WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Al-Qaida's missing leader Osama bin Laden found a new target -- the U.S. budget deficit -- in the latest audio tapes attributed to him Saturday.
In one of two tapes played on the Al Jazeera network, Bin Laden points out the United States is running a budget deficit of more than $450 billion in the current fiscal year. The actual amount is being announced by the Treasury Department in the coming week.
The message also made the usual threats of more suicide attacks on the United States and includes a reference to Mahmoud Abbas as Palestinian prime minister, although he resigned Sept. 6.
The other Bin Laden message was a rallying cry to Iraqis and Arab Muslims, saying, "You have no reward but in Jihad."
While calling on Muslims everywhere to mount martyrdom operations against what he called "infidels and crusaders," Bin Laden said "God only knows" if he'll find a way to rejoin the battle himself.
