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American Morning

White House May Release Translated Bin Laden Tape Tomorrow

Aired December 11, 2001 - 08:07   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to straight to the White House now, where we expect the administration to finally announce today that it will release the new tape of Osama bin Laden commenting on the events of 9/11.

For that, and reaction to the latest developments in the war, Senior White House Correspondent, John King, who joins us from the Executive Mansion this morning -- good morning, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Paula.

First, the progress in the war: U.S. officials this morning closely watching the developments we just heard from Brent Sadler in the Tora Bora area. They say they are encouraged by the progress of opposition forces on the ground. Still, they say, they have no definitive information as to whether Osama bin Laden or any other top deputies might be in those cave complexes, but they are encouraged by what they see as the opposition forces continue their offensive against al Qaeda positions.

As for that tape, you just heard President Bush. He says that tape shows Osama bin Laden to be a murderer, and we know a final decision due to be made late this afternoon. All indications, though, we have from senior administration officials is that that tape will be released, perhaps as early as tomorrow.

The administration wanted to bring in outside, independent translators to make sure it is not accused in any way of doctoring the language or translating the Arabic spoken by Osama bin Laden on that tape in any way favorable to the administration. The administration officials say once that process is completed, once they double and triple check with intelligence sources to make sure there are no reservations about releasing that tape, any indications it could compromise U.S. intelligence sources, that the tape is most likely to be released.

U.S. officials believe that that, for the most part, will be a good thing. They say this is clear, public evidence, in their view, Osama bin Laden showing that he had advance knowledge of the attacks, bragging about the deaths of those Americans and others at the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon.

But they do say it also could complicate the mission as the president looks ahead. He will say today in a speech in South Carolina at the Citadel, this is a long war. It is not focused on one man, Osama bin Laden, or one organization, al Qaeda. Some administration officials a little worried, Paula, that all of the focus on Osama bin Laden will make it much more difficult to sustain the military campaign in the weeks and months ahead.

ZAHN: All right. John King -- thanks so much for joining us this morning. We know you have a busy day ahead.

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