Bin Laden's Message Sparks Debate Over Afghanistan War and Presidential Election

A new message from Osama bin Laden to the American people has reignited the controversy over whether the al-Qaeda leader could have been caught in Afghanistan nearly three years ago. Bin Laden's latest tape, aired on the Arab channel Al-Jazeera, emphasizes that it does not matter who wins the U.S. presidential election, as his security is not in the hands of either candidate. However, he warned that a country which fails to harm Arab security will remain at risk. The incident has led to a heated debate between President Bush and Democratic candidate John Kerry, with each side accusing the other of mishandling the war in Afghanistan.

Key Takeaways:

• Bin Laden's latest message, aired on Al-Jazeera, does not impact the national threat level, but has intensified the argument over whether he could have been caught in Afghanistan in 2001.
• U.S. intelligence concluded in December 2001 that bin Laden probably escaped through Tora Bora, a mountainous region in southeastern Afghanistan, with the help of local warlords.
• The Bush administration has defended its military strategy, citing the presence of U.S. troops alongside Afghan forces and the use of aerial bombing to minimize ground casualties.
• Democrats, such as Kerry and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, have criticized the administration for outsourcing the job of capturing bin Laden to Afghan warlords, leading to his escape.
• Retired General Tommy Franks, who commanded the Afghan operation, disputes Kerry's claims, stating that bin Laden's presence in the area was not certain and that the Afghans knew the terrain best.
• The FBI has posted video clips of a man calling himself "Azzam the American," who threatens to make American streets "run red with blood," and asks for public help in identifying him.

Statistics:

• U.S. special operations forces and aerial bombing helped give opponents of the Taliban regime the edge in northern Afghanistan.
• The far south of the war was fought largely on the Taliban's home turf, making it more difficult for U.S. forces to track down bin Laden.
• Bin Laden's tape was first aired on Friday by the Arab channel Al-Jazeera.
• The FBI has posted video clips of the man's tirade on its Web site, www.fbi.gov.
• Andrew Card, the White House chief of staff, stated that getting bin Laden tomorrow would not end the war on terror.

Sources:

• Reuters via the New York Times
• AP News via CNN
• CNN's Late Edition
• CNN's Larry King Live
• New York Times column by retired General Tommy Franks
• FBI Web site at www.fbi.gov
• Statement by John Brennan, chief of the federal government's Terrorist Threat Integration Center