Matt Drudge has the siren out again.
World Exclusive Developing…
CONTROVERSY OVER NEW VIDEO
Hmm.
Update (1250): New headline:
ABCNEWS HOLDS TERROR WARNING VIDEO
In the last week before the election, ABCNEWS is holding on a videotaped message from a purported al Qaeda terrorist warning of a new attack on America, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned… MORE…
No link as of yet.
Update (1307): There’s now a link.
In the last week before the election, ABCNEWS is holding on a videotaped message from a purported al Qaeda terrorist warning of a new attack on America, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. The terrorist claims on tape the next attack will dwarf 9/11. “The streets will run with blood,” and “America will mourn in silence” because they will be unable to count the number of the dead. Further claims: America has brought this on itself for electing George Bush who has made war on Islam by destroying the Taliban and making war on Al Qaeda.
ABCNEWS strongly denies holding the tape back from broadcast over political concerns during the last days of the election. The CIA is analyzing the tape, a top federal source tells the DRUDGE REPORT. ABCNEWS obtained the tape from a source in Waziristan, Pakistan over the weekend, sources tells DRUDGE. “We have been working 24 hours a day trying to authenticate [the tape],” a senior ABCNEWS source said Wednesday morning.
The terrorist’s face is concealed by a head dress, and he speaks in an American accent, making it difficult to identify the individual. But US intelligence officials believe that man may be Adam Gadhan – aka Adam Pearlman – a southern California native who was highlighted by the FBI in May as an individual most likely to be involved in or have knowledge of the next al Qaeda attacks. According to the FBI, Gadahn, 25, attended al-Qaida training camps and served as an al-Qaida translator. The disturbing tape runs an hour — the man simply identifies himself as ‘Assam the American.’
Potentially huge news, depending on whether the tape is authenticated. In the wake of RatherGate, it’s not inconceivable that ABC News is simply being cautious rather than trying to time this around the election. Indeed, it’s not altogether clear to me whether this would favor Bush or Kerry. On the one hand, it strengthens Bush’s central thesis that these are dangerous times. On the other, Kerry could use it to argue that Bush isn’t doing enough to protect us.
