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CNN Live Sunday

U.S. Officials Argue Over Whether to Release Videotape Incriminating Osama bin Laden in September 11 Attacks

Aired December 09, 2001 - 15:31   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with news that U.S. officials have discovered a videotape in Afghanistan that further incriminated Osama bin Laden in the September 11th attacks. The big question now, should it be released? Let's turn now to CNN White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace for more on this. Kelly, what can you tell us?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Catherine, it is a big question now facing President Bush and his top advisers, whether to release that videotape that could provide the most direct evidence linking Osama bin Laden to the September 11th attacks.

Now President Bush arrived back at the White House earlier this afternoon along with the First Lady, after spending some time at the Presidential Retreat at Camp David. Mr. Bush did not answer any questions from reporters about the tape, its contents, or whether he would release it. But the Vice President did say earlier on this day that the tape should leave no doubt that Osama bin Laden was behind the September 11th attacks.

And on this tape, according to the Vice President, bin Laden is seen meeting with or being interviewed by a cleric discussing the terrorist attacks.

Now the tape we are showing you is a tape that was released, a different tape released by Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda group in November.

U.S. officials say on this tape that is now in the hands of U.S. officials, bin Laden is boasting and bragging about the terrorist attack. Other U.S. officials telling the Washington Post that bin Laden also expressing surprise at the total collapse of the World Trade Center, more damage than bin Laden had expected.

Again the Vice President, Dick Cheney, appearing on one of the morning talk shows today, saying this tape another piece of evidence proving bin Laden's culpability.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it's pretty clear as it's described to me that he does in fact display significant knowledge of what happened and there's no doubt about his responsibility for the attack on September 11th. Now we've known that all along. There's been some dispute in some quarters about it, but this is one more piece of evidence confirming his responsibility for what happened on 9/11.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Now U.S. officials apparently obtained this tape during a search of a private home in Jalalabad and so the big question is, why would the U.S. decide not to release it?

Well U.S. officials say one reason they have been reluctant to release such information in the past is that making such details public could compromise their ability to obtain future intelligence information down the road.

On the other side though, Catherine, one reason to release it, it could put to rest any doubts that might exist in the Muslim world, people who still might have some doubts about Osama bin Laden's role in the attacks. Many officials say by releasing this tape, again that would put to rest any questions about the role bin Laden played in the attacks. Catherine, back to you.

CALLAWAY: All right, thank you. CNN's Kelly Wallace, thank you.

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