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CNN Live At Daybreak

America Strikes Back: According to a Taliban Diplomat, Bin Laden Still Alive

Aired October 08, 2001 - 08:50   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: According to a Taliban diplomat, Osama bin Laden is still alive this morning. Yesterday, Al Jazeera Television, the Arab network, played a taped statement by bin Laden. No word yet on when exactly it was taped. However, we obviously know what he said. He said Americans -- quote -- "got what they deserved on September 11th." Standing with him was leader of Egypt's Islamic jihad, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

For perspective on the bin Laden statement, CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen joins us from Washington.

Thanks for joining us.

PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Hi.

ZAHN: So in an interview I did very recently with Senator Hagel, just about I guess just 10 minutes ago, he said that he is confident that U.S. and its allies will get Osama bin Laden. Are you?

BERGEN: Well, I'm sure that's true. The question is when. It's very hard to find a single individual in a country the size of Texas, who spent many years fighting in that country, knows the place very well, and is surrounded by a lot of people prepared to die for him, so while that may be true, the question is when.

ZAHN: So what is he likely to be doing right now?

BERGEN: Well I think had quite a lot of time to think out his possible response. I'm sure the American response yesterday was not a surprise to him. Clearly, the fact this videotape was made several days, I think, before the attacks, indicates he understood an attack was going to happen, and clearly understands the needs of the media. There was new material, to be shown when those attacks happened as it happened. And so I think that he certainly got through to this point, which that is United States would respond with some kind of strike, and he is hiding somewhere, and I'm sure he's prepared some something that we don't really expect.

One thing you have to remember, Paula, he has sort of outfoxed the United States almost at every step so far. I'm not suggesting he will do that indefinitely, but I am suggesting you are dealing with a rather intelligent man.

ZAHN: What kind of surprise are you talking about, another terrorist attack on U.S. soil?

BERGEN: I'm not -- I'm less concerned about that. This my own personal opinion. We know for fact that bin Laden has experimented in a kind of amateur way with chemical weapons. We know for a fact that he has made attempts to buy nuclear fissile material. All these things are very hard to weaponize, i.e., turn into real weapons, but you can imagine a situation where he has got some kind of chemical possibility, and would use that as really a real terror weapon, not necessarily a weapon that kills people, but as a real weapon to terrorize. Certainly his statements in this regard are hardly comforting. He's made repeated claims in necessity to get nuclear, and biological and chemical weapons.

And if you think about his statements in the past, his statements have been most reliable guide to what he has done, whether it was a declaration of war against America in 1996. It wasn't rhetorical a flourish declaring war against America; he really meant it, Paula.

ZAHN: All right, Peter, I wanted to introduce our audience to a face they are probably becoming very familiar with, one of Osama bin Laden key lieutenants. His name is Ayman al-Zawahiri. What can you tell us about him and the amount of influence he currently has over Osama bin Laden?

BERGEN: Several things. First of all, he is widely regarded as being the brains of the operation. Ayman al-Zawahiri founded Egypt's jihad group in 1973. He's effectively been a professional terrorist, if you will, for more than two decades. He is older than bin Laden. He is regarded as being very smart. He's a former physician, comes from a fairly well-known Egyptian family, like bin Laden himself, who comes from a well-known Saudi family. He's well educated, speaks excellent English, a man who has been very anti-American for a long time, and generally regarded as somebody who has radicalized bin Laden to become more anti-American, so formidable adversary for the United States.

ZAHN: And in conclusion this morning, Peter, there is a lot of talk about how the military strikes that were expected are exactly what Osama bin Laden wanted, it plays right to his hand, to try to create a further divide between the West and followers of Islam. Does that have any resonance with you?

BERGEN: I think so, because I think bin Laden has thought this one through. If you think about it, the Trade Center was obviously -- the Trade Center attacks were an enormous success for him. He obviously rejoiced in them, and after -- and we have seen videotape being broadcast. He's getting his political message out in a way that was really unprecedented for him in previous attempts for him to get his message out. So I think he is obviously enjoying what is happening. I know that is a funny word to say, but I really believe it.

ZAHN: All Right, Peter Bergen, you will be with us throughout the morning. We look forward to having your expertise. Thanks again,

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