U.S. intelligence analysts say the voice on an audiotape purportedly from al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is indeed that of the terrorist leader. But U.S. officials say they have no plans to raise the nation's threat level in response to the audiotape, first broadcast Thursday by Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera.
In the message, bin Laden says there are plans for a new attack in the United States, but he offers a "long-term" truce if American forces pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan. The White House flatly rejected the offer, with a spokesman saying the United States does not negotiate with terrorists.
In an April 2004 message, the al-Qaida leader had offered a similar truce to Europe, that was rejected.. In Thursday's message, bin Laden cited fatal terrorist bombings in European capitals that heightened security failed to prevent. This is Osama bin Laden's first message since December, 2004. Al-Jazeera says the tape was recorded this month.