Color me surprised; if this pans out, Osama bin Laden is apparently still alive: Bin Laden Appears on New Tape.

WASHINGTON—The Arab television station Al-Jazeera is broadcasting a new tape fromAl QaedaleaderUsama bin Laden.

Multiple sources told FOX News that the 18-minute videotape is authentic and said its release was timed to coincide with Tuesday’s presidential elections. Bin Laden makes reference to recent conflicts in Iraq and addresses the American people directly, sources said.

U.S. officials saidthe tapeappears to have been made recently. Bin Laden is speaking from a lectern and he talks about threats to the United States and he says that President Bush will not protect the American people