How did the U.S. get the bin-Laden tape before it was broadcast on the Islamist websites?

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US loner helps bin Laden to taunt Bush

Tim Shipman in Washington, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 12:44pm BST 09/09/2007

A Californian heavy metal fan, who converted to Islam and became the first American to be charged with treason in half a century, has been fingered as the author of Osama bin Laden's latest video lecture - which left the terror chief sounding like an anti-globalisation protester.

The al-Qaeda leader's first video message for three years featured a bizarre rant against America, with references to global warming, "insane taxes", the US mortgage market meltdown and rising interest rates.

American spy chiefs were quick to name Adam Gadahn, the head of al-Qaeda's English language media operations, as the author of large sections of bin Laden's broadcast.

Last October, the 28-year-old "loner" became the first American charged with treason since 1952, for appearing in a succession of al-Qaeda videos under the guise of "Azzam The American", in which he condemned globalisation and made American cultural references.

He was charged in his absence, as he is thought to be near to bin Laden, almost certainly in the tribal areas of Pakistan.

Gadahn, who as teenager reviewed albums for a metal music magazine, moved to Pakistan in 1998 and became an associate of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the architect of the 9/11 attacks. In 2004, the FBI named him as one of seven al-Qaeda operatives planning attacks in the US.

What surprised analysts was (bin-Laden's) use of the language of Left-wing protesters, which showed detailed knowledge of the economic travails of middle America.
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American officials said the US government had obtained a copy of the video even though it had not been posted on Islamist websites . . .

report: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/09/wladen109.xml