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CNN Live Today

FBI Counterterrorism Chief Personally Believes bin Laden Dead

Aired July 17, 2002 - 13:39   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We also have some news coming in about Osama bin Laden now from the FBI official in charge of fighting terrorism.

For more on this story, let's go to CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena -- Kelli, what can you tell us?

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the FBI's top counterterrorism official today said that he personally believes Osama bin Laden is probably dead. Now, in a rare public appearance before hundreds of local law enforcement officers, Dale Watson made this remark.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DALE WATSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, FBI: People say, Well, can they simultaneously attack? Can they plan a big operation, and is UBL alive or is he dead?

I'm not sure of the answer, is he alive or dead. I personally think he is probably not with us any more, but I have no evidence to support that. But the idea behind what's coming is, are the training camps still there? Absolutely not. Is the command and control structure disrupted totally? I can't say that. But generally speaking, the disruption of that organization has occurred.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Other knowledgeable U.S. officials are skeptical about Watson's comments, and tell CNN, while it is not out of the question bin Laden is dead, they believe he is alive. One official says there is no new evidence suggesting that the al Qaeda leader is dead, and say if he were, that information could not be suppressed for very long.

Now, in speaking about al Qaeda in general, Watson said the terrorist organization has been driven underground, but says that another attack on the U.S. is coming.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: We will tell you that whatever the imagination is by this group and this organization, either individually or collectively, will be used against us. And there is no question in my mind about that, and there is no question in my mind about will we be attacked again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Watson says when graduates of al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan fled, they scattered throughout the world and said -- quote -- they could be in your neighborhood.

Justice officials have previously warned that they believe there are still al Qaeda operatives in the United States -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kelli Arena, justice correspondent. Thank you so much, Kelli.

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