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CNN Live At Daybreak
New 'Bin Laden' Tape Calls for Suicide Attacks Against Americans, Jews
Aired February 12, 2003 - 06:03 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now more on that alleged Osama bin Laden tape, and what it means to your life right now. Of course, it asks Muslims to kill Americans any way they can.
We want to take you live to London now to talk with our correspondent, Mike Boettcher, who has analyzed this tape.
Mike, the first question I think people are concerned about is: How concerned should we be when Osama bin Laden urges Muslims to attack Americans by suicide bombers?
MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, usually in the past when he has urged followers and Muslims and other al Qaeda members to attack, they usually attack, so this should be of concern. Plus, there is hard intelligence out there, Carol, pointing to the fact that al Qaeda members are plotting to try to attack U.S. rear guard positions in advance of any war against Iraq.
But the tape itself is very interesting. It's billed as a message to the Iraqi people, and in the tape, Osama bin Laden urges Iraqis to launch martyrdom, or suicide operations, against U.S. forces should there be a war.
Now, he doesn't talk much about Saddam Hussein specifically, basically calling him an infidel, but he does say that Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda does support the Iraqi people in the event of a war. He says an attack against Iraq is an attack against all Muslims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It is no secret that this crusade targets the Muslims whether the socialist party and Saddam stay or go. So, those Muslims, especially in Iraq, have to prepare themselves for jihad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOETTCHER: And Osama bin Laden in the tape did have a message for Arab leaders in the region, who are quietly supporting the United States. Let's take a listen to that section of the tape now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We also want to confirm -- we want to ask the good Muslims to help in any way they can to join the forces and get them together to overthrow the leaderships, the leadership that works as a slave for America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOETTCHER: Now, is this indeed the voice of Osama bin Laden? Analysts tend to agree it is, the U.S. says it is, and it would make sense in the phraseology used. It's similar phraseology used in other bin Laden tapes and transcripts sent out by Al Jazeera and by other means -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Mike Boettcher reporting live from London -- many thanks to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Americans, Jews>
Aired February 12, 2003 - 06:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now more on that alleged Osama bin Laden tape, and what it means to your life right now. Of course, it asks Muslims to kill Americans any way they can.
We want to take you live to London now to talk with our correspondent, Mike Boettcher, who has analyzed this tape.
Mike, the first question I think people are concerned about is: How concerned should we be when Osama bin Laden urges Muslims to attack Americans by suicide bombers?
MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, usually in the past when he has urged followers and Muslims and other al Qaeda members to attack, they usually attack, so this should be of concern. Plus, there is hard intelligence out there, Carol, pointing to the fact that al Qaeda members are plotting to try to attack U.S. rear guard positions in advance of any war against Iraq.
But the tape itself is very interesting. It's billed as a message to the Iraqi people, and in the tape, Osama bin Laden urges Iraqis to launch martyrdom, or suicide operations, against U.S. forces should there be a war.
Now, he doesn't talk much about Saddam Hussein specifically, basically calling him an infidel, but he does say that Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda does support the Iraqi people in the event of a war. He says an attack against Iraq is an attack against all Muslims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It is no secret that this crusade targets the Muslims whether the socialist party and Saddam stay or go. So, those Muslims, especially in Iraq, have to prepare themselves for jihad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOETTCHER: And Osama bin Laden in the tape did have a message for Arab leaders in the region, who are quietly supporting the United States. Let's take a listen to that section of the tape now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We also want to confirm -- we want to ask the good Muslims to help in any way they can to join the forces and get them together to overthrow the leaderships, the leadership that works as a slave for America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOETTCHER: Now, is this indeed the voice of Osama bin Laden? Analysts tend to agree it is, the U.S. says it is, and it would make sense in the phraseology used. It's similar phraseology used in other bin Laden tapes and transcripts sent out by Al Jazeera and by other means -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Mike Boettcher reporting live from London -- many thanks to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Americans, Jews>
