FOR BIN LADEN, WHAT COMES NEXT? – AT 9:12 A.M. ET:  There is informed speculation on the meaning of today's comments by Osama bin Laden, assuming it was really him on the tape:

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Osama bin Laden's word choice in the latest audio message attributed to him is seen as a "possible indicator" of an upcoming attack by his Al-Qaeda network, a US monitoring group warned Sunday.

IntelCenter, a US group that monitors Islamist websites, also said that manner of the release and the content of the message showed it was "credible" that it was a new release from the Saudi extremist.

"The Osama bin Laden audio message released to Al-Jazeera on 24 January 2010 contains specific language used by bin Laden in his statements in advance of attacks," IntelCenter said in a statement.

The group said it considered the language "a possible indicator of an upcoming attack" in the next 12 months.

"This phrase, 'Peace be upon those who follow guidance,' appears at the beginning and end of messages released in advance of attacks that are designed to provide warning to Al-Qaeda's enemies that they need to change their ways or they will be attacked," the group said.

In a statement carried by Al-Jazeera television, bin Laden praised the Nigerian man who allegedly tried to blow up a US airliner approaching Detroit on Christmas Day.

COMMENT:   Britain has now raised its terror alert.  A third of all the attempts to attack American targets, in the time after 9-11, have occurred on Barack Obama's watch.  Bin Laden and his like-minded jihadists have responded to Obama's outreach and talk of peace with more attacks and more threats.  That is what weakness always gets you.

January 24, 2010