Threat: Attacks on U.S. coming

The White House said it would not negotiate with terrorists.
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Osama bin Laden warned in an audiotape aired Thursday that his fighters are preparing new attacks in the United States but offered the American people a "long-term truce" without specifying the conditions.
The tape, portions of which were aired on Al-Jazeera television, was the first from the Al-Qaida leader in more than a year. It came only days after a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan that targeted bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, and reportedly killed four leading Al-Qaida figures, possibly including al-Zawahri's son-in-law.
There was no mention of that attack in the tape, which Al-Jazeera said was recorded in January. The network initially reported it believed the tape was made in December but later corrected itself on the air. Editors at the station said they could not comment on how they knew when it was made.
The CIA has authenticated the voice on the tape as that of bin Laden, an agency official said. The Al-Qaida leader is believed to be hiding in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Beyond confirming that bin Laden remains alive, the tape could be aimed at projecting an image of strength to Al-Qaida sympathizers and portray the group as still capable of launching attacks despite blows against it, analysts said.
Response
The White House rejected the truce offer.
The United States will not let up in the war on terror despite bin Laden's latest threats, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. "We do not negotiate with terrorists," McClellan said. "We put them out of business."
U.S. counterterror officials said Thursday they have seen no specific or credible intelligence to indicate an impending Al-Qaida attack on the United States. The Homeland Security Department has no immediate plans to raise the national terror alert, spokesman Russ Knocke said.
In the tape, bin Laden spoke in a soft voice, as he has in previous recordings, but his tone was flatter than in the past and had an echo, as if recorded indoors. He presented his message with a combination of threats, vows his followers can fight forever and a tone of reconciliation, insisting he wants to offer a way to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He even recommended a book for Americans to read -- "The Rogue State," apparently a book of the same title by American author William Blum. He said it offers the path to peace -- that America must apologize to victims of the wars and promise never to "interfere" in other nations -- though it was not clear if these were conditions for the truce.
Bin Laden said he decided to make a statement to the American people because he said President Bush was pushing ahead despite polls which showed "an overwhelming majority of you want the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq."
He said the Bush administration was lying about victories in the Iraq war. Bin Laden insisted the insurgents will eventually win the conflict, which he said is only strengthening the cause of the "mujahedeen," or holy warriors.
But he said that even if the U.S. does prevail in the war, "the nights and days will not pass without us taking vengeance like on Sept. 11, God permitting."
Terrorist's statements
He warned that security measures in the West and the United States could not prevent attacks there, citing the July 7 bombings in London that killed 56 people.
"The delay in similar operations happening in America has not been because of failure to break through your security measures," he said. "The operations are under preparation and you will see them in your homes the minute they are through [with preparations], with God's permission."
He offered a "long-term truce with fair conditions that we adhere to. ... Both sides can enjoy security and stability under this truce so we can build Iraq and Afghanistan, which have been destroyed in this war.
"There is no shame in this solution, which prevents the wasting of billions of dollars that have gone to those with influence and merchants of war in America," he said.
Bin Laden then made an oblique reference to how to prevent new attacks on the United States.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.