August attacks from al-Qaida: That's the word from some

By Jeremy Reynalds
web posted August 5, 2002

It appears that August is going to be a busy month in the terrorist
calendar. That's the month al-Qaida is apparently planning to
carry out a number of "operations," (presumably terrorist strikes)
. That's supposed to be followed by a video taped speech from
Osama bin Laden soon after. At least, according to
http:
//www.jihadunspun.net/BinLadensNetwork/news/newsindex.php
, that was the word Tuesday from the London-based Ash Sharq
al-Awsat newspaper.

The newspaper reported that the information was delivered by
e- mail from sources close to bin Laden's supporters. Apparently
these sources are also reported to have said that al-Qaida's
preparation for its "August operations" have been completed and
all that's left is for them to be carried out. The e-mail also said
that, "Sheikh bin Laden is alive and will appear in a videotape
after carrying out these operation to confirm that he is still alive
and will continue fighting the United States."

According to Jihad Unspun, video footage obtained by the
organization in June "clearly shows" that bin Laden survived the
December attacks survived the attacks on Tora Bora.

"Titled 'The Unseen Tape,' this footage contains an interview
conducted by a reporter for Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based Arabic
TV Channel which they chose not to air, a segment in tribute to
the Mujahideen martyrs killed at Shar-e Kot, and four minutes of
completely new footage of bin Laden and his close associated
Al-Zawahari inside Afghanistan in what appears to be early
spring."

Jihadunspun.net says that in the Ash-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper
article, sources are saying that in his next speech, bin Laden will
talk about "the success of Al-Qaida in containing attacks
launched by the United States, on rebuilding and reorganizing its
ranks ... and carrying out attacks in various countries of the
world against U.S. interests."

According to material contained on its web site, Jehadunspun.net
is:

"[A]n open information source dedicated to understanding the
issues behind the US war on ‘terrorism.' We publish mainstream
and uncensored news, articles, and opinions without influence of
any government, corporation, or association. (We) provide a
platform where facts and viewpoints that address the issues at
the heart of this 'jihad' can be considered, devoid of the
constraints of mainstream media."

While a quick surf through the site will soon show you that
there's a definite attitude to some of the material presented, site
administrator Bev Kennedy told me that while she's an opponent
of war she is also categorically opposed to terrorism.

And just exactly what IS going on in the war against terrorism is
one thing I suspect that we're not hearing the whole truth from
the government or the media about. While I think there would be
some definite differences in philosophy between myself and the
folks who run jehadunspun.net, I like their comment about the
make up of the news coverage that we have been getting and
why it's like it is.

"Uncut news and footage from remote areas like Afghanistan,
Pakistan and other South Asian and Middle East countries is
extremely difficult and expensive to obtain. Unlike western press
where news agencies rarely pay for content, the reverse is true in
these countries. Reporters in these areas take great risks and
there are many challenges getting the information they obtain to
sources that will publish it. Sometimes footage has to be brought
out by human courier at great risk which can cause lengthy
delays. And when it is available, sometimes it can't be obtained
strictly because of the price and therefore is sold to major news
agencies that in turn rarely air it or at best air clips out of context.
Better resources, better equipment and more reporters on the
ground in hot spots are required to get uncut and uncensored
news to the public in a timely fashion."

Who can argue with that? I mean, how much "truth" can you buy
and pack in a 25 second sound bite? And with that in mind, I'm
wondering why I haven't heard about al-Qaida's alleged August
attack from a mainstream media source but instead had to turn to
jehadunspun.net for information about the group's planned
activities. It's worth thinking about!

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and
director of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency
homeless shelter. He has a master's degree in communication
from the University of New Mexico and is pursuing his PhD in
intercultural education at Biola University in Los Angeles. He is
married with five children and lives in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. His work can be viewed here and weekly at
www.americasvoices.org. He may be contacted by e-mail at
reynalds@joyjunction.org.

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