It's the tape the Bush Administration says leaves little doubt Osama bin Laden is responsible for the September 11th attacks. And now, for the first time, the public is getting to see it.
News Specialist John Daley has details.
The 40-minute amateur videotape shows Bin Laden at what appears to be a dinner meeting, talking with other men,seeming to brag about the events of September 11th.
Bin Laden is heard saying, quote, "We calculated in advance the number of casualties from the enemy who would be killed--based on the position of the tower. We calculated 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."
Bin Laden continues, "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."
Middle East expert Ibrahim Karawan believes the video will be convincing for many in that part of the world, except hardline bin Laden defenders.
Ibrahim Karawan/University of Utah Middle East Center: "I THINK THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE MORE INCLINED TO BELIEVE HIS ORGANIZATION AND HIM PERSONALLY ARE BEHIND IT IS GOING TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY."
Bin Laden is heard saying that the men who conducted the attacks did not know details and were trained, but were not told of the operation until moments before they boarded the planes.
Karawan says the tape gives insight into the mind of a terrorist.
Ibrahim Karawan/University of Utah Middle East Center: "NO LIMIT OF BRUTALITY, NO HESITATION TO DO HORRENDOUS ACTS."
The tape, apparently recorded last month, was found in Jalalabad.
The Bush Administration called in outside experts to make sure the translation is accurate.
Donald Rumsfeld/Defense Secretary: "I SUPPOSE EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSION ABOUT IT. FOR MYSELF, I NEVER HAD ANY DOUBT AS TO WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH ATTACKS."
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