Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

U.S. Tracking bin Laden Online

Aired July 24, 2002 - 08:08   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now onto the war on terror and the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

CNN has some new information about efforts to locate the al Qaeda leader.

Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joins us now live from Washington -- good morning, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Well, you know, while here in Washington most of the talk for the last several weeks has been about issues like the collapsing stock market, the one thing you haven't been hearing about is where is Osama bin Laden?

Well, CNN has had a look at just what a tough time the Bush administration is having in finding him and catching him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice-over): CNN has learned that the trail to Osama bin Laden has gone so cold that U.S. intelligence is now largely reduced to hunting the world's most wanted man in cyberspace. U.S. counter- terrorism experts are monitoring a number of Web sites, including this one, and computer servers they believe might contain recent messages from bin Laden himself. Some intelligence officials believe electronic messages containing markers or code words are indications bin Laden is directly trying to signal supporters he is alive. One intelligence official told CNN, "It's either bin Laden or an elaborate cyber deception campaign by his lieutenants."

As CNN reported earlier this year, al Qaeda has surfaced on the Internet before. U.S. intelligence is monitoring this Web site, which keeps changing its address to stay ahead in the cat and mouse game with investigators. On this site, al Qaeda posted messages warning of future attacks and sharing details of 9/11 hijackers.

Investigators say al Qaeda is very computer savvy. They are giving new attention to the idea that senior al Qaeda leaders, perhaps even bin Laden, are burying messages inside photographic computer files on pornographic Web sites. That renewed lead from information provided by detainees to U.S. interrogators. CNN has learned that a recently completed counter-terrorism analysis concludes -- no surprise -- nobody knows if bin Laden is alive. A top FBI official said he thinks Osama bin Laden is dead, but there are various scenarios being considered.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld confirms bin Laden hasn't been heard from since December. If he is alive, why isn't he letting the world know?

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: One might be he's not physically able because he's injured in some way. Another might be because he is afraid if he does it he'll get caught.

STARR: The new intelligence analysis also notes that if bin Laden is alive, he simply may be staying hidden, waiting to emerge when the next attack occurs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: And today in Afghanistan, U.S. special forces are now in the capital city of Kabul, personally guarding Afghan President Hamid Karzai because of the continued unrest in the country -- Paula.

ZAHN: Barbara Starr, thanks so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com