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CNN Live Today
Congress Investigates Pre-9/11 Intelligence
Aired September 18, 2002 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In 1998, the FBI and the FAA had information that a group of Arabs planned to crash a plane packed with explosives into the World Trade Center. That's just one thing learned by Senators and House members who investigated U.S. intelligence prior to September 11, 2001.
A joint committee is holding hearings today, and our justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more on this.
Hi, Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.
Lawmakers have been meeting behind closed doors since June. This is their first public hearing. The headlines so far, U.S. intelligence agencies had more information about terrorist plots involving aircraft than the government has previously acknowledged. Congressional investigators say that as early as 1994 there were indications that terrorists could use airplanes in an attack against the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELEANOR HILL, COMMITTEE STAFF DIRECTOR: From 1994 to as late as August 2001, the intelligence community had received information indicating that international terrorists had seriously considered the use of airplanes as a means of carrying out terrorist attacks. While this method of attack had clearly been discussed in terrorists circles, there was apparently little, if any, effort by intelligence community analysts to produce any strategic assessments of terrorists using aircraft as weapons.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: The committee cited 12 examples of information pointing to a terrorist attack using aviation, but despite the information, the committee says less than a year prior to September 11, the FBI and the FAA had assessed the prospects of a terrorist incident targeting domestic civil aviation in the United States as well as low.
The committee also found that U.S. intelligence had information by 1998 -- that is the year that the U.S. embassies in east Africa were bombed -- that bin Laden's terrorists network planned to strike within the United States.
And in that same year, intelligence officials also learned that al Qaeda was trying to establish an operative cell within the United States. In fact, the report said CIA Director George Tenet told his deputies at that time -- quote -- "We must enter a new phase in the effort against bin Laden. We are at war."
Victims' family members were on hand to hear the previously classified information and offered an emotional criticism of the intelligence failures.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN PUSH, 9/11 WIDOWER: Our loved ones paid the ultimate price for the worst American intelligence failure since Pearl Harbor. I hope that Kristin and I can do justice to their sacrifice an contribute in some small way to preventing other families from experiencing the immeasurable pain that accompanies such tragic loss.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Now, one final note: The committee's statement also suggests U.S. intelligence did not focus enough on an al Qaeda operative who may have been instrumental in the attacks on September 11, despite having information on the individual since 1995. Sources tell us that individual is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is currently believed to be hiding out in Pakistan and who has been described as a mastermind behind the September 11 attacks.
Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: Now, this is someone that allegedly works side by side with Binalshibh, another alleged ringleader in the September 11 attacks, who we have been talking a lot about lately because he's in U.S. custody and being interrogated right now. Correct?
ARENA: That is right, Kyra. Although Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is higher up on the totem pole within the al Qaeda terrorist structure, more than a command position than Binalshibh, who was in a support and logistics position, according to investigators.
PHILLIPS: We'll continue to follow up on Sheik Mohammed also.
Kelly Arena, thank you.
You may learn more this afternoon about the government's case against those suspected of operating an al Qaeda terror cell in upstate New York. A bail hearing for the six men will be held in Buffalo, where CNN's Jeff Flock is covering the story. More from Jeff now.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is right, Kyra. It is interesting to hear Kelli talk about the establishment of an al Qaeda cell; that is just what the government says was established here.
I want to show you the very latest pictures of the six men who are now in federal custody being brought to the courthouse here in a large group of people gathered out in front of this courthouse. We have been told, CNN's Susan Candiotti working her law enforcement sources, we have been told that even as they were being transported in that white van that you see there, prosecutors were still deciding what evidence they will present at this bond hearing. They claim to have a lot more evidence than they first presented. Some of the evidence they had, so far, against Muktar al-Bakri -- they have his picture -- they claim that they made an intercept of a transmission from al-Bakri which suggested, in their mind, that perhaps he was planning some sort of suicide mission.
That is not how his attorneys and attorneys for the other men see it, however. Attorney for the six will argue that the men went overseas not for terrorism trading, but for religious training. Now, if the government is going to counter that, they need to come out with some significant evidence beyond what they have already done. We have also seen an interesting piece of videotape, a piece of home video, and it depicts Sahim Alwan (ph), one of the six; he is a man, as we reported, who counseled young people who were out of work. He is seen in this videotape extolling the virtues of the United States.
He, of course, was born and raised here himself. His family says he is not guilty of anything and if the government wants to hold him and the others they need to come out with more than they have so far. We are told that what they have may include intercepted phone calls as well as intercepted e-mails. And they tell us that government sources do also, but perhaps some of the messages were coded.
So there may be quite a presentation, Kyra, going on in the courthouse behind me. It is expected to take as long as two hours. We'll be watching.
