ABC News Airs Terrorist Tape Threatening Attack if Bush Wins

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

WASHINGTON – ABC News last night aired a videotape warning Americans of a terror attack if they dared vote for President Bush, claiming the tape was issued by an American member of Al Qaeda.


In a rambling 75-minute tape, the speaker – identified as Azzam the American – warns that the events of September 11 were the opening salvo of a long war. Speaking in English, and wearing a traditional Arab head scarf known as a Kafiyah to cover most of his face, the man rails against the Massachusetts courts for allowing gay marriage and refers to comedian Bill Maher’s comment after September 11 about the cowardice of America launching cruise missiles at suspected terrorist targets.


“No, my fellow countrymen you are guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty. You are as guilty as Bush and Cheney. You’re as guilty as Rumsfeld and Ashcroft and Powell,” the man in the tape says. “After decades of American tyranny and oppression, now it’s your turn to die. Allah willing, the streets of America will run red with blood matching drop-for-drop the blood of America’s victims.”


According to an American intelligence official, the tape, which was shared with the FBI and CIA, has yet to be authenticated as a genuine threat from Al Qaeda.


The source said the origins of the tape, the identification of the speaker, and the speaker’s link to Al Qaeda have all yet to be authenticated. At the same time, this source noted that the video included the banner of the Sahab production committee, a press group associated with Al Qaeda videos in the past.


Nonetheless, the circumstances of how ABC got the tape do not match Al Qaeda’s pattern of issuing threats on Internet sites and through Arab satellite TV stations. ABC said in its report that it paid a source for the network $500 for transportation fees to secure the video. If the tape checks out, it would be the first time Al Qaeda has passed a tape directly to an American news organization.


ABC quoted a former FBI official with experience working against Al Qaeda, Jack Cloonan, saying he believed the tape was authentic. Mr. Cloonan is now a consultant for ABC news. The network also said that the 13 current or former officials mentioned by name in the tape have been provided a copy.


On March 11, Al Qaeda-related terrorists blew up a train in Madrid on the eve of the Spanish election. The Spanish people voted out the government in power and voted in the Socialists, who in turn withdrew Spanish soldiers from Iraq.


The Justice Department has warned since May of a possible terror attack in America before the November 2 elections.


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