Security
Terrorism: Bin Laden seeking new relevance, say experts
London/Rome, 20 March (AKI) - Osama bin Laden's latest threat against the European Union was a desperate bid for relevance, terrorism experts said on Thursday.
Bob Ayers, associate fellow for international security at Chatham House in London, told Adnkronos International (AKI) that bin Laden had chosen the anniversary of the US invasion in Iraq to issue his message.
"I don't think the threat to European countries has changed," Ayers told AKI. "He is reminding us he is still a threat."
Osama bin Laden overnight pledged revenge against the "wise men" of the European Union for "the most dangerous" re-publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.
In his message he condemned the cartoons, published in a Danish newspaper, and issued threats against the European Union in a new audio message.
"What we are seeing is another message from bin Laden on what he believes to be a significant day, the start of the war in Iraq, while he may be sulking in a hole in Bora Bora," Ayers told AKI.
Rome-based al-Qaeda expert Lorenzo Vidino said bin Laden was also seeking renewed relevance.
"This last message of bin Laden is a little strange," Vidino told AKI. "It almost seems to be an attempt by a leader, who has been somewhat sidelined by recent events, to be relevant once again."
Vidino, an international Islamic terrorism expert, said bin Laden's message would have limited impact.
The five-minute audio message showed a still image of bin Laden aiming a rifle and appeared on an Islamist website that has carried messages by al-Qaeda in the past.
The voice believed to be that of the al-Qaeda leader also mentions a new crusade in which he claims Pope Benedict XVI is involved.
"Then came your publishing of these drawings, which came in the framework of a new crusade in which the Pope of the Vatican has played a large, lengthy role," said the recording.
Elmar Thevessen, a German terrorism expert, said bin Laden was seeking to sabotage dialogue between Pope Benedict XVI and moderate Muslims.
"In recent times the pope has neither said nor done anything to provoke any particular irritation on the part of Islam," Thevessen told AKI.
Thevessen also said the threats were too empty and diffuse to suggest there was any preparation underway for any concrete or spectacular action in Europe or directed at the Vatican.
A series of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, first appeared in Danish daily Jyllands Posten two years ago and were republished in scores of papers around the world.
The issue turned explosive in the Muslim world and many people died in violent protests.
In mid-February this year, Danish newspapers republished a cartoon showing the prophet Mohammad wearing a turban in the shape of a bomb, after Danish police arrested five people in connection with a planned attack on the cartoonist responsible for the drawings.
In the message, bin Laden said he felt "saddened" by the European Union and its bombing of villages, and he also criticised the policies of US president George W. Bush.
Bob Ayers, associate fellow for international security at Chatham House in London, told Adnkronos International (AKI) that bin Laden had chosen the anniversary of the US invasion in Iraq to issue his message.
"I don't think the threat to European countries has changed," Ayers told AKI. "He is reminding us he is still a threat."
Osama bin Laden overnight pledged revenge against the "wise men" of the European Union for "the most dangerous" re-publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.
In his message he condemned the cartoons, published in a Danish newspaper, and issued threats against the European Union in a new audio message.
"What we are seeing is another message from bin Laden on what he believes to be a significant day, the start of the war in Iraq, while he may be sulking in a hole in Bora Bora," Ayers told AKI.
Rome-based al-Qaeda expert Lorenzo Vidino said bin Laden was also seeking renewed relevance.
"This last message of bin Laden is a little strange," Vidino told AKI. "It almost seems to be an attempt by a leader, who has been somewhat sidelined by recent events, to be relevant once again."
Vidino, an international Islamic terrorism expert, said bin Laden's message would have limited impact.
The five-minute audio message showed a still image of bin Laden aiming a rifle and appeared on an Islamist website that has carried messages by al-Qaeda in the past.
The voice believed to be that of the al-Qaeda leader also mentions a new crusade in which he claims Pope Benedict XVI is involved.
"Then came your publishing of these drawings, which came in the framework of a new crusade in which the Pope of the Vatican has played a large, lengthy role," said the recording.
Elmar Thevessen, a German terrorism expert, said bin Laden was seeking to sabotage dialogue between Pope Benedict XVI and moderate Muslims.
"In recent times the pope has neither said nor done anything to provoke any particular irritation on the part of Islam," Thevessen told AKI.
Thevessen also said the threats were too empty and diffuse to suggest there was any preparation underway for any concrete or spectacular action in Europe or directed at the Vatican.
A series of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, first appeared in Danish daily Jyllands Posten two years ago and were republished in scores of papers around the world.
The issue turned explosive in the Muslim world and many people died in violent protests.
In mid-February this year, Danish newspapers republished a cartoon showing the prophet Mohammad wearing a turban in the shape of a bomb, after Danish police arrested five people in connection with a planned attack on the cartoonist responsible for the drawings.
In the message, bin Laden said he felt "saddened" by the European Union and its bombing of villages, and he also criticised the policies of US president George W. Bush.
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