ANALYSTS: BIN LADEN'S EXPRESSION OF HAPPINESS THAT "THE BUS IS FINALLY GOING HOME" TO DETROIT WAS A CODED MESSAGE FOR TERRORISTS TO COMMENCE MAYHEM
WASHINGTON - The al Jazeera network broadcast another taped message from Osama bin Laden today in which the al-Qaeda leader promised additional attacks on American soil and congratulated Pittsburgh Steeler running back Jerome Bettis on finally getting to the Super Bowl.
In a departure from previous videos which showed bin Laden standing in front of a wall of rock, this time he was shown sitting in a "La-Z-Boy" recliner in front of a roaring fire in a wood-paneled room. He was wearing a button-down sweater, and a bowling trophy sat on the mantle above the fireplace. Bin Laden assailed both U.S. government policy and the state of officiating in the National Football league. "America, as long as you continue this crusade against the Arab people you will never be safe. Going into Iraq was a horrible call, almost as bad as the call that took away that interception from Troy Polamolu in the Colts game," said Bin Laden. The tape then took a bizarre turn.
"At this time," bin Laden said, "I'd like to take a moment to say how happy I am that the Bus is finally going home. I repeat: The Bus is finally going home." Analysts fear that this was a coded message designed to set a terrorist plot in motion.
Bin Laden addressed a wide variety of other topics on the tape, including the decision of Iran to restart its nuclear program, the Golden Globe awards, and the new season of American Idol, leading officials to conclude that the tape was of recent vintage. The tape will be released on DVD this Tuesday.
