The exact date and origins of the latest Bin Laden audiotape (the only visual sign of the Al-Qaeda leader on the tape is a dated still shot) are still being determined. Our friends at HotAir.com have a must-read rundown detailing several reasons to be skeptical of this latest release (for instance, if it's the five-year anniversary of the Iraq invasion, why isn't Iraq even mentioned?) Here's more, from CBN News:
Egypt -- Osama bin Laden accused Pope Benedict XVI of helping in a "new Crusade" against Islam and warned of a "severe" reaction to European publications of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that insulted many Muslims.
Bin Laden's new audiotape message raised concerns al-Qaida was plotting new attacks in Europe. Some experts said bin Laden, believed to be in hiding in the rugged Afghan-Pakistan border area, may be unable to organize an attack himself and instead is trying to fan anger and inspire his supporters to violence.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said bin Laden's accusation that the pope has played a role in a worldwide campaign against Islam is "baseless." Lombardi said the pope on several occasions has criticized the cartoons, first published in several European newspapers in 2006 and republished by Danish papers in February.
Read it all. And remember that the unique symbolism of the Vatican in the Christian world makes it an extremely attractive target for Al-Qaeda.