CIA to Probe bin Laden Tape Leak to NBC

Newsmax ^ | Wednesday, March 17, 2004 5:33 p.m. EST | Newsmax

[onevoter]

The Central Intelligence Agency is expected to launch a probe into the leak of a secret videotape of Osama bin Laden walking through his Afghanistan compound in the fall of 2000.

The tape, broadcast by NBC News on Tuesday, shows that the Clinton administration blew a golden opportunity to take out the terrorist kingpin and prevent the 9/11 attacks.

"There will be an investigation within the CIA, which made the video, and they will decide whether or not to refer the matter to the Department of Justice," reported CNN national security correspondent David Ensor on Wednesday.

CNN anchorman Wolf Blitzer argued that the video broadcast by NBC may have seriously damaged national security.

"It shows to not only the American public but to enemies of the U.S. government out there how accurate and how precise these kinds of cameras can be. And it gives the other side, if you will, additional information for which they could take defensive measures," said Blitzer, adding, "Potentially [it] could cause some problems for U.S. national security."

Ensor explained that the decision to release the tape may have been a politically motivated attempt to smear the legacy of ex-President Clinton.

"This is a political year and there are those around town who might see advantage in putting this tape out in public at this point," he told Blitzer.

Clinton-appointed CIA Director George Tenet has yet to comment on the bin Laden video - or the decision by his agency to investigate its release to NBC.

[onevoter]

Does anyone believe that CNN would be so up in arms if this tape had shown the same flaws in the Bush Camp? The Clinton News Network suddenly has journalistic standards!

[OXENinFLA]

My guess is that it leaked out of the 9-11 commission.

[Loyal Buckeye]

CNN aides the enemy on a daily basis.

[TomGuy]

CNN anchorman Wolf Blitzer argued that the video broadcast by NBC may have seriously damaged national security.

Wow, CNN's Wolfie is now the standard bearer for our national security interests.

[Excuse me while I faint............KKKRRRRRTHUNK!]

[Use It Or Lose It]

Does anyone believe that CNN would be so up in arms if this tape had shown the same flaws in the Bush Camp? The Clinton News Network suddenly has journalistic standards!

Already done. There is additional information and footage this morning that after January 2001 there were delays in arming the Predator, due to conflicts between CIA and DOD. Condi Rice makes statement that if Predator had been "ready" it would not have prevented 9/11. It appears NBC is already making the case that "everyone" was to blame for the tragedy. Today's focus is on Bush Admin.

[Preachin']

The tape, broadcast by NBC News on Tuesday, shows that the Clinton administration blew a golden opportunity to take out the terrorist kingpin and prevent the 9/11 attacks.

If they were freepers, they'd known that years ago.

[lonestar]

CNN aides the enemy on a daily basis.

I don't know why Kerry would spend money rebutting Bush ads because the media talking heads routinely do the rebutting for Kerry.

[OXENinFLA]

Q NBC has been airing videotape shot by the CIA, apparently, of Osama bin Laden in year 2000 that shows that we had ample opportunity to capture/kill him at that time. Any comment on that? Where did this come from? This is stunning new information that's out there for the American people that we actually had the capability even before your people came in to get Osama bin Laden. Are we to expect these kinds of things to emerge --

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me make a couple of points. One, there is a commission, independent commission, that is looking into these matters. And we need to let them complete their work. We are doing everything we can to cooperate with them and help them have all the -- and make sure they all the information they need to do their job.

The second point I would make is that certainly the threats we're seeing from terrorism did not happen overnight. These threats have been emerging for quite some time. And the President has made the war on terrorism his number one priority because this is about protecting the American people. And we will continue to wage this war on many fronts. But I think the recent attacks you've seen are clear reminders that we are at war on terrorism. But again, in terms of specific details that the 9/11 Commission will be looking into, or is looking into, we'll let them continue their work.

Q Is this tape something that people in the administration would have been aware of, or is this information to you, as well?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I believe that report was referring to something that happened prior to this administration. But again, what we're doing is trying to work in a very close and cooperative way with the 9/11 Commission so that they can get their work done in a timely manner.

