Quotations from Osama bin Laden

Here are some quotations from Osama bin Laden.

ON ATTACKS IN UNITED STATES:

"I have taken an oath of allegiance (to Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Mohammad Omar) which does not allow me to do such things from Afghanistan.'' -- statement faxed by an aide to Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press on Sept. 16.

"The terrorist act is the action of some American group. I have nothing to do with it.'' -- Pakistan's Urdu-language Khabrain daily on Sept. 12.

ON PREVIOUS ATTACKS ELSEWHERE:

"Our job is to instigate and, by the grace of God, we did that, and certain people responded to this instigation.'' -- interview with Time magazine, 1999.

"We waited for them (U.S. troops) in Aden but they left the region. They knew what we wanted to do to them.'' -- interview with London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper, 1997.

"The bombings ... were a clear indication for the crusading forces to correct this grave mistake and for them to depart before it is too late and before the battle begins in earnest.'' -- referring to bombings of U.S. military facilities in Riyadh in 1995 and Khobar in 1996, interview filmed by a follower for British TV documentary Dispatches, 1997.

"(The U.S.) accusations are invalid unless they mean I am linked to inciting them. This is clear and I confess to that. I was one of those who signed the fatwa (religious degree)'' calling for the holy war.'' -- interview on Qatar's al-Jazeera satellite television station, June 1999.

"These are true men who we respect and hold in the highest esteem,'' -- of those who bombed the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, interview with ABC News, December 1998.

ON WAR:

"This war will not only be between the people of the two sacred mosques and the Americans, but it will be between the Islamic world and the Americans and their allies because this war is a new crusade led by America against the Islamic nations.'' -- Dispatches, 1997.

"It is not a declaration of war, it's a real description of the situation. This doesn't mean declaring war against the West and Western people, but against the American regime which is against every Muslim.'' -- interview with London's Independent newspaper, July 1996.

"We are seeking to incite the (Islamic) nation to rise up to liberate its land and to (conduct) jihad (holy war) for the sake of God.'' -- al-Jazeera, June 1999.

ON THE ENEMY:

"What happened in Riyadh and Khobar is clear evidence of the huge anger of Saudi people against America. The Saudis now know their real enemy is America,'' -- Independent, 1996.

"Every American man is an enemy to us.'' -- Independent.

"It has failed. This blockade does not hurt us much. We expect to be rewarded by God,'' -- referring to U.S. efforts to hurt him financially, Time, 1999.

ON AFGHANISTAN:

"The safest place in the world for me is Afghanistan ... There are several places where we have friends and close brothers -- we can find refuge and safety in them.'' -- Independent, 1996. 

"We believe the Taliban are sincere in their attempts to enforce Islamic religious law. We saw the situation here before and after, and have seen an obvious improvement.'' -- Independent, 1996.

ON PERSONAL LIFE:

"I was never afraid of death ... As Muslims, we believe that when we die, we go to heaven. Before a battle, God sends us ... tranquility.'' -- Independent, 1993.

"Danger is a part of our life -- do you not realize that we spent 10 years fighting against the Russians and the KGB?'' -- Independent, 1996.

"If liberating my land is called terrorism, this is a great honor for me.'' -- Independent, 1997.

"My favorite hobby is horseback riding and I ride more than 70 km (45 miles) every day.'' -- London-based Asharq al-Awsat.