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CNN Sunday Morning

White House Downplays Audiotape Threat

Aired June 23, 2002 - 11:04   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, how is Washington reacting to word that Osama bin Laden remains a viable threat?

CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joins us now live with that side of the story.

I hear the White House is downplaying this, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Exactly right, Kyra. The White House is specifically downplaying this new audiotape. They're really saying that they are going to reserve judgment until they listen to it themselves, until they determine its authenticity. They really have some doubts, as well, about the credibility of the spokesperson, who's actually delivering this tape.

But, again, I have to mention, as well, it is not inconsistent with what the intelligence is saying. In fact, that Osama bin Laden could be in Pakistan. They really don't know where he is. They're not particularly alarmed by this new audiotape this morning.

PHILLIPS: This report, Suzanne, any reason to be concerned at all about it?

MALVEAUX: Well, administration officials are saying, this really isn't anything new from what we've heard before, the fact they believe that Osama bin Laden is alive, that al Qaeda is able to conduct -- continue terrorist attacks, and that, in fact, it's a viable organization.

This is the type of thing that the White House has been saying for the last several months. We have heard it from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld saying the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden are unknown and that Americans should be careful, they should be cautious that possible terrorist attacks are in the future.

PHILLIPS: So when it comes to how strong al Qaeda is: What is the White House saying? What do they think?

MALVEAUX: Well, here's what they're saying. First of all, they say inside Afghanistan, al Qaeda has basically been dismantled, and they have not seen since March any large numbers of al Qaeda.

But we have seen some arrests throughout the rest of the world: In the Philippines, in Morocco, in Pakistan, of members of al Qaeda. They say this just underscores the point that al Qaeda is throughout the world; dozens and dozens of countries. That is one of the reasons the administration is arguing to expand this war on terror outside of Afghanistan. So this is consistent with U.S. intelligence.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, from the White House, thank you.

MALVEAUX: Sure.

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