian] Islamic Group; Shaykh Mir Hamzah, secretary of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Pakistan; and Fazlul Rahman, amir of the Jihad Movement in Bangladesh -- says that the ruling to kill the Americans and their allies, civilians and military, is an individual duty [fard 'ayn] on every Muslim who can do so in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque [Mecca] from their grip, and in order that their armies move out of all the land of Islam defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim in compliance with the words of Almighty God "Fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together." Justifying the call to kill U.S. civilians and military men, the statement said that "U.S. aggression is affecting Muslim civilians, not just the military." [Al-Quds al-'Arabi publishes the text of the fatwa on another page]
***** Saudi Arabia Text of Fatwa Urging Jihad Against Americans London Al-Quds al-'Arabi in Arabic -- 23 Feb 98, Page 3 "Text of World Islamic Front's Statement Urging Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders" -- Al-Quds al-'Arabi headline; in a front-page report, Al- Quds al-'Arabi says that the statement was "faxed to Al- Quds al-'Arabi and signed by Shaykh Usamah Bin-Muhammad Bin-Ladin (the prominent Saudi oppositionist); Ayman al-Zawahiri, amir of the Jihad Group in Egypt; Abu- Yasir Rifa'i Ahmad Taha, a leader of the [Egyptian] Islamic Group; Shaykh Mir Hamzah, secretary of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Pakistan; and Fazlul Rahman, amir of the Jihad Movement in Bangladesh" Praise be to God, who revealed the Book, controls the clouds, defeats factionalism, and says in His Book"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)"; and peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad Bin-'Abdallah, who said I have been sent with the sword between my hands to ensure that no one but God is worshipped, God who put my livelihood under the shadow of my spear and who inflicts humiliation and scorn on those who disobey my orders. The Arabian Peninsula has never -- since God made it flat, created its desert, and encircled it with seas -- been stormed by any forces like the crusader armies spreading in it like locusts, eating its riches and wiping out its plantations. All this is happening at a time in which nations are attacking Muslims like people fighting over a plate of food. In the light of the grave situation and the lack of support, we and you are obliged to discuss current events, and we should all agree on how to settle the matter. No one argues today about three facts that are known to everyone; we will list them, in order to remind everyone First, for over seven years the United States has been occupying the lands of Islam in the holiest of places, the Arabian Peninsula, plundering its riches, dictating to its rulers, humiliating its people, terrorizing its neighbors, and turning its bases in the Peninsula into a spearhead through which to fight the neighboring Muslim peoples. If some people have in the past argued about the fact of the occupation, all the people of the Peninsula have now acknowledged it. The best proof of this is the Americans' continuing aggression against the Iraqi people using the Peninsula as a staging post, even though all its rulers are against their territories being used to that end, but they are helpless. Second, despite the great devastation inflicted on the Iraqi people by the crusader-Zionist alliance, and despite the huge number of those killed, which has exceeded 1 million... despite all this, the Americans are once against trying to repeat the horrific massacres, as though they are not content with the protracted blockade imposed after the ferocious war or the fragmentation and devastation. So here they come to annihilate what is left of this people and to humiliate their Muslim neighbors. Third, if the Americans' aims behind these wars are religious and economic, the aim is also to serve the Jews' petty state and divert attention from its occupation of Jerusalem and murder of Muslims there. The best proof of this is their eagerness to destroy Iraq, the strongest neighboring Arab state, and their endeavor to fragment all the states of the region such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Sudan into paper statelets and through their disunion and weakness to guarantee Israel's survival and the continuation of the brutal crusade occupation of the Peninsula. All these crimes and sins committed by the Americans are a clear declaration of war on God, his messenger, and Muslims. And ulema have throughout Islamic history unanimously agreed that the jihad is an individual duty if the enemy destroys the Muslim countries. This was revealed by Imam Bin-Qadamah in "Al- Mughni," Imam al-Kisa'i in "Al- Bada'i," al-Qurtubi in his interpretation, and the shaykh of al-Islam [not further identified] in his books, where he said "As for the fighting to repulse [an enemy], it is aimed at defending sanctity and religion, and it is a duty as agreed [by the ulema]. Nothing is more sacred than belief except repulsing an enemy who is attacking religion and life." On that basis, and in compliance with God's order, we issue the following fatwa to all Muslims The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies -- civilians and military -- is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque [Mecca] from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim. This is in accordance with the words of Almighty God, "and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together," and "fight them until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God." This is in addition to the words of Almighty God "And why should ye not fight in the cause of God and of those who, being weak, are ill- treated (and oppressed) -- women and children, whose cry is 'Our Lord, rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will help!'" We -- with God's help -- call on every Muslim who believes in God and wishes to be rewarded to comply with God's order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it. We also call on Muslim ulema, leaders, youths, and soldiers to launch the raid on Satan's U.S. troops and the devil's supporters allying with them, and to displace those who are behind them so that they may learn a lesson. Almighty God said "O ye who believe, give your response to God and His Apostle, when He calleth you to that which will give you life. And know that God cometh between a man and his heart, and that it is He to whom ye shall all be gathered." Almighty God also says "O ye who believe, what is the matter with you, that when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of God, ye cling so heavily to the earth! Do ye prefer the life of this world to the hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him ye would not harm in the least. For God hath power over all things." Almighty God also says "So lose no heart, nor fall into despair. For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in faith."
