Article link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/07/binladen.tape/index.html
QUOTE
Official: Voice on video belongs to bin Laden
* Story Highlights
* NEW: Bush says tape is a reminder that Iraq is part of the war against extremists
* Initial analysis confirms voice is that of al Qaeda leader, official says
* Bin Laden tape questions power of Democratic majority
* The anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks is Tuesday
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Early analysis indicates the voice on a recently released videotape is that of Osama bin Laden, a U.S. official said Friday, as President Bush called the tape "a reminder of the dangerous world in which we live."
A transcript of the video, obtained by CNN, shows it contains no overt threats toward the United States.
Some date references, including a mention of Democrats gaining the majority in Congress, may indicate the tape is new.
In the tape, bin Laden calls the Iraq war "unjust" and blames it -- and a host of the world's other ills -- on capitalism.VideoWatch a segment of the tape »
"Iraq and Afghanistan and their tragedies; and the reeling of many of you under the burden of interest-related debts, insane taxes and real estate mortgages; global warming and its woes; and the abject poverty and tragic hunger in Africa; all of this is but one side of the grim face of this global system," he said.
Bin Laden also urges Americans to "embrace Islam" as a way to end the war in Iraq, according to the transcript.
President Bush, in Australia for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, said it was "interesting" that bin Laden mentioned Iraq in the tape.
"If al Qaeda bothers to mention Iraq, it is because they want to achieve their objectives in Iraq, which is to drive us out and to develop a safe haven," Bush said.
"And the reason they want a safe haven is to launch attacks against America or any other ally. And therefore, it is important that we show resolve and determination to protect ourselves, to deny al Qaeda safe haven and to support young democracies, which will be a major defeat to their ambitions."
The transcript also shows bin Laden blaming global warming on large corporations.
"The life of all mankind is in danger because of the global warming resulting to a large degree from the emissions of the factories the major corporations," it says.
"And despite this brazen attack on the people [referring to global warming], the leaders of the West -- especially Bush, Blair, Sarkozy and Brown -- still talk about freedom and human rights with a flagrant disregard for the intellects of humans?"
The reference to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown suggests that the tape was recorded this summer.
U.S. officials said its appearance -- just days before the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks planned and carried out by al Qaeda -- shows that the group remains intent on targeting the United States.
"We continue to see a very determined enemy who wants to plot, plan and kill Americans and act against American interests," White House homeland security adviser Fran Townsend told CNN.
"But I'd encourage Americans to keep in mind whenever we see these sorts of statements, they're propaganda. And they're the enemy's propaganda. They're meant to manipulate the American people and to frighten them," she said.
Another official described the tape, which is about 30 minutes long, as "ranting and raving."
Earlier Friday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said it was not unusual for al Qaeda to release tapes near the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Chertoff said no special alert was in the works.
He said only that the United States had scored "a win for the good guys" with recent arrests of terror suspects in Germany and Denmark, adding that the suspects had posed no direct threat to the United States.
Officials had no "credible information" about any imminent threat to the United States, Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said Thursday.
But he reiterated the department's stance that "we are in a period of increased risk."
"The National Intelligence Estimate cited increases in activity overseas, and we're mindful of the recent arrests in Europe," he said. "There has also been an uptick in propaganda tapes and messages coming from al Qaeda and affiliated networks over the past year."
Bin Laden's last video appearance came days before the 2004 presidential vote and was widely credited with giving a boost to President Bush's re-election campaign.
In that tape, bin Laden said he decided in 1982 to attack the twin towers of the World Trade Center after the invasion of Lebanon by Israel, which he claimed was backed by the U.S. Navy.
Although the United States launched the war in Afghanistan to find bin Laden and to deny al Qaeda a haven with the Taliban, which then controlled the country, he has eluded capture.
Officials have said bin Laden may be hiding in the mountainous tribal areas of Afghanistan or Pakistan. But a military official recently said there has been no good lead on his location since about 2005.
CNN's Pam Benson and Kelli Arena contributed to this report.
Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
* Story Highlights
* NEW: Bush says tape is a reminder that Iraq is part of the war against extremists
* Initial analysis confirms voice is that of al Qaeda leader, official says
* Bin Laden tape questions power of Democratic majority
* The anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks is Tuesday
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Early analysis indicates the voice on a recently released videotape is that of Osama bin Laden, a U.S. official said Friday, as President Bush called the tape "a reminder of the dangerous world in which we live."
A transcript of the video, obtained by CNN, shows it contains no overt threats toward the United States.
Some date references, including a mention of Democrats gaining the majority in Congress, may indicate the tape is new.
