18 November 2002

U.S. Intelligence Believes Bin Laden Tape Authentic, November 18, 2002

(White House says tape is reminder that U.S. is at war)

U.S. intelligence officials believe an audiotape purported to be a recording by Osama bin Laden is both authentic and recent, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

Speaking at the White House daily briefing November 18, McClellan said that although intelligence officials "can't make a 100 percent conclusion," they believe the tape is genuine and "was made in the last several weeks."

The tape includes threats of further terrorist activity against the United States and its allies and mentions recent terrorist attacks, such as the killing of a USAID official in Amman, and a nightclub bombing in Bali.

"[I]t's a reminder that we are at war on terrorism. It's a reminder that we need to continue doing everything we can to go after these terrorist networks and their leaders wherever they are, and we will," said McClellan.

"It will be a long, difficult war, as the President has indicated from the get-go. But we will not tire in our pursuit, and we will continue to pursue these people, these people who seek to harm America, our friends and our allies, wherever they are," he said.

Following are excerpts from the November 18 White House briefing containing McClellan's comments about the tape:
(begin excerpt)

Q: Has the government concluded that it is Osama bin Laden in that audio tape now?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes. Well, let me make that with one caveat. The intelligence experts have -- the intelligence experts do believe that it is -- that the tape is genuine. It cannot be stated with 100 percent certainty, and it is clear that the tape was made in the last several weeks as well. But, again, I emphasize that they can't make a 100 percent conclusion there, but they do believe it is. And, again, it's a reminder that we are at war on terrorism. It's a reminder that we need to continue doing everything we can to go after these terrorist networks and their leaders wherever they are, and we will.

Q: Is this going to be hard -- make it harder for the President to keep a focus on Iraq when he goes to Prague, the fact that we now know this was bin Laden and there were new threats issued against European countries?

MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, part of the discussion in Prague is going to center on transforming NATO to meet the new threats of the 21st century. And those threats come in different forms. They come from outlaw groups and outlaw regimes. And we will continue to do everything we can when it comes to both to protect the American people.

And what was the final part of your question there, Tom?

Q: Well, there were new threats made against our allies, many of whom will be in Prague.

MR. McCLELLAN: That's right.

Q: Won't it be hard for the President to keep the focus on Iraq and not have to explain, well, why aren't we looking -- why are we looking at Iraq now which is not as immediate threat as perhaps some of these new bin Laden warnings which many European countries are very concerned about. There has been an increase in alert warnings in different European capitals.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the President's highest priority remains the protection of the American people and winning the war on terrorism. But when we talk about protecting the American people, there are new threats in the 21st century that we have to address. And as we've pointed out, we believe that the threat posed by the regime in Iraq is a continuation of the war on terrorism. But as we've also pointed out, the President begins every day focused on the war on terrorism. And we're going to continue to working with the more than 90 countries that are in a coalition working to wage and win this war against terrorism and bring these people to justice, wherever they are.

(end excerpt)