Meanwhile, another historic irony today. On the same day that the U.S. formally notified the United Nations that it's strikes "against terrorism" are not to be limited to Afghanistan, Syria, a nation that is on the American "terrorist list" has been overwhelmingly voted onto the U.N. Security Council.

[The Guardian - Monday October 8, 2001]: He was sitting outside the mouth of a cave hewn into the mountainside, his head swathed in a flowing turban, his body clothed in fatigues, his beard predominantly grey. Beside him, a carefully placed AK47 was on prominent display.

A film of Osama bin Laden, broadcast after yesterday's strikes on Afghanistan, had been recorded in daylight sometime before the attacks by US and British forces and was clearly aimed at striking fear in the West.

It was the first time the world has heard from the leader of the al-Qaida network since the September 11 attacks. Bin Laden said these attacks were "giving them back what they deserve" and warned American citizens that they will never feel safe again. He does not, however, claim responsibility for them.

Clutching a microphone and belligerently pointing his finger at what is clearly a very professional camera, he said: "America was hit by God in one of its softest spots. America is full of fear from its north to its south, from its west to its east. Thank God for that." He added that America was tasting now "what we have tasted for decades."

On the film, secured by Al-Jazeera, the Arabic satellite TV station, Bin Laden repeated many of the themes that have been central to his militant philosophy and have fuelled his hatred of the West.

Israeli military incursions into Palestinian-run areas in the West Bank and the bombing of Iraq remain at the core of his hatred. He complains that no-one had objected to bombs on Iraq or Israeli tanks going to Jenin, Ramallah and Beit Jallah and "other lands of Islam" and now the "swords come after eight years to America".

Knowing that his video would be seen across the globe, he warned that "these events have split the whole world into two camps - the camps of belief and the camps of disbelief ... Every Muslim should support his religion".

Bin Laden warned that the "wind of change has blown up to the Arabian peninsula".

He said: "I say ... by God the great, America will never dream... Those who live in America will never taste security and safety unless we feel security and safety in our lands and in Palestine."

Before speaking, Bin Laden allowed his spokesman Suleiman Abu Gheit to read a statement. Bin Laden was flanked on his left by Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, who is Bin Laden's deputy.

As he finished his chilling message, the camera panned out to show all three men seated together, calmly sipping glasses of tea.

[As aired on Al Jazeera, an Arab television network based in Qatar with text translated from Arabic to English]

Praise be to Allah [God] and we beseech Him for help and forgiveness.

We seek refuge with the Lord of our bad and evildoing. He whom God guides is rightly guided but he whom God leaves to stray, for him you will find no protector to lead him to the right way.

I bear witness that there is no God but God and Muhammad is His Prophet.

God Almighty hit the United States at its most vulnerable spot. He destroyed its greatest buildings.

Praise be to God.

Here is the United States. It was filled with terror from its north to its south and from its east to its west.

Praise be to God.

What the United States tastes today is a very small thing compared to what we have tasted for tens of years.

Our nation has been tasting this humiliation and contempt for more than 80 years.

Its sons are being killed, its blood is being shed, its holy places are being attacked and it is not being ruled according to what God has decreed.

Despite this, nobody cares.

When Almighty God rendered successful a convoy of Muslims, the vanguards of Islam, He allowed them to destroy the United States.

I ask God Almighty to elevate their status and grant them Paradise. He is the one who is capable to do so.

When they defended their oppressed sons, brothers and sisters in Palestine and in many Islamic countries, the world at large shouted. The infidels shouted, followed by the hypocrites.

One million Iraqi children have thus far died in Iraq [because of UN/U.S. sanctions and due to the U.S.-UK-Israel war against Iraq] although they did not do anything wrong.

Despite this, we heard no denunciation by anyone in the world or a fatwa [Islamic decree] by the [Muslim] rulers or ulema [Muslim scholars].

Israeli tanks and tracked vehicles wreak havoc in Palestine, Jenin, Ramallah, Rafah, Beit Jala and other Islamic areas and we hear no voices raised or moves made.

But if the sword falls on the United States, after 80 years, hypocrisy raises its ugly head lamenting the deaths of these killers who tampered with the blood, honor and holy places of the Muslims.

The least that one can describe these people is that they are morally depraved.

They [rulers of Israel, USA and UK] champion falsehood, support the butcher against the victim, the oppressor against the innocent child.

May God mete them the punishment they deserve.

I say that the matter is clear and explicit.

In the aftermath of this event and now that senior U.S. officials have spoken, beginning with Bush, the head of the world's infidels, and whoever supports him, every Muslim should rush to defend Islam.

They came out in arrogance with their men and horses and instigated even those countries that belong to Islam against us.

They came out to fight this group of people who declared their faith in God and refused to abandon their religion.

They came out to fight Islam in the name of terrorism.

Hundreds of thousands of people, young and old, were killed in the farthest point on earth in Japan.

For them this is not a crime, but rather a debatable issue.

They bombed Iraq and considered that a debatable issue.

