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CNN Live Saturday
New Leads Point To Osama bin Laden's Location
Aired February 14, 2004 - 12:19 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.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there's new optimism in the search for Osama bin Laden. Some U.S. officials in Afghanistan suggest new intelligence may lead to his capture within months. U.S. forces in Afghanistan plan a new offensive against Taliban and al- Qaeda hold outs in the spring when the weather improves.
For some perspective, David Isby, a defense analyst joins, us now.
Thanks for joining us.
DAVID ISBY, DEFENSE ANALYST: Thank you.
ARENA: This spring offensive, we hear -- we've heard about this for sometime. What is so key to the spring season, in terms of the search?
ISBY: Well, certainly, you have better weather; although that also allows the people you're hunting to move around better. In many cases, if you're looking for precise -- for individuals and you have helicopters and they don't, winter is often a better time. However, you need key things, you need humans -- human intelligence, which was key to getting Saddam Hussein; you need special operations forces able to react very quickly with a matter of hours, when you get the human; and then you need operations to destroy their support mechanism that is are already there in place.
ARENA: There's a lot of talk about this region along the Afghan- Pakistan border. I remember one -- one analyst saying to me that it must be awfully crowded place. How -- how do politics play in that? I mean, it seems convenient to sort of stick all the terrorists right there, rather than saying they're either in Afghanistan or Pakistan.
ISBY: They certainly are able to cross the border back and forward as the tactical situation permits, but that again, underlines the key factor. Much of the question of terrorism in Afghanistan is actually a problem to be decided in Pakistan. And whether Pakistan is going to cooperate, we're closing down the support infrastructure for people carrying out terrorism against U.S. and NATO troops and Afghans in Afghanistan.
ARENA: Are you seeing any political will yet on that...
ISBY: We have seen some advances, especially after the attempted assassination attempts against Musharraf in Pakistan, his recent speech to the Parliament, then. So, there have been good signs, but the key thing for every advance is also a step backward, so the U.S./Pakistani relations are key to take apart the Taliban's support mechanism. Not just cherry pick key foreign al-Qaeda like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
ARENA: There is -- there is always this skeptical side of things, they're saying, well, you know, wouldn't it convenient if Osama bin Laden were caught, you know, right before the November elections? However, I mean, for those in intelligence know that's just a far -- are you on the side of that being a farfletched (SIC) idea?
ISBY: Well, I wouldn't bet money of my own that bin Laden is there in the Afghan-Pakistan area. Certainly, Mohammed Omar, the Taliban leadership, I would bet my own money, there are there, but I suspect bin Laden in a creature who lives world stage, has literally ambitions for a worldwide revival of an Islamic government...
ARENA: He's so hard to find,
ISBY: Yes.
ARENA: David, thank you so much. Sorry to cut you off.
ISBY: You're welcome.
ARENA: All right.
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 February 14, 2004 - 12:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there's new optimism in the search for Osama bin Laden. Some U.S. officials in Afghanistan suggest new intelligence may lead to his capture within months. U.S. forces in Afghanistan plan a new offensive against Taliban and al- Qaeda hold outs in the spring when the weather improves.
For some perspective, David Isby, a defense analyst joins, us now.
Thanks for joining us.
DAVID ISBY, DEFENSE ANALYST: Thank you.
ARENA: This spring offensive, we hear -- we've heard about this for sometime. What is so key to the spring season, in terms of the search?
ISBY: Well, certainly, you have better weather; although that also allows the people you're hunting to move around better. In many cases, if you're looking for precise -- for individuals and you have helicopters and they don't, winter is often a better time. However, you need key things, you need humans -- human intelligence, which was key to getting Saddam Hussein; you need special operations forces able to react very quickly with a matter of hours, when you get the human; and then you need operations to destroy their support mechanism that is are already there in place.
ARENA: There's a lot of talk about this region along the Afghan- Pakistan border. I remember one -- one analyst saying to me that it must be awfully crowded place. How -- how do politics play in that? I mean, it seems convenient to sort of stick all the terrorists right there, rather than saying they're either in Afghanistan or Pakistan.
ISBY: They certainly are able to cross the border back and forward as the tactical situation permits, but that again, underlines the key factor. Much of the question of terrorism in Afghanistan is actually a problem to be decided in Pakistan. And whether Pakistan is going to cooperate, we're closing down the support infrastructure for people carrying out terrorism against U.S. and NATO troops and Afghans in Afghanistan.
ARENA: Are you seeing any political will yet on that...
ISBY: We have seen some advances, especially after the attempted assassination attempts against Musharraf in Pakistan, his recent speech to the Parliament, then. So, there have been good signs, but the key thing for every advance is also a step backward, so the U.S./Pakistani relations are key to take apart the Taliban's support mechanism. Not just cherry pick key foreign al-Qaeda like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
ARENA: There is -- there is always this skeptical side of things, they're saying, well, you know, wouldn't it convenient if Osama bin Laden were caught, you know, right before the November elections? However, I mean, for those in intelligence know that's just a far -- are you on the side of that being a farfletched (SIC) idea?
ISBY: Well, I wouldn't bet money of my own that bin Laden is there in the Afghan-Pakistan area. Certainly, Mohammed Omar, the Taliban leadership, I would bet my own money, there are there, but I suspect bin Laden in a creature who lives world stage, has literally ambitions for a worldwide revival of an Islamic government...
ARENA: He's so hard to find,
ISBY: Yes.
ARENA: David, thank you so much. Sorry to cut you off.
ISBY: You're welcome.
ARENA: All right.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
