LAT/AP: Analysts Pore Over Bin Laden Tape Clues

[DeepModem Mom]

Analysts Pore Over Bin Laden Tape Clues
By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON -- The government sought Friday to pinpoint when Osama bin Laden recorded his most recent warning about planned attacks on the United States -- a key fact that could help determine the risk that terrorists will carry out the threat.

Intelligence officials said analysts were scrutinizing the audio tape by the al-Qaida leader for any clues -- including certain words and phrases -- that might be a signal for the terror network's members or followers. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter....

***

A counterterror official said analysts believe the tape appears to have been recorded since December, although it was not clear how recently -- or if in response to U.S. missile strikes in Pakistan last week that Pakistani authorities said killed four senior al-Qaida operatives.

Arab television network Al-Jazeera, which released the tape Thursday, initially reported it was made in December but corrected itself later to say it was recorded in January. Editors at the station said they could not comment on how they knew when it was made....

***

The tape came days before a planned weekend training exercise in which military aircraft are to conduct patrols over the nation's capital to intercept and divert planes that appear to pose a threat. But Michael Kucharek, a spokesman for the U.S. Northern Command, which is responsible for the defense of U.S. territory, said there have been no changes to the systematic air patrolling of U.S. airspace....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_top12jan20,0,3791058.story

[LSparkle]

1. Are they checking for Rove's fingerprints?

[LisaM]

2. Do any of the analysts speak Arabic?

Since they've fired so many of their Arabic translators, I wonder where they are getting their experts.

[EST]

3. Depends on how much money they were able to raise.

Pay to play.

[sundancekid]

4. and are they counter-checking with their voice imitation technology marker

[worldgonekrazy]

5. I thought Bin Laden died years ago

Thats what Bob Graham said, anyway.

[LoKnLoD]

6. do these things

come in on cassette tapes or what? Any one know or heard?

[Gman]

7. "Analysts" Laughing Their Asses Off

at the fools that are buying it hook, line and sinker.

[EuroObserver]

8. So, like 911, there will again be an excercise including

"planes that appear to pose a threat"...

Probably a red herring.

[54anickel]

9. Top story link has changed, here's a new link

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/ats-ap_top10jan20,1,3200125.story?coll=sns-ap-topnews

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Thank you!

[DeepModem Mom]

12. SORRY -- LINK HAS CHANGED. SEE POST NO. 9. nt

[leesa]

11. Maybe they could check into just how long OBL has been dead now and how

many fake tapes BushCo has made.

[daleo]

13. Analyst 1: "I think I hear Dick Cheney in the background"

Analyst 2: "I wonder if that means anything?"

[twaddler01]

14. Is * somewhere in the tape? n/t