Good evening from Phoenix. It is the sixth largest city in the country now. And we heard the same question here today that we hear everywhere. When will the U.S. go to war against Iraq and what will that mean? And how truly dangerous is Al Qaida? And will the terrorists possibly attack here? We begin tonight with a message from Osama Bin Laden. It was addressed to Iraqis, but given the messenger, it will have an impact in every part of the world. We first heard about it from the Bush Administration, and then we heard audio tape on the Arab television network, Al Jazeera. The adminstration was very quick to say that it proved the connection between Al Qaida and Saddam Hussein. Not everybody agreed. ABC's Brian Ross has covered the story today. Brian?
Peter, American officials knew that Bin Laden audiotape was coming before it was broadcast, and they say they are certain it was authentic, it's his voice on the tape. It's sixteen minutes long and represents a call to arms to Moslems, praising suicide bombers. In advance of what Bin Laden said was the coming attack on Iraq by infidels, the U.S. and its Arab Muslim allies. "Anyone who has to kill muslims in Iraq, he has to know that he is an infidel, and untrue believer. It's ok to spill his blood and take his money." "He is asking Moslems to rise up against those governments and overthrow them. So, he's basically making a worldwide appeal to accomplish longstanding Al-Qaida objectives."
Bin Laden was not seen on today's tape and has not been seen since this video tape was released last April. But, for the first time, he urges his followers to conduct, what he called, a psychological war against the U.S. "It possesses a huge propaganda apparatus. Also it depends on intensive air bombing, and that's to hide its biggest weakness point, which is fear."
The talk of psychological warfare raises the question of whether Bin Laden's operatives are purposely talking of coming attacks, knowing their conversations are being monitored. Peter?