Qaeda videotape threat is propaganda: officials

[sabra]

http://olympics.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-09-12T175158Z_01_EIC264154_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-SECURITY-THREAT-DC.XML

Qaeda videotape threat is propaganda: officials

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A videotape threatening al Qaeda attacks on Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia, appears to be a propaganda ploy from the militant network, timed to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States, U.S. officials said on Monday.

The videotape, aired on Sunday by ABC News, featured an American-sounding man with a concealed face whom officials believe to be Adam Yahiye Gadahn, an Islamic convert from Southern California wanted for questioning by the FBI.

An American speaker may have been chosen to issue the threat against Los Angeles to make the message appear more ominous, officials said. Concerns about local cells supporting al Qaeda have been heightened by the July 7 bombings in London, in which four British Muslims killed themselves and 52 other people.

A technical analysis of the videotape, which ABC received in Pakistan, suggests the speaker is the same man who appeared in a tape that surfaced in October and warned of a massive attack on the United States, a counterterrorism official said.

"The thinking is that it's the same voice," the official said.

[Tiggeroshii]

1. I think that eases more tension than the Bush co. would like

No way of manipulating us if all it is is propoganda....

[aquart]

3. Does al qaida really think it's scarier than a hurricane? Please.

Upstarts.

[VegasWolf]

2. Wish Rove would get caught red handed pulling a stunt like this! nt