Bin Laden: Bush dragged the USA into a quagmire in Iraq

Osama bin Laden said in a video posted on an Internet site, partly aired by &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2001/12/27/24576.html ' target=_blank>Al Jazeera TV last week, that Bush has dragged his country into a quagmire in Iraq. He, moreover, warned of retaliation for Iraqi deaths.

As the U.S. is about to announce the results of its presidential elections, a video was posted on an internet site, in which Bin Laden said that Bush had ignored advice against "an unjustified war on Iraq for which there would be no end."

The recently released video marks &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/2001/12/14/23594.html ' target=_blank>Bin Laden's first direct threat against the United States over killing the Iraqi people.

"The black gold (oil) blinded him and he put his personal interests above the general interests of America so the war took place, many died, American money was squandered and Bush was dragged into a quagmire in Iraq which threatens his future," Bin Laden said in the video, reports Al-Jazeera.

Accusing America of oppressing and killing &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2003/04/10/45933.html ' target=_blank>Arabs, bin Laden asks rhetorically: "Is defending oneself and punishing the aggressor objectionable as terrorism? If it is, then it is unavoidable for us."

Al-Jazeera, which is based in Qatar, published a transcript of the full tape on its Web site on Monday. The transcript matches the video posted on the Islamic Web site.

Analysts say bin Laden issued the tape in an attempt to influence the US presidential elections, which took place four days after Al-Jazeera broadcast it, informs Scotsman.

"Bush's hands are sullied with the blood of those on both sides just for oil and to employ his private companies.

"Remember that for every action, there is a reaction," Bin Laden said al-Qaeda would carry on fighting the US "until it forces it into bankruptcy".

US officials who studied excerpts of the tape after last week's broadcast said they believed it was authentic.