Bush moves toward releasing bin Laden tape
( 2001-12-11 09:54 ) (7 )

US President George W. Bush on Monday moved toward releasing a captured videotape of Osama bin Laden that he said proves the Islamic militant's responsibility for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

"For those who see this tape, they'll realize that not only is he guilty of incredible murder, he has no conscience and no soul, that he represents the worst of civilization," Bush said in describing the bin Laden video.

Bush aims to release the tape, which purportedly shows bin Laden revealing that he knew in advance of the attacks, after a security review to make sure it does not undermine intelligence operations, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

A review could take until later this week to finish. Bush would release the video "if they don't find anything to object to," he said.

Another official said "the intention is to make this information public," possibly as early as Wednesday, but said time was needed to guard against accusations the tape was fabricated, to finish a "complicated translation" and to ensure that its release would not compromise intelligence gathering.

Bush and his National Security Council met on Monday and discussed releasing the tape, which officials said showed bin Laden saying the damage to the World Trade Center twin towers in New York had been much greater than he had anticipated.

Bin Laden expressed amusement that some of those taking part in the hijackings of four passenger jets did not know they were on suicide missions, officials said. Bin Laden, in an earlier interview, welcomed the attacks but denied involvement.

"He's so evil that he's willing to send young men to commit suicide while he hides in caves," Bush said after a Hanukkah ceremony at the White House.

"It (the tape) just reminded me of what a murderer he is, how right and just our cause is. I can't imagine that Osama bin Laden would understand the joy of Hanukkah or the joy of Christmas," the president said.

The 40-minute homemade tape was found at a private home in the eastern Afghanistan city of Jalalabad. Officials, citing intelligence concerns, declined to say how the tape was found.

COUNTERING DOUBTS

The United States has been seeking to counter doubts, especially in the Arab world, about bin Laden's involvement in the attacks. Britain previously released the first extensive documents aimed at establishing a case against bin Laden.

Bush "thinks it's important for people to know what Osama bin Laden has said in this regard," Fleischer said.

On the other hand, he said, it was essential to protect intelligence operations and to avoid giving bin Laden undue publicity.

Broadcast network sources told Reuters that if the tape were released they would have to view it before making any decisions as to its use.

Fleischer said a transcript he has seen "validates or verifies everything that has been said all along about who is responsible for the attack."

The tape, unlike tapes released by bin Laden after the Sept. 11 attacks, was not made as propaganda, Fleischer said.

"It is different from the prepackaged propaganda tapes. ... This appears to be a conversation that was taped as he was talking with other people," he said.

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz told reporters he was disgusted by the videotape. "The body language that I saw really was just disgusting. People who take delight in having killed innocent civilians, it's horrible."