The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report

Feb. 24 -- — A new al Qaeda tape purported to be the voice of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al Zawahiri denounces France's head scarf ban in schools and warns the U.S. of future terror attacks. The Arab television networks Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera both aired two different portions of the tape on Tuesday. In the tape, Zawahiri strongly criticizes the French government's recent decision to ban headscarves in schools as part of an "ongoing campaign against Islam." Zawahiri also went on to pick apart President George Bush's January State of the Union address, saying Bush's statement that U.S. troops had caught more than two-thirds of al Qaeda's top suspects and that Iraq gained its freedom because of U.S.-led coalition forces were "lies and allegations."

Plus, the New York Times reports today that the CIA may have received important data on one of the Sept. 11, 2001 hijackers — sixteen months before the attacks. American investigators were given the first name and mobile phone number of United Airlines Flight 175 hijacker Marwan al Shehhi in 1999, American and German officials said today. The 9-11 Commission said today that it has received information on the 1999 tip and is actively investigating the issue.

THE WAR ON TERROR

INVESTIGATIONS

New Al Qaeda Audio TapeBin Laden Deputy Warns of More Attacks On the U.S.An audiotape purported to be the voice of Osama bin Laden's right-hand man warns of new attacks against the United States and dismisses President Bush's claims that the al Qaeda network has been crushed. (Reuters)

United StatesC.I.A. Was Given Data On Hijacker Long Before 9/11American investigators were given the first name and telephone number of one of the hijackers two and a half years before the attacks, officials say. (NY Times)

Panel Probes Tip On Sept. 11 HijackerFederal commission investigates whether tip on hijacker two years before Sept. 11 was followed. (AP)

U.S. Force That Got Saddam Heads to Afghanistan The top-secret U.S. commando team that spearheaded the capture of Saddam Hussein is heading for Afghanistan in the latest sign that the hunt for Osama bin Laden is coming to a head. (Chicago Sun-Times)