Videos of bin Laden

There have been several videos released of Osama bin Laden (often known as Usama bin Laden, as he is in 'the tape'), mostly as prepared propaganda tapes released by Al-Qaida to Arabic media organisations such as Al-Jazeera. There has been debate in some countries about the propaganda value of releasing various tapes to the news media, due to concerns about incitement as well as the alleged possibility of hidden messages to domestic terrorist cells. Some countries broadcast the tapes in full, but others have not.

The policy of the United States government on this subject has differed depending on whether a video would serve its own aims. On the one hand, it has urged the news media inside the US and elsewhere not to air any bin Laden tapes that it believes would serve bin Laden's propaganda purposes. On the other hand, it has broadcast a tape of bin Laden that supports their own claims concerning bin Laden's involvement in the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks that left over 3,000 dead. (The news media within the US, although ostensibly independent, has nevertheless complied US government desires in this matter.) The United States had drawn controversy by releasing the tapes; some claim that it is a doctored video that serves the United States' end, it also comes at a time when the situation in the Middle East is verging on war, a situation in which the United States has, at times, obtusly shown unwavering support for Israel, and the reaction among Arab counties has been less than chilly.

I'm sure someone can fill in the other tapes.

Tapes released by the US Government 13th December 2001

The US State department released, in a move critisized by Arab groups, some "home" video tapes on December 13th 2001. The State department claim the tapes are authentic and were found in Afghanistan. They show Osama bin Laden and implicate him in the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack. In the tape Osama bin Laden displays in-depth knowledge of the attack, although only knowing of the actual attack a few days in advance.

Some critics of the United States have alleged that this tape was released only because it is supportive of their claims that bin Laden was involved in the attacks.

On the other hand, if this tape was actually found in Afghanistan, as the U.S. claims, and bin Laden never intended it to be shown publicly, U.S. concerns about hidden messages would not apply. Many people, including the U.S. press, continue to be skeptical of the government's rationale for not releasing other tapes, but few have questioned this tape's authenticity.

The events regarding the aquisition of the tape are not clear, but apparently it was obtained through some means from a guest house in Quandahar?, and was supposedly filmed November 9th, or thereabout.

Following are some exerpts of the tape which was translated by a private group at the request of the U.S Government.

Osama Bin Laden:

We calculated in advance the number of casualties from the enemy, who would be killed based on the position of the tower.

We calculated that the floors that would be hit would be three or four floors. I was the most optimistic of them all.

...Due to my experience in this field, I was thinking that the fire from the gas in the plane would melt the iron structure of the building and collapse the area where the plane hit and all the floors above it only. This is all that we had hoped for.

Unidentified Sheikh:

Allah be praised.

Osama Bin Laden:

...We had notification since the previous Thursday that the event would take place that day. We had finished our work that day and had the radio on. It was 5:30 p.m. our time. ... Immediately, we heard the news that a plane had hit the World Trade Center ...

Sheikh:

Allah be praised.

The brothers, who conducted the operation, all they knew was that they have a martyrdom operation and we asked each of them to go to America but they didn't know anything about the operation

Osama Bin Laden:

After a little while, they announced that another plane had hit the World Trade Center. The brothers who heard the news were overjoyed by it.

...Muhammad (Atta) from the Egyptian family (meaning the Al-Qaida Egyptian group) was in charge of the group.

Sheikh:

A plane crashing into a tall building was out of anyone's imagination. This was a great job. He was one of the pious men in the organisation. He became a martyr. Allah bless his soul. (...)

Osama Bin Laden:

The brothers, who conducted the operation, all they knew was that they have a martyrdom operation and we asked each of them to go to America but they didn't know anything about the operation, not even one letter.

But they were trained and we did not reveal the operation to them until they are there and just before they boarded the planes.

NOTE: When watching the tape Osama bin Laden is reffered to as UBL; Usama bin Laden. /Talk

---

Linkage

• BBC Transcipts and new items [1]
• Official US Government Transcript of the tape [2]