Dire Prediction From Osama's Bodyguard

Tells Bob Simon He Is Certain U.S. Will Be Attacked Again

(CBS) 
If it were up to him, Mike Scheuer says Abu Jandal would be locked up somewhere. "Anyone who is as dedicated as he is and clearly desires to be a martyr, we ought to be taking care of him one way or another."

"As far as value goes, how does he compare to most of the prisoners in Guantanamo?" Simon asks.

"Oh, I think he's probably far more important than anybody we've got in Guantanamo. Because he had direct exposure to Osama bin Laden. He’s very, very knowledgeable about the organization worldwide," Scheuer replies.

Simon asked Abu Jandal for his take on bin Laden's last audiotaped message. In January, bin Laden offered the Americans a truce. If Washington doesn't take him up on it, he said, there will be consequences.

"He made a similar proposal to the Europeans. He warned them and gave them six months," Abu Jandal says. "When there was no response, he started with the Madrid bombing, then London. So I believe Osama bin Laden is planning a new attack inside the United States. This is certain."

Asked if he is sure Osama is preparing a new attack, Abu Jandal said, "When Sheikh Osama promises something, he does it."

Abu Jandal hasn't seen bin Laden since the summer of 2000, but he says there is no question as to where he is hiding: Afghanistan.

"Not Pakistan. I know the Pakistani tribe along the border very well," says Abu Jandal. "Yes, they can be trustworthy and faithful to their religion and ideology, but they are also capable of selling information for nothing."

Abu Jandal says bin Laden would have no trouble living in the Afghan mountains. He may be a billionaire, but his lifestyle has always been Spartan, almost monastic.

"Osama bin Laden can live on bread and water. Osama bin Laden can live on dates. He is a man who prepared himself to live with the minimum available means of survival," says Abu Jandal.

Abu Jandal is aware that the Americans expect bin Laden's health to do him in. He says that's another American illusion.

"A lot of Americans think bin Laden suffers from a kidney problem and that he might even need a dialysis. When you were with him, were there any indications that he had any health problems?" Simon asks.

"Never. The only problem Sheikh Osama suffered from is with his vocal chords," Abu Jandal replies. "He was affected by missiles that contained some chemicals during the Jihad against the Soviets. Only his vocal chords were affected."

Scheuer, who now works for CBS News, agrees that bin Laden is not a bad insurance risk. If his kidneys won’t be his downfall, America's chances of getting to him are diminishing all the time.

"Your job was to get Osama bin Laden. Abu Jandal’s job was to protect Osama bin Laden. Who do you think had the tougher job?" Simon asks.

"I think he had the tougher job. Osama bin Laden should be yesterday's news," Scheuer replies. "He should have been splattered across the southern desert of Afghanistan when we had the opportunity to do it in '98, '99. Abu Jandal was behind the curve and we were ahead of it. Now it’s the other way around."

Abu Jandal isn't sure he's ahead of the curve today. He won't rule out working for Osama bin Laden again in the future. But for now, he's unemployed, with a growing tribe of three kids. His daughters stay at home while his son, Habib, goes to a private school. He may be learning English today.

But his first taste of life was offered by Osama bin Laden. When Habib was born, Abu Jandal says Osama took a bite from a date and put it in Habib’s mouth. That was before Habib began feeding from his mother’s breast.

"He's got Osama in his blood," says Abu Jandal.

Habib says he wants to be an engineer when he grows up. Abu Jandal has other ideas for his only son.

"I have great hopes for him and pray to God that he will finish what his father was not able to finish. I pray that he will become a martyr," Abu Jandal says. "Frankly, I hope that my son gets killed and becomes a martyr for the sake of God Almighty."

"You’re sitting here, but you’re not ready to see your daughter killed for America. I, on the other hand, am ready to see my son get killed for the sake of Islam," he adds.

"That’s the difference between you and me …" Simon says.

"True ..." Abu Jandal replies.