Beyond serving as a historical record, the release of the tape today shows the effort al Qaeda continues to make to be relevant, to rub salt in America's wounds.

The Al-Jazeera network broadcast only a few minutes of what it said was an hour-and-a-half of tape.

It purports to show the hijackers learning how to conceal knives, going through kickboxing drills and practicing how to escape possible capture by armed police.

Also on the tape, martyr statements made by two of the hijackers.

Wail al-Shehri was on American Flight 11, which crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center.

Hamza al-Ghamdi was on United Flight 175, which crashed into the south tower.

The tape also shows a younger looking Osama bin Laden greeting the man described as the coordinator of the attacks, Ramzi bin al-Shibh.

Bin al-Shibh has since been captured, and he is one of the men President Bush announced yesterday will soon be put on trial.

Al Qaeda may have provided prosecutors with a useful piece of evidence.

The final part of the video shown by Al-Jazeera was described as bin Laden's parting message as the men headed for America, subtitles courtesy of al Qaeda.

"I strongly advise you to increase your prayers for them and beseech Allah, the Exalted, in your prayer to grant them success."

Missing on today's release from the al Qaeda ministry of propaganda was any current video of bin Laden speaking.

Although late today, al Qaeda's website said one would be coming soon.