Q This tape was classified material. Is the President concerned about this kind of leak of this classified material?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know where that tape was obtained from, Terry.

[The G Man]

It is my belief that the Clinton administration's metrosexual approach to fighting terror by handcuffing our intelligence community and military's ability to hit these guys also was responsible for the failure to take OBL out just prior to the Afghan invasion. You will recall then that the Predator spotted him but everyone was afraid to pull the trigger for "legal reasons" or some other such nonsense. It's things like this video that caused our guys to flinch instead of fire.

[grumple]

It would not surprise me if this was released by Tenet and minions of the Clinton administration. It fits their MO of creating a crime, calling for an investigation and then doing nothing.

The reason for this release is to get it out early, have it reported on and disected before the 9/11 commission releases it's report on who knew what when as in "what did Bush know and when did he know it." In this case it's Clinton.

my guess....there will be no investigation and these guys are just covering their asses. Damage control in the making.

[Sacajaweau]

Sure was wondering how this got in the media.

[GOPJ]

You're absolutely right, if this had been a bash Bush leak, CNN would be running it 24/7. CNN's selective outrage soooooooo transparent.

[Luker]

At 10:00 a.m. on 9/11 while watching the horror take place on the television I turned to my wife and told her - "Bill Clinton is to blame for this!". I have not wavered on that statement since - The man (POS) has the deaths of 3000 people on his soul - He is an unrepentant, immoral, lying piece of human debris (ditto his wife). God forgive him. I won't.

[WV Mountain Mama]

Yeah, I find it hard to believe that CNN suddenly got a dose of integrity. I don't think any of their people took the ethics class in college.

[GOPJ]

How often does a "handcuffing" take place by accident?

It is my belief that the Clinton administration's metrosexual approach to fighting terror by handcuffing our intelligence community and military's ability to hit these guys also was responsible for the failure to take OBL out just prior to the Afghan invasion.

[TomGuy]

Q This tape was classified material. Is the President concerned about this kind of leak of this classified material?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know where that tape was obtained from, Terry.

Is this question from Terry Moron Moran? Sounds like him.

It also sounds like an attempt to set up the 'leaked tape' to be treated like the Senate Judiciary Committee memos. It isn't the content that's going to beimportant, it's the leak.

Look for the media to turn this into a WH leak scandal rather than a 'Clinton could have gotten bin Laden' accusation.

[Reo]

"Ensor explained that the decision to release the tape may have been a politically motivated attempt to smear the legacy of ex-President Clinton."

Hey, Ensor, "clarify", not "smear" is the correct verb (except, of course, in CNN's parallel universe).

[Toespi]

On Imus this morning, Andrea Mitchell said, "Bush saw the same tape and didn't do anything about it either, there is plenty of blame to go around." WHAT does that mean? How long was BinLaden walking around that camp?

[Condor51]

In Dereliction of Duty© there was a chapter on something exactly LIKE THIS.

The NSA (or CIA, DOD?) found Bin Laden and told Sandy Berger they knew exactly where Binny Baby was. Berger wanted-needed Willard's ok to launch an attack and tried to contact him by cell phone. BUT old Billy Jeff was at a GOLF MATCH with Vernon Jordan and wouldn't take Berger's phone call! About an hour or so LATER - after the GOLF MATCH was over - Willard talked to Berger but by then Binny was loooong gone.

[Buckeye McFrog]

None of the major media are willing to point out the obvious...that tape was shot on CLINTON'S WATCH! I saw an "analyst" on CNN try to spin this for 20 minutes without once mentioning Bubba by name. Ultimately, a follow-up report claimed that Clinton did not act because he was "distracted" by the impreachment (GAG ME!!!!)
Lisa Myers on NBC grilled Condi Rice, claiming that Bush
was at fault because he did not arm the Predators with missles FAST ENOUGH! (GAG GAG GAG GAG!!!!)