PROPAGANDA

Guardian: US already knew of Bin Laden tape
The US knew about the latest Osama bin Laden tape five days before it was broadcast by the Qatar-based TV station al-Jazeera, according to a US intelligence source. The Qatari government had been provided with a copy of the tape by the channel's management and passed it on to Washington, the source told the Guardian yesterday.
Although al-Jazeera is owned by the government of Qatar, the station insists that it is editorially independent.

But according to the US source, al-Jazeera's management has to clear broadcasts of such controversial material with the authorities.

"They have to cooperate with the Qatari government. They have to give them a copy of tapes like that before they broadcast it, and we have good relations with the Qataris," said the intelligence source.

News of the tape reached Washington by last Thursday. It is unclear whether the US influenced the timing of the broadcast and, if not, why it was delayed until Tuesday.