Report: Videotape Shows Bin Laden Discussing Sept. 11 Trade Center Bombing

AP ^ | 12/9/01 | The Associated Press

[Jean S]

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. officials have obtained a videotape of Osama bin Laden that provides the strongest evidence to date that the al-Qaida leader was connected with the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

In the 40-minute tape, bin Laden described the damage around the fallen twin towers in New York as greater than expected and praised Allah for greater success than anticipated, the newspaper said, quoting unidentified senior government officials.

The tape was said to have been found in a private home in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, and Bush administration officials are debating whether and how to make it public, the Post said.

While officials have said they intercepted communications that allegedly tied bin Laden or associates to the attacks, they have refused to release any materials, citing intelligence concerns.

Some officials hope that making the tape public could counter concern in the Muslim world that bin Laden has been unjustly accused of involvement in the attacks, the Post said.

The videotape makes it "very clear that bin Laden not only had advanced knowledge but is proof he was responsible for planning," one senior official who had seen a transcript of the tape told the Post.

AP-ES-12-09-01 0110EST

This story can be found at : http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAFNDPG0VC.html

[onyx]

The world needs to see the tape, even if some Muslims will not believe what their eyes see and their ears hear.

[El Gato]

....I have speculated before (though I was soundly rebuked my most of my friends) that the terrorists actually did not expect the towards to completely collapse, but may have only anticipated killing a few hundred or a thousand people.

I think they were trying to kill as many as they could. While they may have hoped the towers would collapse, they surely figured on burning to death about as many as actually died. As far as not expecting a firm response, I think they did, but not quite so firm from the US, and much firmer from the great unwashed in Islamic countries. Of course until Babbling binny is stretched by a short rope over a long drop, frozen like a Birds-eye veggie on some goat path in the moutains, or turned into a greasy puff of smoke, he could still get his desires. It all depends on what else he's got, and how it's used.

[El Gato]

The Washington Post article

Indicates that he thought the towers would collapse down to the level were the planes struck. If that had happened right away, and considering the fires also, more people would probably have been killed than actually were. Fewer from FDNY, NYPD and PAPD of course, but as many or more overall.

[cpdiii]

I disagree!

I do think they knew it was possible to collapse the Trade Towers. If they were interested in simply fire as a mechanism of destruction they would have hit the Towers at a far lower level. I am think their target level was the result of evaluation by structural engineers.

[cpdiii]

I am think = I think

[LenS]

I disagree. I think that Al Qaeda was definitely trying to bring down the buildings. One reason for the military tribunals is to avoid the situation in the previous attack where experts at that trial had to discuss what the bombers were attempting and why that attack failed to collapse the buildings. A comment was made that even a small plane would fail and that only a larger jet might have a chance of success. Al Qaeda studied the public info from that trial. They learned from their previous miscalculation and improved their attack method. The only thing about the second Towers' attacks that possibly surprised them was that the buildings stayed up for a while.

They discounted an American response because US responses against Arab terrorism have been temporary and involved quick withdrawals ever since the bombings in Lebanon in 1983.

[Fred25]

Last night I heard Dan Rather on Larry King Live say that the American people would have “humanitarian sympathy” (or something like that) for the California traitor who was found with the Taliban, and I think it was CNN that showed some rare video of the CIA agent who was killed, interviewing that same guy a day or so before the prison riot broke out.

[mlocher]

thanks for the post. does anybody know if the tape shows bin laden thanking clinton for his support?

[Hugh Akston]

And this makes them different from our rabid anti-war folks (Ada Coddington, Justin Raimondo, SendToScott, et al) exactly how?

[Stultis]

I do think they knew it was possible to collapse the Trade Towers. If they were interested in simply fire as a mechanism of destruction they would have hit the Towers at a far lower level. I am think their target level was the result of evaluation by structural engineers.

Or because they knew where the asbestos coating of the support columns stopped. (Thanks trial-lawyers, eco-whackos, etc.)

[colette_g]

Another source : Sky News

Spies Uncover Bin Laden Video

A video directly linking Osama bin Laden to the September 11 terrorist attacks has been discovered by intelligence chiefs.

