CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Osama bin Laden's spokesman on Tuesday called for a holy war against U.S. interests everywhere and praised the hijackers who flew planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon for their "good deed."
"America must know that the storm of airplanes will not stop and there are thousands of young people who look forward to death like the Americans look forward to life," said Sulaiman Abu Ghaith said.
The message from Abu Ghaith was the second statement from al-Qaida since the launch of U.S.-led airstrikes against Afghanistan on Sunday. Bin Laden issued a videotaped message that same day, though it appeared to have been recorded before the attacks began.
Abu Ghaith, who said he directed his message "to the entire Islamic nation," said jihad, or holy war, "is a duty of every Muslim if they haven't got an excuse.
"The American interests are everywhere all over the world. Every Muslim has to play his real and true role to uphold his religion and his nation in fighting, and jihad is a duty," he said.
He praised the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, saying the hijackers "did something good" and took the battle to the heart of America.
"The Americans have opened a door that will never be closed," Abu Ghaith said of the continuing air raids on Afghanistan.
"America must know that the battle will not leave its land until America leaves our land; until it stops supporting Israel; until it stops the blockade against Iraq."
That echoed bin Laden's statement on Sunday, which aimed to cast the fight as one that pits the West and Israel against the interests of Muslims everywhere, particularly the Palestinians and Iraqis.
Speaking in a pre-recorded video broadcast on Al-Jazeera television, Abu Ghaith said: "Holy struggle is a religious duty for every Muslim."
"This battle is a decisive battle between atheism and faith," he said.
Al-Jazeera did not say when the videotape was made. The Qatar-based satellite station also broadcast bin Laden's statement Sunday.
Abu Ghaith wore a white turban, similar to that worn by Osama bin Laden, the chief suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks. He was dressed in white robes and stood against a dark brown background.
In closing his remarks, Abu Ghaith thanked god for the chance to wage holy war.
"The land of Afghanistan and the mujehedeen are being subjected to a full crusade with the objective of getting rid of the Islamic nation. The nation must take up its response and in the end I thank god for allowing us to start this jihad and ask God to give us victory in the face of our enemy and return them defeated."