PHILLIPS: All right, Jeff Flock, in Buffalo. Thanks, Jeff.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 18, 2002 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In 1998, the FBI and the FAA had information that a group of Arabs planned to crash a plane packed with explosives into the World Trade Center. That's just one thing learned by Senators and House members who investigated U.S. intelligence prior to September 11, 2001.
A joint committee is holding hearings today, and our justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more on this.
Hi, Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.
Lawmakers have been meeting behind closed doors since June. This is their first public hearing. The headlines so far, U.S. intelligence agencies had more information about terrorist plots involving aircraft than the government has previously acknowledged. Congressional investigators say that as early as 1994 there were indications that terrorists could use airplanes in an attack against the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELEANOR HILL, COMMITTEE STAFF DIRECTOR: From 1994 to as late as August 2001, the intelligence community had received information indicating that international terrorists had seriously considered the use of airplanes as a means of carrying out terrorist attacks. While this method of attack had clearly been discussed in terrorists circles, there was apparently little, if any, effort by intelligence community analysts to produce any strategic assessments of terrorists using aircraft as weapons.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: The committee cited 12 examples of information pointing to a terrorist attack using aviation, but despite the information, the committee says less than a year prior to September 11, the FBI and the FAA had assessed the prospects of a terrorist incident targeting domestic civil aviation in the United States as well as low.
The committee also found that U.S. intelligence had information by 1998 -- that is the year that the U.S. embassies in east Africa were bombed -- that bin Laden's terrorists network planned to strike within the United States.
And in that same year, intelligence officials also learned that al Qaeda was trying to establish an operative cell within the United States. In fact, the report said CIA Director George Tenet told his deputies at that time -- quote -- "We must enter a new phase in the effort against bin Laden. We are at war."
Victims' family members were on hand to hear the previously classified information and offered an emotional criticism of the intelligence failures.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN PUSH, 9/11 WIDOWER: Our loved ones paid the ultimate price for the worst American intelligence failure since Pearl Harbor. I hope that Kristin and I can do justice to their sacrifice an contribute in some small way to preventing other families from experiencing the immeasurable pain that accompanies such tragic loss.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Now, one final note: The committee's statement also suggests U.S. intelligence did not focus enough on an al Qaeda operative who may have been instrumental in the attacks on September 11, despite having information on the individual since 1995. Sources tell us that individual is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is currently believed to be hiding out in Pakistan and who has been described as a mastermind behind the September 11 attacks.
Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: Now, this is someone that allegedly works side by side with Binalshibh, another alleged ringleader in the September 11 attacks, who we have been talking a lot about lately because he's in U.S. custody and being interrogated right now. Correct?
ARENA: That is right, Kyra. Although Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is higher up on the totem pole within the al Qaeda terrorist structure, more than a command position than Binalshibh, who was in a support and logistics position, according to investigators.
PHILLIPS: We'll continue to follow up on Sheik Mohammed also.
Kelly Arena, thank you.
You may learn more this afternoon about the government's case against those suspected of operating an al Qaeda terror cell in upstate New York. A bail hearing for the six men will be held in Buffalo, where CNN's Jeff Flock is covering the story. More from Jeff now.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is right, Kyra. It is interesting to hear Kelli talk about the establishment of an al Qaeda cell; that is just what the government says was established here.
I want to show you the very latest pictures of the six men who are now in federal custody being brought to the courthouse here in a large group of people gathered out in front of this courthouse. We have been told, CNN's Susan Candiotti working her law enforcement sources, we have been told that even as they were being transported in that white van that you see there, prosecutors were still deciding what evidence they will present at this bond hearing. They claim to have a lot more evidence than they first presented. Some of the evidence they had, so far, against Muktar al-Bakri -- they have his picture -- they claim that they made an intercept of a transmission from al-Bakri which suggested, in their mind, that perhaps he was planning some sort of suicide mission.
That is not how his attorneys and attorneys for the other men see it, however. Attorney for the six will argue that the men went overseas not for terrorism trading, but for religious training. Now, if the government is going to counter that, they need to come out with some significant evidence beyond what they have already done. We have also seen an interesting piece of videotape, a piece of home video, and it depicts Sahim Alwan (ph), one of the six; he is a man, as we reported, who counseled young people who were out of work. He is seen in this videotape extolling the virtues of the United States.
He, of course, was born and raised here himself. His family says he is not guilty of anything and if the government wants to hold him and the others they need to come out with more than they have so far. We are told that what they have may include intercepted phone calls as well as intercepted e-mails. And they tell us that government sources do also, but perhaps some of the messages were coded.
So there may be quite a presentation, Kyra, going on in the courthouse behind me. It is expected to take as long as two hours. We'll be watching.
PHILLIPS: All right, Jeff Flock, in Buffalo. Thanks, Jeff.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