The Saudi fugitive is filmed saying he did not anticipate that the twin towers would collapse after they were hit by two airliners.

The tape was found in a house in Afghanistan abandoned by the Taliban, the Washington Post reported. 

'Success'

In it, bin Laden says he was eating with colleagues when he was told of the first attack.

They cheered and he moves his hand to indicate that the tower will collapse to the point of impact. The dissident then praised God for the unexpected "success".

Intelligence chiefs say the tape is the first direct evidence linking the world's most wanted man to the attacks.

'Advanced knowledge'

A senior official said: "It is very clear that bin Laden not only had advance knowledge, but the video is proof he was responsible for planning."

But US defence officials have not decided whether to release the 40-minute video, which has been checked and found to be 'legitimate'.

They fear the Muslim world will believe it is faked.

'Revenge'

It is unclear why the amateur tape was shot - but similar releases have been made in the past to recruit new Taliban figters.

The video is a different one from the tape Prime Minister Tony Blair told the Commons about on October 20.

Mr Blair said the video he had seen a transcript of showed an interviewer asking bin Laden about the September 11 attacks.

The Prime Minister told MPs that the al Qaida leader replied: "It is what we instigated, for a while, in self defence. And it was revenge for our people killed in Palestine and Iraq."

Last Modified: 17:08 UK, Sunday December 09, 2001

[randita]

While officials have said they intercepted communications that allegedly tied bin Laden or associates to the attacks, they have refused to release any materials, citing intelligence concerns.

This info firmly supports the Bush decision to have terrorists tried in military tribunals. Were Bin Laden to be tried in a civil courtroom, the legitimacy of the videotape would have to be proved beyond a resonable doubt, meaning that all the intelligence sources used to obtain it would be available to the public.

[christianswindler]

One thing seems to me to be clear: The longer we delay the release of the tape unedited, the less credibility it will have.

[VRWC_minion]

Created by the same folks that brought you TWA800 gaining altitude ?

[Righty1]

Especially at his tribunal hearing before he is pushed off of the front of an aircraft carrier to be blended as fish food. I would save his liver for the hogs though.

[COB1]

This tape was probably made by the same CIA operatives who made the fake moon landing tape.
In fact, as a good Muslim I think the whole thing is fake!
I've never seen the WTC or the Pentagon destruction, only what the TV has shown, and I know how easy it is to fake that!

We're dealing with people who have "ears that won't hear and eyes that won't see."

[nopardons]

You are SO funny ! LOL

Yes, I know. Isn't it amazing that the very people, who adamenly claim that they can't / don't trust ANYTHING that any media or gvernment reports on, do believe , whole heartedly, EVERY ridoculous thing that the conspiracy nuts put out there ?

[onyx]

Last night I heard Dan Rather on Larry King Live say that the American people would have “humanitarian sympathy” (or something like that) for the California traitor who was found with the Taliban, and I think it was CNN that showed some rare video of the CIA agent who was killed, interviewing that same guy a day or so before the prison riot broke out.

Thanks for watching Rather and CNN, two "things" I avoid watching! I'm shocked that CNN would present a "rather" (pun intneded) balanced report!

[Mark17]

Report: Videotape Shows Bin Laden Discussing Sept. 11 Trade Center Bombing

Remember, according to Ted Kennedy and Pat Leahy, Bin Laden could kill half the world's population, but we still need to respect his rights. (sarcasm off) Kennedy and Leahy are evil incarnate.

[VOA]

The tape was said to have been found in a private home in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, and Bush
administration officials are debating whether and how to make it public, the
Post said.

If they aired this footage (and properly translated Osama's rant) back-to-back with
the "Roots Of Rage" special that aired on NBC DateLine Fri. Night on the TRUE extent
of hate the MOST of the Muslim world has for America and American citizens...
now that woul be a REAL PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!

(I work with some Muslims who I think are actually good people, of good will...
but I don't think our country will be doing itself any favor by not facing the fact
that a LOT of the Muslim world either HATES us or MISUNDERSTANDS us.)