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America Strikes Back: Overview of Terrorist Organizations on the FBI List

Aired October 12, 2001 - 07:44   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, we have heard the president and the State Department talk about nations around the world who may harbor terrorists as well.

Miles O'Brien watching this front now and the geography as well as the politics. Miles, good morning.

MILES O'BRIEN,CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Bill. The president spoke about that a little bit last night as well. The administration is out with a list of suspected terrorist organizations, where they may reside.

The implication is that when you consider there's war on terrorism, these might one day be potential targets in one way or another, whether to freeze their financial assets or go after them in other ways.

Let's take a look at a few of the organizations and talk about possible links in some cases to Osama bin Laden's organization. Put the map in motion -- we'll begin in Egypt. Gama'a al-Islamiyya is an organization that was linked to the killing of some tourists at the pyramids a few years ago, established in the '70s. They want Islamic rule in Egypt.

Sheik Omar Abda Ramen who is closely affiliated with al-Jihad al- Islami -- was one of the people convicted in the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981, linked to the 1993 World Trade Center bombings. And as well influential in this group, Aman al Jawari, connected as well to Sadat's assassination, convicted in absentia of terrorism in Egypt in '99. All of them with close links to Osama bin Laden.

Also in Egypt, al-Jihad, established in the '70s as well. The goal the same -- Islamic rule in Egypt. And they are involved in -- I've got to put that map in motion. I apologize. They have targeted Egyptian leaders -- high profile Egyptian government officials including Cabinet ministers and U.S. and Israeli interests in Egypt and as well as U.S. interests abroad. So their focus has shifted beyond the borders of Egypt.

Let's move along to Israel now and take you to the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Hamas -- began in 1987. The goal there, a Palestinian state. Numerous suicide bombings linked to that organization. Currently probably the strongest opposition group in the peace process in the Middle East.

Moving along to Lebanon now -- Hezbollah, organization you've heard a lot about. The Islamic Republic of Lebanon is their goal. They were linked to the Marine barracks bombing, the U.S. embassy bombings in 1983. More than 300 people killed in both of those attacks.

They are Shiite Muslims. They call themselves the party of God. Hezbollah -- it means party of God. They have ideological ties to Iran -- Shiite Muslims in Iran as well -- support from Iran as well as support from Syria, a key supporter of this organization.

Let's take a move now to Iraq and tell you what's going on in there. A group called the MEK -- Mujahedin e-Khalq organization. These were established in the '60s, college educated Iranians, interested in toppling the Shad Islamic Revolution there. They were instrumental in the U.S. embassy seizure in 1979. They were forced -- initially they went to France forced out in the '80s. They ended up resettling in Iraq in 1987.

Now also in Iraq, the Palestine Liberation front, established in the '70s as well. The goal is a Palestinian state. They were linked to the Achile Laurel attack, which resulted in the death of a U.S. tourist Leon Clinghoffer in 1985. They receive a lot of support from Iraq. Formally they were based in Tunisia, a lot of support from Libya and post to Achile Laurel, moved into Iraq.

Now let's get closer to Afghanistan and closer to that region. The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, established in 1999. The goal there is Islamic rule really in Central Asia, as well as Uzbekistan, Kigistan, Tajikistan. They would like a Central Asian Islamic Republic and so their goal is to topple the regime of President Islam Karamoff.

They were involved in the Tashkent car bombings in 1999, a series of car bombs that killed 16 people. Karamoff viewed it as an assassination attempt. They get into the borders of Afghanistan frequently, financing from Osama bin Laden, trained at some of Osama bin Laden's camps. They're active all throughout this region.

Finally let's move to Pakistan and we have the group Harakat al- Mujahidin. This is another group that is closely linked to Osama bin Laden. They are primarily operating in Kashmir -- close links as far as financial and training. Many of them have trained in Afghanistan at Osama bin Laden's camps.

They're also signatory to the Faht Loht (ph) or Edict in February of '98 that called for attacks on U.S. and western sites. And finally al-Qaeda, which we don't need to go into too much depth. We've been talking so much about it.

But it's translated as the base, Osama bin Laden the leader. He is at the very least a multi- millionaire -- the son of a billionaire, gets his funding from that. But also gets funding from Saudi support as well as donations from Muslim charities -- donations, which he siphons off -- the list of attacks for al Qaeda too long to enumerate at this moment.

But nevertheless, that's a brief idea of some of the organizations that are out there. Some of them concentric circles, some of them overlapping circles to Osama bin Laden. At the very core of it, though, Islamic regimes is their goal -- a common goal. So even if they don't have direct links to Osama bin Laden, the goal remains the same. Bill .

HEMMER: And clearly it shows Miles how balancing the overall picture can be in that part of the world. Miles, thanks.

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