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CNN Live At Daybreak

World Reaction to Bin Laden Tape Split

Aired December 14, 2001 - 05:10   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, world reaction to the Osama bin Laden tape could be split basically into two camps.

But CNN White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace reports that U.S. officials believe the tape confirms what they have said all along.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They watched the Osama bin Laden tape in silence at a restaurant near ground zero. The tape only reinforcing their steely resolve.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to see him dead, actually.

WALLACE: They also watched throughout the Arab and Muslim world, from Afghanistan to Jordan to Egypt. Some questions about bin Laden's culpability apparently put to rest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that this tape proves that Osama bin Laden has a big relationship with what happened in the United States on the 11th of September.

WALLACE: But many others rejected the tape out of hand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): In my opinion, it is a fabrication. The film was made to condemn him.

WALLACE: The public line from the White House -- people can draw their own conclusions. But U.S. officials privately hope that these images of bin Laden laughing at the destruction solidify American support for a lengthy war against terror and perhaps erase some doubts on the streets of the Muslim world.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: How could there be a doubt in anyone's mind any longer about what we have said from the very, very beginning, that he was the mastermind? He is the head of an organization that participates in this kind of evil activity.

WALLACE: Aides say after President Bush first saw the tape on November 30, he wanted to make it public as long it was authentic and did not impact future intelligence gathering.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think the president's approach all along has been if it doesn't compromise intelligence, we're a democracy. The information should be shared, not only on this, but on all matters.

WALLACE (on camera): While the administration continues to be reluctant to release other evidence, it is making the tape available in Arabic to any countries that want it. But one senior aide said the U.S. is not out there pushing the tape, this aide saying, "It does not need a whole lot of pushing."

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: Well, you can read the transcript of the bin Laden tape at CNN.com. It is linked right off the main page. And while you're at our web site you can check out our message board and see what others are saying about that tape.

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