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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Yonah Alexander

Aired May 24, 2003 - 18:11   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk more now about Al Qaeda, the main suspect behind the deadly bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco. For that, we turn to Yonah Alexander, author of "Combating Terrorism.
Good to see you, Mr. Alexander. Do you agree with that one Arab news organization representative that more now than ever there is a call for terrorism activity?

YONAH ALEXANDER, AUTHOR, "COMBATING TERRORISM": Absolutely, it is only a question time, when it is going to happen, and with what impact. But we have seen already some encouragement in terms of incitement for operatives, not only Saudi Arabia and Morocco, Israel, but around the world, including the United States.

WHITFIELD: Are you convinced that the attacks in Morocco and Saudi Arabia are indeed done at the hands of Al Qaeda, or Al Qaeda cells or operatives?

ALEXANDER: Absolutely. There is really no question about the dedication of some of the local groups.

WHITFIELD: Why do you say that?

ALEXANDER: Well, the division, the division of Al Qaeda to, number one, to overthrow some of the Arab regimes that they consider traitors to Islam, such as Saudi Arabia and such as Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and so on.

And then, of course, to drive out U.S. forces in the region.

WHITFIELD: And it seems as though, many intelligence analysts are looking at these latest targets in Morocco and Saudi Arabia and saying that they are convinced that is the work of Al Qaeda because the initial threat of the use of -- or going after soft targets, such as installations as this, as opposed to going directly for federal installations in the U.S., for example, or even in Europe, but instead going for those soft targets.

ALEXANDER: Well, soft targets, obviously, is only element. We have to keep in mind that the war is really being waged in some 80 countries around the world, where Al Qaeda has cells. So it is really a question of time when Al Qaeda and those groups affiliated with Al Qaeda will decide to strike. For example, the attack in Indonesia against Bali, the tourists, Americans, Australians, and others. So it seems to me, again, that we shouldn't have the illusion that attacks are going to be conducted only in the Middle East, but elsewhere, all the way from the Philippines to Chechnya to the United States.

WHITFIELD: And of those Al Qaeda cells that you mentioned, that are likely to be just about everywhere, Australia, Bali, as you mentioned. Are you of the belief that they are now gaining strength? And if so, why?

ALEXANDER: We see that obviously that Al Qaeda is regrouping and recruiting more operatives. In fact, it is interesting to look at the trend. For example, two U.K. citizens, they were recruited to join the Palestinian terrorist groups in Israel and just recently they were involved in operations in Tel Aviv.

In other words, it was a joint operation between U.K. citizens who are members of the Al Qaeda and some of the Palestinian groups. So we are going to see a more joint operations around the world.

WHITFIELD: OK. And quickly, Mr. Alexander, do you believe place like Morocco and Saudi Arabia are being vigilant in this investigation of these recent bombings and are going after Al Qaeda operatives? Or other terrorist group operatives?

ALEXANDER: They cannot certainly ignore the most brutal attack against civilians that shook them up. I have no doubt in my mind that this wake up call would strengthen their resolve to cooperate with the United States and those nations that combat terrorism in order to reduce the threat, because otherwise the countries are going to be destabilized.

WHITFIELD: All right, Yonah Alexander, author of "Combating Terrorism". Thank you very much for your insight.

ALEXANDER: Thank you.

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 May 24, 2003 - 18:11   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk more now about Al Qaeda, the main suspect behind the deadly bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco. For that, we turn to Yonah Alexander, author of "Combating Terrorism.
Good to see you, Mr. Alexander. Do you agree with that one Arab news organization representative that more now than ever there is a call for terrorism activity?

YONAH ALEXANDER, AUTHOR, "COMBATING TERRORISM": Absolutely, it is only a question time, when it is going to happen, and with what impact. But we have seen already some encouragement in terms of incitement for operatives, not only Saudi Arabia and Morocco, Israel, but around the world, including the United States.

WHITFIELD: Are you convinced that the attacks in Morocco and Saudi Arabia are indeed done at the hands of Al Qaeda, or Al Qaeda cells or operatives?

ALEXANDER: Absolutely. There is really no question about the dedication of some of the local groups.

WHITFIELD: Why do you say that?

ALEXANDER: Well, the division, the division of Al Qaeda to, number one, to overthrow some of the Arab regimes that they consider traitors to Islam, such as Saudi Arabia and such as Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and so on.

And then, of course, to drive out U.S. forces in the region.

WHITFIELD: And it seems as though, many intelligence analysts are looking at these latest targets in Morocco and Saudi Arabia and saying that they are convinced that is the work of Al Qaeda because the initial threat of the use of -- or going after soft targets, such as installations as this, as opposed to going directly for federal installations in the U.S., for example, or even in Europe, but instead going for those soft targets.

ALEXANDER: Well, soft targets, obviously, is only element. We have to keep in mind that the war is really being waged in some 80 countries around the world, where Al Qaeda has cells. So it is really a question of time when Al Qaeda and those groups affiliated with Al Qaeda will decide to strike. For example, the attack in Indonesia against Bali, the tourists, Americans, Australians, and others. So it seems to me, again, that we shouldn't have the illusion that attacks are going to be conducted only in the Middle East, but elsewhere, all the way from the Philippines to Chechnya to the United States.

WHITFIELD: And of those Al Qaeda cells that you mentioned, that are likely to be just about everywhere, Australia, Bali, as you mentioned. Are you of the belief that they are now gaining strength? And if so, why?

ALEXANDER: We see that obviously that Al Qaeda is regrouping and recruiting more operatives. In fact, it is interesting to look at the trend. For example, two U.K. citizens, they were recruited to join the Palestinian terrorist groups in Israel and just recently they were involved in operations in Tel Aviv.

In other words, it was a joint operation between U.K. citizens who are members of the Al Qaeda and some of the Palestinian groups. So we are going to see a more joint operations around the world.

WHITFIELD: OK. And quickly, Mr. Alexander, do you believe place like Morocco and Saudi Arabia are being vigilant in this investigation of these recent bombings and are going after Al Qaeda operatives? Or other terrorist group operatives?

ALEXANDER: They cannot certainly ignore the most brutal attack against civilians that shook them up. I have no doubt in my mind that this wake up call would strengthen their resolve to cooperate with the United States and those nations that combat terrorism in order to reduce the threat, because otherwise the countries are going to be destabilized.

WHITFIELD: All right, Yonah Alexander, author of "Combating Terrorism". Thank you very much for your insight.

ALEXANDER: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com