US embassy cable - 04STATE233493

S E C R E T STATE 233493 
 
 
FOR COM, RSO AND PRINCIPAL OFFICERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/14 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER, CASC 
SUBJECT: BIN LADEN VIDEOTAPE 
 
REF: TDX-315/59142-04 
 
Classified By: ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR DS GREG 
STARR; REASON 1.5 (C) AND (D) 
 
1. (U) ON OCTOBER 29, THE AL-JAZEERA NETWORK BROADCASTED A 
VIDEOTAPE MESSAGE FROM USAMA BIN LADEN WITH A SIMULTANEOUS 
ENGLISH TRANSLATION.  THE TAPE, WHICH IS THE FIRST TIME 
UBL HAS BEEN SEEN SINCE DECEMBER 2001, INCLUDES MENTION OF 
A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SUBJECTS TO INCLUDE IRAQ AND THE 
UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. 
 
2.  (S/NF) THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY ASSESSES THAT THIS 
TAPE IS AUTHENTIC AND RELATIVELY RECENT GIVEN THE 
REFERENCES TO CURRENT EVENTS, PERHAPS WITHIN THE LAST 
MONTH. IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS IS A HARBINGER OF 
AN ATTACK, OR IS INTENDED TO BOOST AL-QA'IDA MORALE AND 
INSPIRE LOWER-LEVEL ACTIONS WORLDWIDE. THE RELEASE OF THE 
TAPE MAY ALSO BE EITHER AN EFFORT TO ENERGIZE AND REASSURE 
THE GROUP AND ITS SUPPORT BASE, OR POSSIBLY A SIGNAL FOR 
CELLS TO COMMENCE OPERATIONS.  EVEN IF THIS IS NOT THE 
CASE, GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF UBL'S APPEARANCE AND HIS 
CASTIGATION OF US POLICY, THIS TAPE COULD BE AN INFLUENCE 
TO INCITE TERRORIST VIOLENCE AGAINST AMERICANS WORLDWIDE. 
THERE ARE ALSO SOME INDICATIONS THAT THIS UBL TAPE IS PART 
OF A WIDER AL-QA'IDA MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO INFLUENCE AMERICAN 
CITIZENS IN THE RUN-UP TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 
 
3.  (S/NF) FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, CORE EAC MEMBERS 
SHOULD OBTAIN REFTEL FROM RMAS TO REVIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY. 
FINAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE TAPE IS STILL UNDER REVIEW AND ANY 
SIGNIFICANT UPDATED ANALYSIS WILL BE ISSUED SEPTEL. IN 
LIGHT OF THIS INFORMATION, POSTS ARE REQUESTED TO MAINTAIN 
VIGILANCE AND CONTINUE TO ASSESS THEIR SECURITY POSTURE. 
 
4.  (SBU) POSTS ARE REMINDED THAT WHILE THE TAPE IS 
PUBLIC, THE AFOREMENTIONED ANALYSIS INFORMATION SHOULD NOT 
BE RELEASED BEYOND THOSE WITH A NEED TO KNOW FOR SECURITY 
PURPOSES AND SHOULD NOT BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC. IF 
POSTS BELIEVE THEY NEED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO PRIVATE 
AMERICAN CITIZENS COMMUNITIES, THEY SHOULD USE LANGUAGE IN 
CONSULAR INFORMATION PROGRAM DOCUMENTS, SPECIFICALLY THE 
WORLDWIDE CAUTION PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT AND COUNTRY SPECIFIC 
TRAVEL WARNINGS AND PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS.  IF POSTS NEED 
TO ISSUE WARDEN MESSAGES WHICH ARE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF 
EXISTING PUBLIC DOCUMENTS, PLEASE CLEAR THEM WITH CA/OCS, 
AVAILABLE 24 HOURS. 
 
5.  (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
 
 
POWELL