Trove from Osama bin Laden’s compound declassified

A selection from more than 6,000 pages of documents seized during the May 1, 2011, raid that killed Osama bin Laden was released on Thursday by West Point's Combating Terrorism Center (CTC), giving the public a rare glimpse of the al-Qaida leader's terror plans and his largely solitary life.

The center released a group of 17 documents totalling 175 pages, which had been uncovered by U.S. forces in bin Laden's Abbottabad compound. Shortly before 9 a.m. ET, the center posted on its website both the Arabic originals and versions translated and summarized in English.

As was previously reported, some of the documents show that bin Laden ordered the assassinations of President Barack Obama and U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, but did not have the resources to carry out the killings.

"Obama is the head of infidelity and killing him automatically will make [Vice President Joe] Biden take over the presidency for the remainder of the term, as it is the norm over there," bin Laden wrote in a letter to one of his top lieutenants. "Biden is totally unprepared for that post, which will lead the U.S. into a crisis. As for Petraeus, he is the man of the hour in this last year of the war, and killing him would alter the war's path."

The earliest letter is dated September 2006 and the latest April 2011, the center said. Several al-Qaida leaders, including bin Laden, Atiyya Abd al-Rahman, Abu Yahya al-Libi and Adam Gadahn, the terror group's American spokesman, authored the internal communications.

Given that the electronic documents were "saved on thumb drives, memory cards or the hard drive of bin Laden's computer," the center noted, it's unclear whether any of these letters reached their intended destinations.

In another letter, bin Laden vows to avenge the war in Afghanistan, while assuring one of his deputies that America does not have the financial resources to continue it.

"They struck us and we will strike them back," he wrote, according to the center's translation. "This year has been the worst year for them in Afghanistan since they invaded it. The number of their dead has never been this high according to their own reports. Their financial crisis continues. Britain has lowered its defense budget and America is reducing the budget of the Pentagon. Anyone who knows the world and knows politics, knows that it is impossible for them to continue with the war."

In another, bin Laden compares two of al-Qaida's enemies: Arab leaders and America, concluding that the U.S. should remain its most important target:

The Ummah is fighting an internal enemy, which are the leaders of the Arab World. The Ummah is also fighting an external enemy, which is America. Although the former is far more blasphemous, the latter is clearly the unbeliever. At this stage of our war with our enemies, America poses a greater threat to the Ummah than any other enemy. America is the head of the infidels. If God wills it, America's head can be cut off. Once the head has been removed, then it would be easier to cut off America's wings.

A January 2011 letter from Gadahn to an unknown recipient discusses al-Qaida's media strategy ahead of the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, and explains where the group might focus its press efforts.

"From the professional point of view, they are all on one level—except [Fox News] channel which falls into the abyss as you know, and lacks neutrality too," Gadahn wrote. "I used to think that MSNBC channel may be good and neutral a bit, but is has lately fired two of the most famous journalists—Keith Olberman and Octavia Nasser the Lebanese—because they released some statements that were open for argument."

Gadahn continued: "In conclusion, we can say that there is no single channel that we could rely on for our messages. [They] may ignore them, and even the channel that broadcast them, probably it would distort them somehow. Or they may ignore the message and conduct a smearing of the individuals, to the end of the list of what you know about their cunning methods."

He added: "As for Fox News, let her die in her anger."

The World awaits the birth of ‘a new Joseph’ in USA

That there is only one constant and permanent condition in the world can not be challenged. Whether we like it or not, prefer or defer it, prepare for it or least expects it, change will always have its way irrespective of our views and preferences. As we witness and eagerly await the verdict of US voters on Barack Hussein Obama or John McCain, like in every election universally, change we come out victorious. It is however erroneous to assume that change is mutually exclusive of human interventions. Foremost, we need to understand that change in itself is neutral and harmless. It’s how we view and adapt to its outcomes that matters most. We make choices and those decisions determine which way we move with change. That’s how come we often speak of change as either positive or negative. So as US voters cast their votes today, November 4, 2008 their choice will tell the world what sort of change they desire. Let’s understand this fact though that the US citizens will be taking this momentous step with respect to hindsight beginning in 1774 and no one can begrudge them for their choice. They have the option of either to change in continuity or change for the need of it; whichever way it will have a significant effect on the rest of the world. There are very good reasons we the rest of the world will be affected by the choice of US voters today Tuesday November 4, 2008. Some of these reasons are: As a unipolar world police, the rest of the world catches cold when an American leader sneezes. So though internal affairs, Americans choice of leader matters greatly to the citizens of the known world. The world needs justice and peace and not armories and wars. The image of US has been so badly damaged by iniquitous foreign policy decisions under the outgoing regime hence change Americans need. The precarious state of the US economy need energizing change which could be effected by fresh, creative and smart leader. A recently study has revealed that over the past 60 years Democratic president led administrations have performed 6 times better than their Republican counterparts registering an average GDP of 2.8 compared to 1.6 respectively. Hence an Obama administration will benefit the world economy than McCain administration. The number 4 is so significant in this year’s race; being liberated on July 4, 1774, election taking place on November 4, and foremost to produce the 44th US president. This means the next US leader should be very special (change) from all the rest who had ever commanded Uncle Sam. Racially, it is the first time ever that ‘a Joseph’ could be born in America. The racial significance is that a descendent from the land of slaves might just head Uncle Sam at Capitol Hill. African Americans as US Black people preferred to be referred to constitute just about 12% of US population. They are third to Whites and Hispanic peoples. The 21st century needs to remove the racial bar as official doctrine of state. Spiritually, the 9/11 event which defined the second Bush’s tenure in the White House, also marked the wounding of the beast and shifting of the balance of world power eastwards. Whoever takes over the reign will be changing over power hence must be very special. Globally, Obama is seemed as more desirable option since he is the unknown quantity in the race. Viewed at any other time, this pointed might be muted for inexperience, but historically such candidates become remarkable leaders when given chance to prove their worth. His proposed foreign policy direction sounds more benign and healthier for the good and peace of the world than his opponent, John McCain. Lastly, I am vouching all my bet and integrity on Barack Obama not because I am an African and Black person desirous of a fellow’s feat, but desire borne out of the reality of our time that a new Joseph is to be born in America of all places. Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob (later called Israel) was sold into slavery by his own kindred because he revealed a dream he had that he was to rule over them one day. Unknown to the siblings, it was the product of divine design to make his rule as famous as ever. This must also send the signal to African Americans that after Obama, there will come a new Pharaoh who will not remember the descendants of ‘Joseph’. The spiritual battlelines for supremacy is beginning to be drawn. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. A word to the wise…….. Irrespective of what happens in today’s polls, the world eagerly awaits the birth of a new Joseph in the United States of America. His reign will be marked by transformation: a change we need and a change we believe in. On January 20, 2009, expect to hear this; “ladies and gentlemen, welcome the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama”