Bin Laden Tape to Be Released Wednesday

White House officials said late Monday that they plan to release a videotape Wednesday that President Bush and his top aides say contains the strongest proof yet of Osama bin Laden’s direct involvement in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

In the tape, which was found in an abandoned house in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Bin Laden pronounces the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon a greater success than he expected, U.S. officials say.

The delay in releasing the tape is to allow analysts to ensure that no intelligence-gathering or other security concerns are compromised, officials said. In the meantime, linguists are rechecking the translation of the remarks heard on the tape.

Bush viewed portions of the 40-minute videotape and later told reporters during a ceremonial lighting of a Hanukkah menorah at the White House: “It just reminded me of what a murderer he is and how right and just our cause is.”

The president added:

“For those who see this tape, they’ll realize that not only is he guilty of incredible murder, he has no conscience and no soul, that he represents the worst of civilization.”

At his daily National Security Council meeting, Bush was leaning toward disclosure, officials said, because he wanted to allow the public to form its own conclusions. But he also wanted to avoid compromising intelligence secrets and was reluctant to give Bin Laden any air time.

Other top officials have also viewed the tape or read a transcript of it. Sen. Richard C. Shelby of Alabama viewed the tape Monday and said it is damning evidence against Bin Laden.

“It’s an admission of his culpability of his central role in the Sept. 11 bombings,” Shelby said. Bin Laden and his followers, he said, are seen “gloating about the events of Sept. 11.”