Bin Laden says Bush repeating Soviet mistakes

WASHINGTON, Sep 7 (Reuters) Osama bin Laden, in a US transcript of a newly released video, said President George W Bush was repeating the mistakes of former Soviet leaders by refusing to acknowledge losses in Iraq.

Bin Laden also said US Democrats had failed to stop the war in Iraq because of the power corporations wield in the United States. US officials have not verified the authenticity of the tape.

''So in answer to the question about the causes of the Democrats' failure to stop the war, I say: they are the same reasons which led to the failure of former president (John F) Kennedy to stop the Vietnam war. Those with real power and influence are those with the most capital,'' bin Laden said.

''And since the democratic system permits major corporations to back candidates, be they presidential or congressional, there shouldn't be any cause for astonishment -- and there isn't any -- in the Democrats' failure to stop the war,'' he says.

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