Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Cheryl Seal: Bin Laden Tape Probably Faked by CIA
Bin Laden Tape Probably Faked by CIA
By Cheryl Seal
Fri Jan 20, 2006
http://cherylsealreports.com/
Back in 2002, the Bush administration was chagrined when the world's foremost voice identification experts, a group in Swizterland called IDIAP analyzed several Bin Laden tapes and concluded that a "CIA-verified" bin Laden tape was NOT Bin Laden, but someone whose voice patterns resembled the terrorist's. Now again we have a Bin Laden tape that arrives just when Bush needs a "terrorist diversion." And once again, we have only the CIA "experts" verifying the authenticity. So why since 2002 hasn't the IDIAP been called in to verify these always conveniently timed tapes? And why is no CIA expert ever actually named?
And as further evidence of how closely the US media is colluding with Bush, journalists who once queried the institute for their opinion on the authenticity of bin Laden tapes are no longer doing so.
Duke University Bin Laden expert Bruce Lawrence, who is the head of Duke's religious department, also thinks the tape was faked.
ABC Eyewitness News in Raleigh Durham, NC reports:
"A Duke professor says he is doubtful about Thursday's audiotape from Osama bin Laden.Bruce Lawrence has just published "Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama Bin Laden," a book translating bin Laden's writing. He is skeptical of Thursday's message.
"It was like a voice from the grave," Lawrence said.
"He thinks bin Laden is dead and has doubts about the tape. Lawrence recently analyzed more than 20 complete speeches and interviews of the al Qaida leader for his book. He says the new message is missing several key elements.
"There's nothing in
this from the Koran. He's, by his own standards, a faithful
Muslim, " Lawrence said. "He quotes scripture in defense of
his actions. There's no quotation from the Koran in the
excerpts we got, no reference to specific events, no
reference to past atrocities."
"While the CIA confirms the voice on the tape is bin Laden's, Lawrence questions when it was recorded. He says the timing of its release could be to divert attention from last week's U.S. air strike in Pakistan. The strike targeted bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, and killed four leading al Qaeda figures along with civilians.
"Lawrence believes faulty Pakistani intelligence led to the strike and the civilian deaths, and the tape was leaked by Pakistani authorities to divert attention from their mistake.
"It led to a failed military operation where America got blamed, but they people who are really to blame are the ones who provided the intelligence," Lawrence said. "I think this is an effort to say were not going look at this terrible incident that happened."
"Another element that Lawrence takes issue with in bin Laden's latest message is it's length - - only 10 minutes. Previously, the shortest was 18 minutes. "
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=local&id=3828678
ENDS
Scoop
Scoop Independent News
Scoop is NZ's largest independent news source; respected widely in media, political, business and academic circles for being the place on the internet for publishing "what was really said", and for the quality of its analysis of issues.
Alastair Thompson: Google's Support For Democracy And Media In NZ | Part 1 - The Digital Media Bargaining Bill, NZME, STUFF & Google
Binoy Kampmark: The Remembrance Day Amnesia Racket
Gordon Campbell: On The Crown’s Sorry Excuse For An Apology
Gordon Campbell: On Abortion’s Role In The US Election
Binoy Kampmark: The Musings Of Shigeru Ishiba - Visions Of An Asian NATO
Ian Powell: From Thriving To Surviving - ‘Poster Child’ General Practice Struggle Symbolises Primary Care Crisis