WASHINGTON – President Bush yesterday said he takes Osama bin Laden’s latest tape threats against America “seriously,” and cited them as proof that his controversial eavesdropping program is vital.
“I understand there’s some in America who say, well, this can’t be true [that] there are still people willing to attack. All I would ask them to do is listen to the words of Osama bin Laden and take him seriously,” Bush said.
“When he says he’s going to hurt the American people again, or try to, he means it. I take it seriously, and the people of NSA [the National Security Agency] take it seriously.
“And most of the American people take it seriously, as well,” the president added.
In an audiotape released last week, bin Laden said he has operations in America “under preparation” – and demanded that America withdraw from Iraq and all Muslim lands in exchange for a truce, which the White House quickly rejected.