From the New York Times: In a new recording, the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, urged European nations on Friday to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan, with a veiled threat of reprisals and an allusion to past bombings in Madrid and London…

For Germany, the message, which was posted online, was the fourth in recent days purporting to come from Al Qaeda, raising concerns of a terrorist attack and placing German security officials on high alert.

The recording released on Friday, though addressed to Europeans generally, seemed directed at Germany, coming before parliamentary elections on Sunday and with both English and German subtitles…

“You are aware that oppression topples those who commit it and injustice has unhealthy consequences for the unjust,” the recording says. It accuses European soldiers of killing women and children under the NATO mandate. “So on what basis are you violating what you talk about holding in high esteem, like justice and human rights?” the speaker asks.

“If today Europe is suffering the travails of the economic crisis, and the heart of Europe is no longer No. 1 in world exports, and America is reeling from the hemorrhage caused by the economic war,” he says, “then how do you think you will fare after America pulls out, Allah permitting, for us to retaliate from the oppressor on behalf of the oppressed?” (photo: Reuters)