"Our situation is getting better while yours is getting worse."
"My message to you is about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how to end them," he began. "Bush said, 'It is better to fight them on their land than their fighting us on our land.' I can reply to these errors by saying that war in Iraq is raging with no letup, and operations in Afghanistan are escalating in our favor."
He said the lack of Qaeda attacks within the United States since Sept. 11, 2001, was not related to improved security and he pointed to terrorist attacks in Europe as evidence that his fighters could penetrate all such barriers.
As to what attacks Americans can expect, he said, "The operations are under preparation and you will see them in your homes the minute they are through, with God's permission."
Mr. bin Laden's statement noted that American opinion polls had shown a growing desire to withdraw its troops from Iraq and a feeling that "it is better that we (Americans) don't fight Muslims on their lands and that they don't fight us on ours."
As to an American withdrawal, he said, "There is no shame in this solution which prevents the wasting of billions of dollars that have gone to those with influence and merchants of war in America who have supported Bush's election campaign."
Nearly all of the video and audiotapes attributed to Mr. bin Laden in the past turned out to be authentic. His voice this time sounded somewhat more labored, lacking the energetic quality typical of earlier recordings. There was also a pronounced echo as if he had been inside a room, in contrast to previous recordings that seemed to have been made outdoors or in large spaces.