CNN airs al-Qaida tapes of training, poison gas experiments

WASHINGTON -- Videotapes that appear to show al-Qaida gassing dogs and practicing kidnappings made for grisly viewing on CNN, but U.S. officials said Monday the images so far haven't revealed the organization has any unexpected capabilities.

CNN said correspondent Nic Robertson obtained the tapes, which began airing Sunday, from a longtime source. More of the tapes' contents would be revealed through several reports this week, CNN said.

Gordon Johndroe, spokes-man for the White House's Office of Homeland Security, said the tapes bolster arguments for anti-terrorism efforts.

"This is just further evidence of why it's necessary to continue to prosecute this war on terrorism -- both overseas and here at home," Johndroe said.

He said there was no credible information that the group had been successful in its effort to obtain weapons of mass destruction.

The tapes show al-Qaida operatives apparently practicing ambushes and kidnapping. Most of the tapes appear to have been made before Sept. 11, although some show television coverage of the attacks in New York and Washington.

CNN said Robertson was given access to more than 250 tapes through his source and drove 17 hours from Kabul to a remote part of Afghanistan to see them. He took about 60 of the tapes out of the country.

The network said it showed the tapes to several experts to verify their authenticity.

Not recommended for all

Among the images repeatedly shown by CNN on Monday was footage involving three dogs.

In one case, a vapor is released and the dog begins licking its chops, with CNN quoting experts saying increased saliva is one of the first signs of poisoning. The dog appears to lose control of its hindquarters, and is eventually seen lying on its back, moaning.

"Yes, it is hard to look at. We're in the news business. There are times when what we do is not easy to look at," said Teya Ryan, general manager of CNN's U.S. network.

"This is staring terrorism right in the face," Ryan told Electronic Media on Monday.

CNN prefaced the tapes with a warning that they were disturbing.

"It's not recommended for children," Paula Zahn said. "Some adults might not want to watch as well."

CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson said she was unaware of any viewer complaints about the airing of videotape showing the dog's death.

The network did not believe it was being used by Osama bin Laden's organization and was "mindful of not airing propaganda," Robinson said.