Bin Laden justifies attacks on West

Al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden today issued an ominous new statement on Al-Jazeera television, appearing to justify attacks on civilians in the West.

“I say that this war is the joint responsibility of the people and the governments.

“While the war continues, the people renew their allegiance to their rulers and politicians and continue to send their sons to our countries to fight us,” bin Laden said in an audio tape.

The al-Qaida chief, who last issued a message via the satellite television broadcaster on January 19, said the people of Western countries were equally responsible with their governments for what he called “a Zionist (Jewish) crusaders (Christian) war on Islam.”

He claimed the Western cut off of funds to the Palestinian Hamas-led government proved the US and Europe were at war with all Islamic people.

“The blockade which the West is imposing on the government of Hamas proves that there is a Zionist crusaders war on Islam,” he said.

The January 19 tape was posted in full on a website a month after it was first aired and included a vow by the terrorist leader never to be captured alive.

“I have sworn to only live free. Even if I find bitter the taste of death, I don’t want to die humiliated or deceived,” bin Laden said, in the 11-minute, 26-second tape.

In that message, bin Laden offered the US a long-term truce but also said his al-Qaida terror network would soon launch a fresh attack on American soil.