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American Morning
Officials Believe Voice on Newly Released Terror Tape is Bin Laden's
Aired November 13, 2002 - 07:35 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: The voice on that newly released terror tape calls the Bush administration "the biggest butchers of the era." As we have reported, the State Department says it is bin Laden's voice. But it's not clear whether the tape was spliced together. It would mean Osama bin Laden, though, has survived the war on terror that has been going on now for more than a year.
For reaction from the White House now, let's go to John King, who joins us live -- good morning, John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.
We are told that the president is being told that U.S. officials do, in fact, believe that it is the voice of Osama bin Laden. U.S. officials are now going back to see if perhaps this tape could have been spliced together, could have been somehow computer generated. Skepticism, though, because of the references to the Bali bombings and other recent events.
Most senior U.S. officials believe this is an authentic videotape but they say because of the sensitivity they must, of course, go back and double and triple check against previous recordings of bin Laden's voice to make sure that is the case before they can report their definitive findings to the president.
Here at the White House, a low key approach to this tape. Senior officials saying the president has said all along he does not know whether bin Laden is dead or alive and, more importantly, they say the president has said all along that the threat from al Qaeda remains quite high, whether or not bin Laden is dead or alive.
But, again, intelligence analysis under way. Some saying perhaps that this will bring more criticism to the forefront. Why focus on Iraq right now if there is proof that the leader of al Qaeda is still alive and presumably doing well enough to record this tape?
U.S. officials say, though, the president is convinced that bin Laden is still on the run even if he is still alive -- Paula.
ZAHN: So if the White House is concerned about the issues this is going to raise and perhaps some pointing out maybe the war on terror hasn't been as effective in Afghanistan as it should have been, what is his strategy for moving ahead, particularly on Iraq?
KING: Well, the president will move ahead on Iraq. Again, he will say on that issue the decision now is up to Saddam Hussein whether or not to let those inspectors in. That decision from Baghdad in the next 48 hours will greatly determine the timetable for any possible military confrontation. When it comes to al Qaeda, the White House line is that it is more important to disrupt al Qaeda organizations, operations and organizations around the world and in Afghanistan than to get any one leader.
Some, of course, would take issues with that. Some say that bin Laden, chief among them, is able to mastermind these operations.
One question intelligence sources say is if this is an authentic audiotape, why an audiotape and why not a videotape, as we have seen in the past? Does that give any clues as to perhaps where bin Laden is, what his health might be? Those are questions the U.S. government asking now as they analyze this tape.
ZAHN: And is anybody at the White House saying much about this higher level of chatter that Mike Boettcher referred to this morning earlier on in this hour?
KING: U.S. officials have said since, in recent months, when we saw the bombing of the French tanker in Yemen, the bombing in Bali, there has been a high level of alert out to U.S. law enforcement here, even though the threat level has not gone up. U.S. officials do say there is quite a bit of chatter in the system right now, but they say there is nothing specific about any imminent attacks here in the United States or on U.S. interests abroad. But they say, again, this is yet another reminder of the high level of alert that the United States remains on here at home and that U.S. embassies and interests, especially in sensitive parts of the world, remain on overseas.
ZAHN: What are they working on behind you? Are they sawing down a tree there, John?
KING: Leaf blowers.
ZAHN: Oh, leaf blowers. OK. I knew there was something attempting to drown you out there.
John, thanks so much. Appreciate it.
KING: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Bin Laden's>
Aired November 13, 2002 - 07:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The voice on that newly released terror tape calls the Bush administration "the biggest butchers of the era." As we have reported, the State Department says it is bin Laden's voice. But it's not clear whether the tape was spliced together. It would mean Osama bin Laden, though, has survived the war on terror that has been going on now for more than a year.
For reaction from the White House now, let's go to John King, who joins us live -- good morning, John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.
We are told that the president is being told that U.S. officials do, in fact, believe that it is the voice of Osama bin Laden. U.S. officials are now going back to see if perhaps this tape could have been spliced together, could have been somehow computer generated. Skepticism, though, because of the references to the Bali bombings and other recent events.
Most senior U.S. officials believe this is an authentic videotape but they say because of the sensitivity they must, of course, go back and double and triple check against previous recordings of bin Laden's voice to make sure that is the case before they can report their definitive findings to the president.
Here at the White House, a low key approach to this tape. Senior officials saying the president has said all along he does not know whether bin Laden is dead or alive and, more importantly, they say the president has said all along that the threat from al Qaeda remains quite high, whether or not bin Laden is dead or alive.
But, again, intelligence analysis under way. Some saying perhaps that this will bring more criticism to the forefront. Why focus on Iraq right now if there is proof that the leader of al Qaeda is still alive and presumably doing well enough to record this tape?
U.S. officials say, though, the president is convinced that bin Laden is still on the run even if he is still alive -- Paula.
ZAHN: So if the White House is concerned about the issues this is going to raise and perhaps some pointing out maybe the war on terror hasn't been as effective in Afghanistan as it should have been, what is his strategy for moving ahead, particularly on Iraq?
KING: Well, the president will move ahead on Iraq. Again, he will say on that issue the decision now is up to Saddam Hussein whether or not to let those inspectors in. That decision from Baghdad in the next 48 hours will greatly determine the timetable for any possible military confrontation. When it comes to al Qaeda, the White House line is that it is more important to disrupt al Qaeda organizations, operations and organizations around the world and in Afghanistan than to get any one leader.
Some, of course, would take issues with that. Some say that bin Laden, chief among them, is able to mastermind these operations.
One question intelligence sources say is if this is an authentic audiotape, why an audiotape and why not a videotape, as we have seen in the past? Does that give any clues as to perhaps where bin Laden is, what his health might be? Those are questions the U.S. government asking now as they analyze this tape.
ZAHN: And is anybody at the White House saying much about this higher level of chatter that Mike Boettcher referred to this morning earlier on in this hour?
KING: U.S. officials have said since, in recent months, when we saw the bombing of the French tanker in Yemen, the bombing in Bali, there has been a high level of alert out to U.S. law enforcement here, even though the threat level has not gone up. U.S. officials do say there is quite a bit of chatter in the system right now, but they say there is nothing specific about any imminent attacks here in the United States or on U.S. interests abroad. But they say, again, this is yet another reminder of the high level of alert that the United States remains on here at home and that U.S. embassies and interests, especially in sensitive parts of the world, remain on overseas.
ZAHN: What are they working on behind you? Are they sawing down a tree there, John?
KING: Leaf blowers.
ZAHN: Oh, leaf blowers. OK. I knew there was something attempting to drown you out there.
John, thanks so much. Appreciate it.
KING: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Bin Laden's>
