White House Spokesman Says Bush Wants to Release bin Laden Tape

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 11, 2001

White House Spokesman Says Bush Wants to Release bin Laden Tape

U.S. President George W. Bush wants to release a videotape of Osama bin Laden that government officials described as evidence of his responsibility for the September 11 attacks, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said on Monday.

Fleischer said that as long as it does not harm the national security, Bush was leaning towards releasing the tape of Osama bin Laden describing the damage around the World Trade Center as being much greater than he had expected.

"The president's approach is wherever it does not compromise security, it's best to share information with the country and with the world," Fleischer said.

"He thinks it's important for people to know what Osama bin Laden has said in this regard," he said. "On the other side... we have not sought opportunities to provide Osama bin Laden with TV time."

Security experts were taking a look at the tape to make sure that there would be no security implications if it is released, he said.

Bush and his National Security Council met on Monday and discussed about the tape, which was obtained in Afghanistan during a search of a private home in Jalalabad.

Bush, who has seen the tape and read a translation of its contents, was of the view that Osama bin Laden was behind the September 11 attacks in the U.S., Fleischer said.

According to officials who have access to the 40-minute tape, bin Laden praised God for far greater success than he expected. Bin Laden said in the tape that he expected only the top of the World Trade Center towers to collapse, the eventual collapse of the both towers was totally unexpected.

Vice President Dick Cheney said on Sunday that the tape showed bin Laden had significant knowledge of what happened in the hijacked plane attacks and "left no doubt about his responsibility. "

The Bush administration has blamed bin Laden for the September 11 attacks but has not released evidence showing that he directly planned or ordered them.

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.

U.S. Obtains Videotape Connecting bin Laden With September 11 Attacks