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American Morning
Voice on Tape Likely al-Zawahiri
Aired October 09, 2002 - 08:11 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get back overseas right now. U.S. officials today analyzing a new audiotape said to be an interview with Osama bin Laden's second in command. A voice expert says it sounds like Ayman al-Zawahiri. The voice on the tape warning of new terror attacks against the U.S. And if confirmed, then, how important is the tape to intelligence officials?
Sheila MacVicar has heard the tape. She joins us live from London talking with others about reaction to this -- Sheila, hello to you.
What are you learning?
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
You're quite correct, people who know Ayman al-Zawahiri, who have met with him, spoken with him in the past, are familiar with his voice on other previously verified audiotapes or videotapes say that to their ear, this does, indeed, sound like Osama bin Laden's number two. However, of course, we will wait for the final verdict on that from U.S. intelligence.
What's important in this audiotape, in contrast to some other tapes that we have heard in recent days, including one which does now appear to have been from Osama bin Laden himself, is that there are some key time references in here which may help investigators determine at least a framework, a frame of time in which this audiotape was recorded.
Now, there's a reference to some attacks which took place in Tunisia in April, an attack in Karachi in May and a reference to what the voice on the tape calls the anniversary, the first anniversary, the end of the first year of the American attack on Afghanistan. Some interpret that as a reference to 9/11. Some other point out that the war against Afghanistan and the Taliban regime there began just a year ago this week.
So some interesting clues there that may, in fact, help to determine whether or not at least Ayman al-Zawahiri, bin Laden's number two, if, indeed, this is his voice, is still alive -- Bill.
HEMMER: Go back to early in the week, Sheila, quickly. There was a tape that was purported in some circles to be the voice of Osama bin Laden. There were no time references at all on that audiotape that was delivered. Compare and contrast that, first of all, and the second part of this is what are you hearing about why audiotape now when in the past al Qaeda leaders have always communicated essentially through videotape?
MACVICAR: Well, on the subject about, on the subject of bin Laden and the bin Laden tape, quite correct, no references to time, absolutely no indication of when that tape was made or if it was even made specifically. Perhaps it's an excerpt, some people have suggested, of previous speeches or previous tapes that were made. That voice now confirmed, however, to be the voice of Osama bin Laden.
The question of videotape versus audiotape is an interesting one. It suggests that perhaps there are security concerns. It suggests that perhaps there is a change in appearance. It also, perhaps, suggests that they don't feel that they are particularly comfortable or able to communicate using video and they're much more comfortable with audiotape.
This tape has arrived in the hands of the media from the news agency APTN. They got it from an Islamic foundation which in the past has been known to have ties to al Qaeda and has, in the past, had access to earlier al Qaeda material -- Bill.
HEMMER: Sheila, thank you.
Sheila MacVicar, again, on that story from London.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 9, 2002 - 08:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get back overseas right now. U.S. officials today analyzing a new audiotape said to be an interview with Osama bin Laden's second in command. A voice expert says it sounds like Ayman al-Zawahiri. The voice on the tape warning of new terror attacks against the U.S. And if confirmed, then, how important is the tape to intelligence officials?
Sheila MacVicar has heard the tape. She joins us live from London talking with others about reaction to this -- Sheila, hello to you.
What are you learning?
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
You're quite correct, people who know Ayman al-Zawahiri, who have met with him, spoken with him in the past, are familiar with his voice on other previously verified audiotapes or videotapes say that to their ear, this does, indeed, sound like Osama bin Laden's number two. However, of course, we will wait for the final verdict on that from U.S. intelligence.
What's important in this audiotape, in contrast to some other tapes that we have heard in recent days, including one which does now appear to have been from Osama bin Laden himself, is that there are some key time references in here which may help investigators determine at least a framework, a frame of time in which this audiotape was recorded.
Now, there's a reference to some attacks which took place in Tunisia in April, an attack in Karachi in May and a reference to what the voice on the tape calls the anniversary, the first anniversary, the end of the first year of the American attack on Afghanistan. Some interpret that as a reference to 9/11. Some other point out that the war against Afghanistan and the Taliban regime there began just a year ago this week.
So some interesting clues there that may, in fact, help to determine whether or not at least Ayman al-Zawahiri, bin Laden's number two, if, indeed, this is his voice, is still alive -- Bill.
HEMMER: Go back to early in the week, Sheila, quickly. There was a tape that was purported in some circles to be the voice of Osama bin Laden. There were no time references at all on that audiotape that was delivered. Compare and contrast that, first of all, and the second part of this is what are you hearing about why audiotape now when in the past al Qaeda leaders have always communicated essentially through videotape?
MACVICAR: Well, on the subject about, on the subject of bin Laden and the bin Laden tape, quite correct, no references to time, absolutely no indication of when that tape was made or if it was even made specifically. Perhaps it's an excerpt, some people have suggested, of previous speeches or previous tapes that were made. That voice now confirmed, however, to be the voice of Osama bin Laden.
The question of videotape versus audiotape is an interesting one. It suggests that perhaps there are security concerns. It suggests that perhaps there is a change in appearance. It also, perhaps, suggests that they don't feel that they are particularly comfortable or able to communicate using video and they're much more comfortable with audiotape.
This tape has arrived in the hands of the media from the news agency APTN. They got it from an Islamic foundation which in the past has been known to have ties to al Qaeda and has, in the past, had access to earlier al Qaeda material -- Bill.
HEMMER: Sheila, thank you.
Sheila MacVicar, again, on that story from London.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
