Only a passing reference to Israel?

"From the October 7, 2001, video, no mention at all of Jews directly, and only a passing reference to Israel" - patricksmcnally

patricksmcnally, I wanted to make a quick point. Even in the Oct. 7th video, bin Laden is doing a hell of a lot more than making a "passing reference to Israel." You should think this over and examine why you are trying to downplay the issue of Israel. Even the two things you did quote, neither of them is a "passing reference."

I think you know, when he refers to Palestine, or when others refer to Palestine, they are talking mainly about Israel, directly about what Israel does to Palestine. The references to Palestine ARE talking about the grievances caused by the injustices caused by Israel or Zionists. So the two things you quoted are not "passing references," they are a directly talking about the specific grievance of Israel's crimes.

And it simply is incorrect, to say the least, to characterize this as a "passing reference":
"I swear to God that America will not live in peace before peace reigns in Palestine, and before all the army of infidels depart the land of Mohammad, peace be upon him." I say that is dramatic and direct and that alone disproves the point you are trying to make.

And there are other references in that particular speech which you overlooked. Right at the top, bin Laden refers to Palestine when he talks about the 80 years:

"and thanks be to God that what America is tasting now is only a copy of we have tasted. Our Islamic nation has been tasting the same for more 80 years, of humiliation and disgrace, its sons killed and their blood spilled, its sanctities desecrated. " (80 years ago was the 1921 Cairo Conference which dealt with British power over Palestine and Iraq and I don't know if it is a coincidence but September 11, 1922 is when the British mandate came into force over Palestine.)

Bin Laden also said this is that same speech:
"When those have stood in defense of their weak children, their brothers and sisters in Palestine and other Muslim nations, the whole world went into an uproar, the infidels followed by the hypocrites."

It is disturbing to see the "9/11 Truth" movement downplaying and misdirecting the public away from the real motives. This is the same thing liars like Thomas Friedman have been doing.

Friedman has been lying to the public for years. Back in 1998 he claimed that the terrorists make no specific demands, "no specific ideological program or demands." he claims and that it is just a "generalized hatred". Friedman has enormous influence over the public discourse and it looks like he's the one behind the "conventional wisdom" that bin Laden never focused on this issue of Palestine until recently. Friedman put that lie in his best selling book "Longitudes & Attitudes." Friedman claims, "the fact is that bin Laden never focused on this issue. He only started talking about "Palestine" after September 11, when he sensed that he might be losing the support of the Arab street. " (p311 of Longitudes & Attitudes ) and " Osama bin Laden never mentioned the Palestinian cause as motivating his actions until he felt he was losing support in the Arab world. " (p361-362 of Longitudes & Attitudes ) What Friedman has written is a flat out lie. To give just one example that disproves what Friedman wrote: "Your position against Muslims in Palestine is despicable and disgraceful. America has no shame. " - Osama bin Laden, May 1998. Also, Peter Bergen points out that lies have been pushed: "conventional wisdom has it that bin Laden adopted the Palestinians issue only recently. Reading this declaration [the first declaration of war, issued in 1996] SHOULD PUT THAT CANARD TO REST." p164 The Bin Laden I Know, Peter Bergen

It is beyond the pale for Zionists to lie to us about why we were attacked on 9/11.