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CNN Live Saturday

Bin Laden Attacks U.S. and U.N. in Latest Videotaped Statement

Aired November 03, 2001 - 16:08   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Osama bin Laden lashes out at the United States and the United Nations in a videotape broadcast today by the Arab language television station Al-Jazeera. And on this 20- minute tape, bin Laden does not deny that his organization was responsible for the September 11 attacks in the United States, instead, he says that true Muslims celebrated those attacks.

Bin Laden condemns the U.S.-led bombing campaign and claims that it is targeting innocent Afghan civilians. He calls the United Nations "a instrument of crime against Muslims" and says that Muslims leaders who work with the U.N. are, quote, "hypocrites." Bin Laden goes on to say that Muslim leaders who remain in the U.N. have broken faith with Muhammad and the Koran.

Now, the U.N. General Assembly is convening next week, and some Arab leaders are expected to attend, but it's not clear if bin Laden is referring to that particular meeting. Al-Jazeera says it doesn't know when or where bin Laden recorded that tape, but bin Laden's reference on this tape to the bombing in Afghanistan does seem to suggest that the tape was recorded after the bombing campaign began on October 7.

Now, as we mentioned at the top of the hour, senior U.S. government officials say that Osama bin Laden made a grave error in this new televised statement. CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is near Camp David today, where the president is spending the weekend, and she's got some reaction to bin Laden's remarks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): As part of its stepped-up offense to counter the so-called propaganda war with Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, the United States was quick to respond to bin Laden's latest videotaped statement, senior government officials calling it, quote, "an act of desperation." Further, they point to bin Laden's taking on the United Nations and Arab countries which belong to the world body. They say they believe bin Laden may be making a, quote, "grave error," and may have permanently damaged his standing in the Arab world.

These senior government officials telling CNN, quote: "Bin Laden must believe the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon and even Iraq are infidels." They go on to say: "By launching this attack against the other Arab nations he is alienating millions of moderate Muslims."

These senior U.S. officials believe bin Laden is feeling the pressure of the military campaign against Afghanistan, and they are now in the process of getting this message out through the administration's new coalition information center. This center was set up earlier in the week. It consists of a campaign-style war room in the White House, which is linked currently to an office in England and soon to an office in Islamabad, Pakistan. The goal, again, to counter any statements coming from the Taliban and from Osama bin Laden throughout the 24-hour news cycle.

Now, senior administration officials say they don't believe they are losing the propaganda war with bin Laden or the Taliban, but they do concede the administration can do a better job communicating its message. The U.S. saying its message is that this is not a campaign against Muslims, not a campaign against Islam, but a campaign against terrorists and those who harbor them. Senior U.S. officials could not say when they believed bin Laden may have recorded this videotaped statement.

And as for President Bush, he is spending the weekend at the presidential retreat at Camp David. Earlier Saturday, he chaired another video teleconference meeting with his National Security Council. He is expected to be spending the weekend working a bit with his advisers, preparing for what is going to be a very busy week, the president meeting with six world leaders in Washington and also delivering a number of speeches aimed at an international audience and also a speech to the American people to talk about the domestic security situation.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting from Hagerstown, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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