In the tape, bin Laden calls the Iraq war "unjust" and blames it -- and a host of the world's other ills -- on capitalism.VideoWatch a segment of the tape »
"Iraq and Afghanistan and their tragedies; and the reeling of many of you under the burden of interest-related debts, insane taxes and real estate mortgages; global warming and its woes; and the abject poverty and tragic hunger in Africa; all of this is but one side of the grim face of this global system," he said.
Bin Laden also urges Americans to "embrace Islam" as a way to end the war in Iraq, according to the transcript.
President Bush, in Australia for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, said it was "interesting" that bin Laden mentioned Iraq in the tape.
"If al Qaeda bothers to mention Iraq, it is because they want to achieve their objectives in Iraq, which is to drive us out and to develop a safe haven," Bush said.
"And the reason they want a safe haven is to launch attacks against America or any other ally. And therefore, it is important that we show resolve and determination to protect ourselves, to deny al Qaeda safe haven and to support young democracies, which will be a major defeat to their ambitions."
The transcript also shows bin Laden blaming global warming on large corporations.
"The life of all mankind is in danger because of the global warming resulting to a large degree from the emissions of the factories the major corporations," it says.
"And despite this brazen attack on the people [referring to global warming], the leaders of the West -- especially Bush, Blair, Sarkozy and Brown -- still talk about freedom and human rights with a flagrant disregard for the intellects of humans?"
The reference to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown suggests that the tape was recorded this summer.
U.S. officials said its appearance -- just days before the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks planned and carried out by al Qaeda -- shows that the group remains intent on targeting the United States.
"We continue to see a very determined enemy who wants to plot, plan and kill Americans and act against American interests," White House homeland security adviser Fran Townsend told CNN.
"But I'd encourage Americans to keep in mind whenever we see these sorts of statements, they're propaganda. And they're the enemy's propaganda. They're meant to manipulate the American people and to frighten them," she said.
Another official described the tape, which is about 30 minutes long, as "ranting and raving."
Earlier Friday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said it was not unusual for al Qaeda to release tapes near the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Chertoff said no special alert was in the works.
He said only that the United States had scored "a win for the good guys" with recent arrests of terror suspects in Germany and Denmark, adding that the suspects had posed no direct threat to the United States.
Officials had no "credible information" about any imminent threat to the United States, Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said Thursday.
But he reiterated the department's stance that "we are in a period of increased risk."
"The National Intelligence Estimate cited increases in activity overseas, and we're mindful of the recent arrests in Europe," he said. "There has also been an uptick in propaganda tapes and messages coming from al Qaeda and affiliated networks over the past year."
Bin Laden's last video appearance came days before the 2004 presidential vote and was widely credited with giving a boost to President Bush's re-election campaign.
In that tape, bin Laden said he decided in 1982 to attack the twin towers of the World Trade Center after the invasion of Lebanon by Israel, which he claimed was backed by the U.S. Navy.
Although the United States launched the war in Afghanistan to find bin Laden and to deny al Qaeda a haven with the Taliban, which then controlled the country, he has eluded capture.
Officials have said bin Laden may be hiding in the mountainous tribal areas of Afghanistan or Pakistan. But a military official recently said there has been no good lead on his location since about 2005.
CNN's Pam Benson and Kelli Arena contributed to this report.
Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
Here is another CNN article published today regarding Osama bin Laden:
Article link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/09/bin...tape/index.html
QUOTE
Bin Laden is 'virtually impotent,' national security adviser says
* Story Highlights
* Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden appears in new videotape
* National security adviser: No credible information about imminent attack
* Adviser Frances Townsend calls bin Laden tape "propaganda"
* In the tape, bin Laden encourages Americans to "embrace Islam"
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Osama bin Laden may be grabbing headlines with a new videotape but he is "virtually impotent," said President Bush's national security adviser.
"This is a man on the run in a cave who is virtually impotent other than his ability to get these messages out," Frances Townsend said Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer."
She called the tape, which surfaced last week, "propaganda."
The U.S. is taking the tape "very seriously" and is piecing through it for clues, but the al Qaeda leader is not known to have ever used a tape "to trigger any operational activity," said Townsend.
Townsend said the U.S. has "no specific or credible information right now about an imminent attack."
She added the "ongoing plots around the world" are concerning.
"And we continue to make sure that the information is being shared not only with our agencies overseas, but our investigative agencies here at home like the FBI and local police departments."
Townsend was referring to the arrests in Germany last week of suspects planning an alleged terror plot aimed at U.S. military installations and other Western targets. Also last week in Denmark, authorities arrested eight people who were planning attacks.
In the tape, which appears recently made, bin Laden urges Americans to "embrace Islam" as a way to end the war in Iraq.
It contains no overt threats toward the U.S.
However, bin Laden does talk about his "side" continuing "to escalate the killing and fighting against you. This is our duty and our brothers are carrying it out, and I ask God to grant them resolve and victory."
John McLaughlin, the former acting head of the CIA, and now a CNN consultant, said bin Laden achieved at least two things in the tape.
