Corrected Translation of Bin-Laden's Threat: to U.S. "STATES"

[MMMMMM]

It now appears likely that most major media mistranslated a key phrase in bin-Laden's video speech.

The new translation carries a very important change in meaning.

Arabic translators at both the Middle East Media Research Center, AND at an unaffiliated Islamist website, have both reached the same conclusion regarding what should be the correct translation.

Here are two excerpts detailing the error, corrected version, and its implications:


(excerpt)"The tape of Osama bin Laden that was aired Friday on Al-Jazeera included a specific threat to "each U.S. state," designed to influence the outcome of Tuesday's election, according to the Arabic translators at the prestigious Middle East Media Research Center.

The U.S. media have mistranslated the words "ay wilaya" (which means "each U.S. state") to mean a "country" or "nation" other than the U.S., says MEMRI, while in reality bin Laden's threat was directed specifically at each individual U.S. state. MEMRI specializes in translating Middle Eastern documents, speeches and the like for Western consumption.

Translated correctly, bin Laden's speech suggests some knowledge of the U.S. electoral college system. In fact, notes MEMRI, in one section of his speech where he harshly criticizes President Bush, bin Laden states: "Any U.S. state that does not toy with our security automatically guarantees its own security."(end excerpt)


(excerpt)"The Islamist website Al-Qal'a explained what this sentence meant: "This message was a warning to every U.S. state separately. When he [bin Laden] said, 'Every state will be determining its own security, and will be responsible for its choice,' it means that any U.S. state that will choose to vote for the white thug Bush as president has chosen to fight us, and we will consider it our enemy, and any state that will vote against Bush has chosen to make peace with us, and we will not characterize it as an enemy. By this characterization, Sheikh Osama wants to drive a wedge in the American body, to weaken it, and he wants to divide the American people itself between enemies of Islam and the Muslims, and those who fight for us, so that he doesn't treat all American people as if they're the same. This letter will have great implications inside the American society, part of which are connected to the American elections, and part of which are connected to what will come after the elections.""(end excerpt)

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/ar...TICLE_ID=41211

[Knockwurst]

Well then I hope he realizes NY is a blue state and Texas is a red state. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Michael Davis]

I don't know, I really doubt this, Osama's beef is with America first and Bush second. Sure, Bush's policies have undoubtedly exacerbated his anger, but he has been angry for years.

Secondly, the US public will not break apart over this issue. As has been pointed out, we are not Spain, and tend to react in a very different (if equally irrational) manner towards threats.

Finally, the most attractive targets for terrorists are mostly in states that are firmly in Kerry's camp.

-Michael

[MMMMMM]

I agree with your points but I do not believe bin-Laden will necesaarily do what he says he will do and therefore I do not "really doubt this".

It hinges on the accuracy of the translation and there are two expert independent sources saying that this is the correct translation. That they concur and are of vastly different political outlooks adds credibility to their translations as well.

Also, it seems likely to me that bin-Laden would prefer a President whom he perceives would not be so aggressive overseas especially in the Middle East. I know the liberals on this forum disagree with this assessment, but if the translation proves to be what these sources say it is, that will prove that their view is wrong and that bin-Laden would prefer Kerry.

[W00lygimp]

'nother reason not to vote for Kerry...

[Toro]

[ QUOTE ]
'nother reason not to vote for Kerry...

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Don't you think bin laden would know that this would be the knee jerk reaction of most Americans. Hell, when i first heard it, I said "fcuk him, I'm going to switch my vote to Bush". It's a reverse psychology ploy.

[CarlSpackler]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
'nother reason not to vote for Kerry...

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Don't you think bin laden would know that this would be the knee jerk reaction of most Americans. Hell, when i first heard it, I said "fcuk him, I'm going to switch my vote to Bush". It's a reverse psychology ploy.

[/ QUOTE ]

I concur. If Bin Laden does actually care who's elected (which is debatable in itself), I think he wants Bush to win. For starters, he pulled off the deadliest attack on American soil under Bush's watch. He has been able to evade Bush's military ever since. In addition to this, the horrific lack of competant post war planning in Iraq is a boon for Bin Laden--the terrorists don't have to go overseas now to take kill Americans, because there are plenty of easy targets currently in Iraq. Also, Kerry wants to send more troops to Iraq, while Bush doesn't. Finally, Bush has yet to fire Rumsfeld or Rice, which is extremely frightening to me, and which should be to all Americans.

[MMMMMM]

bin-Laden cannot know for sure that U.S. voters will react so differently to threats than did Spanish and other voters. IMO it is pretty clearly an attempt to further divide America.

[David Steele]

Your story comes from a conservative group which got it from this
Odd source

Is there a media conspiracy to explain why not many are reporting this?

I doubt the translation interpretation is correct.

D.

[MMMMMM]

There are two sources: why are you ignoring the Islamist web site translation (which concurs)? You know what "Islamist" means, right?