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Editor's Note on the word "fatwa": it means judgement Mr. Bin Laden has been involved in the declaration several "fatwas." He allegedly uses this these fatwas to justify his "holy war" or "Jihad" against America and her allies. According to the Islamic science called "Usul al-fiqh" (Principles of Jurisprudence), a fatwa is binding when these four conditions are satisfied: 1) It is in line with relevant legal proofs, deducted from Koranic verses and hadiths; 2) It is issued by a person (or a board) having due knowledge and sincerity of heart; 3) It is free from individual opportunism, and not depending on political servitude; 4) It is adequate with the needs of the contemporary world.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Excerpted from: ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT-ERRI Risk Assessment Services-Thursday, June 11, 1998 Vol. 4 - 162 LEAD FOCUS OSAMA BIN LADEN THREATENS THE U.S. ON AMERICAN TELEVISION By Steve Macko, ERRI Risk Analyst WASHINGTON (EmergencyNet News) - A terrorist financier wanted by Saudi Arabian and U.S. authorities for at least two bombings appeared on U.S. network television on Wednesday and challenged the U.S. military to try to capture him. Appearing on ABC News' "World News Tonight" and later on "Nightline," Osama bin Laden spoke from what it said was a heavily-armed camp somewhere inside Afghanistan, which has given refuge to the stateless Saudi Arabian and a group of his followers. The slight and bearded bin Laden appeared in a poorly-lit tent and said he was ready if U.S. forces attempted to track him down and arrest him. The terrorist challenged, "Whether they try or not, we have seen in the last decade the decline of the American government and the weakness of the American soldier." Bin Laden has vowed to wage a jihad or holy war against U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia because of U.S. support for Israel. He broadened his threat to include all Americans, military and civilian, in the Middle East. He said, "We do not differentiate between those dressed in military uniforms and civilians. They are all targets in this fatwa (a religious decree) ... we must use such punishment to keep your evil away from Moslems, Moslem women and children." The U.S. State Department has identified bin Laden as a major world sponsor of Islamic extremism. He is believed to have been a major financier of the two terrorist bombings in Saudi Arabia. The terrorist said, "We predict a black day for America." U.S. National Security Advisor Sandy Berger told ABC News in their report, "Osama bin Laden may be the most dangerous non-state terrorist in the world."
------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT-ERRI Risk Assessment Services-Tuesday, June 16, 1998 Vol. 4 - 167 U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT NEWS N.AFRICA-MIDDLE EAST-S.ASIA WASHINGTON (EmergencyNet News) - On 12 June, the U.S. Department of State issued the following Public Announcement in regards to the Middle East and South Asia: "In a recent interview with an American news organization, terrorist financier Osama Bin Laden reiterated his threats against the U.S. In an apparent reference to Americans, he said that he did not distinguish between military and civilians -- both groups are targets. In a May 26 press conference, Bin Laden implied that some type of terrorist action could be mounted within the next several weeks. The U.S. continues to receive information from other sources which indicates planning for an attack against Americans in the Persian Gulf (also referred to as the Arabian Gulf). We take these threats seriously and the U.S. is increasing security at many U.S. Government facilities in the Middle East and South Asia. Therefore, the Department of State believes it useful to remind Americans in the region to maintain a high level of vigilance and alertness and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness and lessen their vulnerability. Americans should try to maintain a low profile, reduce travel in the region where possible, vary routes and times for all required travel, and treat mail from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. This Public Announcement replaces the June 2 Public Announcement on the Middle East and South Asia and expires August 31, 1998."
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Selected EmergencyNet News Reports On-Line July 25, 1997 - Vol. 3, No. 206 -- Osama Bin Laden Bides His Time; To Strike The U.S. Again? February 21, 1997 - Vol. 3, No. 052 -- Saudi Dissident and Fundamentalist Supporter Threatens U.S.
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