But when dozens of people were killed in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam [capitals of Kenya and Tanzania, where U.S. embassies were bombed in 1998], Afghanistan [Sudan] and Iraq were bombed and all hypocrites stood behind the head of the world's infidelity - behind the Hubal [an idol worshipped by pagans before the advent of Islam] of the age - namely, America and its supporters.

These incidents divided the entire world into two regions - one of faith where there is no hypocrisy and another of infidelity, from which we hope God will protect us.

The winds of faith and change have blown to remove falsehood from the [Arabian] peninsula of Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him.

As for the United States, I tell it and its people these few words: I swear by Almighty God who raised the heavens without pillars that neither the United States nor he who lives in the United States will enjoy security before we can see it as a reality in Palestine and before all the infidel armies leave the land of Muhammad, may peace be upon him.

God is great and glory to Islam.

May God's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.

The White House Office of the Press Secretary October 7, 2001 - 1:00 P.M. EDT - The Treaty Room

President George W. Bush Address to the American Nation

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. On my orders, the United States military has begun strikes against al Qaeda terrorist training camps and military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. These carefully targeted actions are designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations, and to attack the military capability of the Taliban regime.

We are joined in this operation by our staunch friend, Great Britain. Other close friends, including Canada, Australia, Germany and France, have pledged forces as the operation unfolds. More than 40 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and across Asia have granted air transit or landing rights. Many more have shared intelligence. We are supported by the collective will of the world.

More than two weeks ago, I gave Taliban leaders a series of clear and specific demands: Close terrorist training camps; hand over leaders of the al Qaeda network; and return all foreign nationals, including American citizens, unjustly detained in your country. None of these demands were met. And now the Taliban will pay a price. By destroying camps and disrupting communications, we will make it more difficult for the terror network to train new recruits and coordinate their evil plans.

Initially, the terrorists may burrow deeper into caves and other entrenched hiding places. Our military action is also designed to clear the way for sustained, comprehensive and relentless operations to drive them out and bring them to justice.

At the same time, the oppressed people of Afghanistan will know the generosity of America and our allies. As we strike military targets, we'll also drop food, medicine and supplies to the starving and suffering men and women and children of Afghanistan.

The United States of America is a friend to the Afghan people, and we are the friends of almost a billion worldwide who practice the Islamic faith. The United States of America is an enemy of those who aid terrorists and of the barbaric criminals who profane a great religion by committing murder in its name.

This military action is a part of our campaign against terrorism, another front in a war that has already been joined through diplomacy, intelligence, the freezing of financial assets and the arrests of known terrorists by law enforcement agents in 38 countries. Given the nature and reach of our enemies, we will win this conflict by the patient accumulation of successes, by meeting a series of challenges with determination and will and purpose.

Today we focus on Afghanistan, but the battle is broader. Every nation has a choice to make. In this conflict, there is no neutral ground. If any government sponsors the outlaws and killers of innocents, they have become outlaws and murderers, themselves. And they will take that lonely path at their own peril.

I'm speaking to you today from the Treaty Room of the White House, a place where American Presidents have worked for peace. We're a peaceful nation. Yet, as we have learned, so suddenly and so tragically, there can be no peace in a world of sudden terror. In the face of today's new threat, the only way to pursue peace is to pursue those who threaten it.

We did not ask for this mission, but we will fulfill it. The name of today's military operation is Enduring Freedom. We defend not only our precious freedoms, but also the freedom of people everywhere to live and raise their children free from fear.

I know many Americans feel fear today. And our government is taking strong precautions. All law enforcement and intelligence agencies are working aggressively around America, around the world and around the clock. At my request, many governors have activated the National Guard to strengthen airport security. We have called up Reserves to reinforce our military capability and strengthen the protection of our homeland.

In the months ahead, our patience will be one of our strengths -- patience with the long waits that will result from tighter security; patience and understanding that it will take time to achieve our goals; patience in all the sacrifices that may come.

Today, those sacrifices are being made by members of our Armed Forces who now defend us so far from home, and by their proud and worried families. A Commander-in-Chief sends America's sons and daughters into a battle in a foreign land only after the greatest care and a lot of prayer. We ask a lot of those who wear our uniform. We ask them to leave their loved ones, to travel great distances, to risk injury, even to be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. They are dedicated, they are honorable; they represent the best of our country. And we are grateful.

To all the men and women in our military -- every sailor, every soldier, every airman, every coastguardsman, every Marine -- I say this: Your mission is defined; your objectives are clear; your goal is just. You have my full confidence, and you will have every tool you need to carry out your duty.

I recently received a touching letter that says a lot about the state of America in these difficult times -- a letter from a 4th-grade girl, with a father in the military: "As much as I don't want my Dad to fight," she wrote, "I'm willing to give him to you."

This is a precious gift, the greatest she could give. This young girl knows what America is all about. Since September 11, an entire generation of young Americans has gained new understanding of the value of freedom, and its cost in duty and in sacrifice.

The battle is now joined on many fronts. We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail.

Thank you. May God continue to bless America.