"He gets to reach out to followers who, according to jihadist Web sites, have been wondering where is their leader," McLaughlin said. "And he also gets to rail against the Iraq war, which is his strongest propaganda point."
Townsend said analysts are taking care to examine all aspects of the tape.
"We are looking for things like indications about his health, indications about his whereabouts, the contents of the message. Are there any hidden meanings or messages to it? That technical analysis is ongoing," she said.
Asked why the United States has failed to capture or kill bin Laden six years after the 9/11 attacks, Townsend brought up Eric Robert Rudolph, who was convicted of several bombing attacks in the U.S., including the 1996 Summer Olympics bombing in Atlanta, Georgia.
"He was in the foothills in the Carolinas here in the United States, and it took us five years to find him," she said of Rudolph.
Blitzer responded, "But you weren't devoting the resources to finding Eric Rudolph that you're devoting to finding Osama bin Laden."
"No," Townsend replied. "But you have the counterterrorism resources that are devoted to not only finding bin Laden, but they're also devoted to preventing the next attack, to following leads, both in this country and around the world.
Democrats charged the videotape shows Bush took his eye off al Qaeda by invading Iraq.
"Every time I see that fugitive terrorist on television taunting America, I think of how wrong this president was in turning away from going after that murderer who murdered our citizens, and moving into Iraq and not having any way of getting us out," Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, said Sunday. Watch Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urge Bush to bring bin Laden to justiceVideo
Townsend said "capturing and killing bin Laden is the No. 1 priority, but it's not our only priority."
"We also have to be mindful of current ongoing threats against this country," said Townsend.
* Story Highlights
* Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden appears in new videotape
* National security adviser: No credible information about imminent attack
* Adviser Frances Townsend calls bin Laden tape "propaganda"
* In the tape, bin Laden encourages Americans to "embrace Islam"
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Osama bin Laden may be grabbing headlines with a new videotape but he is "virtually impotent," said President Bush's national security adviser.
"This is a man on the run in a cave who is virtually impotent other than his ability to get these messages out," Frances Townsend said Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer."
She called the tape, which surfaced last week, "propaganda."
The U.S. is taking the tape "very seriously" and is piecing through it for clues, but the al Qaeda leader is not known to have ever used a tape "to trigger any operational activity," said Townsend.
Townsend said the U.S. has "no specific or credible information right now about an imminent attack."
She added the "ongoing plots around the world" are concerning.
"And we continue to make sure that the information is being shared not only with our agencies overseas, but our investigative agencies here at home like the FBI and local police departments."
Townsend was referring to the arrests in Germany last week of suspects planning an alleged terror plot aimed at U.S. military installations and other Western targets. Also last week in Denmark, authorities arrested eight people who were planning attacks.
In the tape, which appears recently made, bin Laden urges Americans to "embrace Islam" as a way to end the war in Iraq.
It contains no overt threats toward the U.S.
However, bin Laden does talk about his "side" continuing "to escalate the killing and fighting against you. This is our duty and our brothers are carrying it out, and I ask God to grant them resolve and victory."
John McLaughlin, the former acting head of the CIA, and now a CNN consultant, said bin Laden achieved at least two things in the tape.
"He gets to reach out to followers who, according to jihadist Web sites, have been wondering where is their leader," McLaughlin said. "And he also gets to rail against the Iraq war, which is his strongest propaganda point."
Townsend said analysts are taking care to examine all aspects of the tape.
"We are looking for things like indications about his health, indications about his whereabouts, the contents of the message. Are there any hidden meanings or messages to it? That technical analysis is ongoing," she said.
Asked why the United States has failed to capture or kill bin Laden six years after the 9/11 attacks, Townsend brought up Eric Robert Rudolph, who was convicted of several bombing attacks in the U.S., including the 1996 Summer Olympics bombing in Atlanta, Georgia.
"He was in the foothills in the Carolinas here in the United States, and it took us five years to find him," she said of Rudolph.
Blitzer responded, "But you weren't devoting the resources to finding Eric Rudolph that you're devoting to finding Osama bin Laden."
"No," Townsend replied. "But you have the counterterrorism resources that are devoted to not only finding bin Laden, but they're also devoted to preventing the next attack, to following leads, both in this country and around the world.
Democrats charged the videotape shows Bush took his eye off al Qaeda by invading Iraq.
"Every time I see that fugitive terrorist on television taunting America, I think of how wrong this president was in turning away from going after that murderer who murdered our citizens, and moving into Iraq and not having any way of getting us out," Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, said Sunday. Watch Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urge Bush to bring bin Laden to justiceVideo
Townsend said "capturing and killing bin Laden is the No. 1 priority, but it's not our only priority."
"We also have to be mindful of current ongoing threats against this country," said Townsend.
