Americans' once-hypothetical concerns about terrorism at home recently became a horrifying reality in New York City and Washington, D.C. What has been endemic to Israel has now stormed the financial and political gateways of America by striking first-blows of epidemic casualties, using commercial flights as missiles. And fearless attempts to carry out further attacks at the first reopening of U.S. airports reveal that suicidal terrorists consider September 11th's devastation not as a mission accomplished, but as an inauguration to succeed in further acts of terror. Highlights of Osama Bin Laden's statements about the WTC bombings have been:
UPDATE: Transcript of Osama Bin Laden's videotaped response to Sept. 11th

"America is not as strong as it appears to be..."
"There is America, hit by God in one of its softest spots. Its greatest buildings were destroyed, thank God for that. There is America, full of fear from its north to its south, from its west to its east. Thank God for that..."
"I swear by God ... neither America nor the people who live in it will dream of security before we live it in Palestine, and not before all the infidel armies leave the land of Muhammad, peace be upon him."
[Ref: Video shown Oct. 7th on Arabic satellite station Al-Jazeera.]

Bin Laden's Islamic fundamentalist outlook views terrorism upon America as a punishment from God because of U.S. support of Israel and the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, a home to Islam's holiest shrines, including their prophet Muhammad's tomb. To the Palestinian chant for the obliteration of Israel, Bin Laden further calls for the slaughter of Americans worldwide and at home (see World Islamic Front Statement).

In the prophet Jeremiah's day, the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar also saw his army as an instrument of God's wrath upon an astray (i.e. idolatrous) and complacent Israel - Jeremiah revealed that Nebuchadnezzar's conviction was actually stirred up by God. Prophets of our day have similarly revealed that the Islamic Arab world's conviction to punish "the great Satan" is actually an instrument in God's hand to bring America (specifically, the Christian Church that bears His name) to self-examination and national repentance. And just as national repentance and a return to God's righteousness were the only safety and hope of Israel's victory over her enemies in Jeremiah's day, so America's refuge and victory lies first in repentance and a return to Jesus Christ's atoning provision and call for righteousness.

Feelings of grief, helplessness and compassion towards fellow Americans who were victimized in the terrorist attacks have not only brought about a sweeping wave of solidarity across the nation, but also brought America to her knees to plead for help, healing and grace to overcome this tragedy. All Americans from the President and his cabinet, to the Senate, to the common citizen, have turned to prayer for the victims and their families, and the future safety of all citizens. However, the accompanying indignation towards the terrorists and their sponsors has also distracted America from searching her own soul and evaluating her true standing with God just prior to this tragedy.