NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson announced today that the United States had presented “clear and compelling evidence” that points “conclusively” to involvement of Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaida network in last month’s attack in New York and Washington.

Following a classified briefing given to the NATO’s ruling council by U.S. Ambassador at Large Francis X. Taylor,Robertson said: “It is clear that all roads lead to Al-Qaida and pinpoint Osama bin Laden as having been involved.”He also said the allies have determined that the attack was directed from abroad and therefore covered by NATO’sArticle 5, which says that an attack on one member is an attack on all. The announcement is the clearest sign yetthat an attack on Afghanistan is imminent.

But the “clear and compelling evidence” linking bin Laden to the September 11 attacks has not been made public. Toreview the evidence so far, we’re joined right now by journalists Chris Blackhurst and Paul Lashmar, who wrote anextended piece on the FBI investigation in the British Sunday Independent.

The piece begins: “Investigators now say they have pieced together more or less the whole jigsaw of the plan toattack American but are missing one vital ingredient: a firm, compelling link with Osama bin Laden.”

Guests:

• Paul Lashmar, freelance journalist specializing in intelligence.
• Chris Blackhurst, journalist with The Independent.