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Tracking the Terrorists: September 11th Connection
Aired November 20, 2002 - 13:04 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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. officials say that Ramzi Binalshibh is talking. He was caught in September in Pakistan and is considered one of the biggest fish to be captured so far in the post- 9/11 dragnet.
CNN's Kelli Arena is working this story, and he joins us now Washington.
Kelli, do we know anything about what he's been telling authorities?
KELLI ARENA, JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, today, incriminating information from Binalshibh against accused terrorist Zacarias Moussouai. Sources tell CNN that Ramzi Binalshibh, who is an alleged coordinator of the September 11 attacks told U.S. investigators that Moussaoui met with senior Al Qaeda operative Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in the winter of the year 2000. Now, Mohammed is believed to be a mastermind behind the September 11 attacks.
According to those sources, Binalshibh also told investigators that Mohammed provided Moussaoui with contacts in the United States, and that Moussaoui was sent money on at least two occasions. He also told interrogators that Moussaoui was part of the initial planning for the September 11 plot, but that Al Qaeda leaders lost confidence in him, and thought he was drawing too much attention to himself while taking flying lessons in the United States.
Sources say that Binalshibh told interrogators Moussaoui was not to be used in the September 11th attacks unless it was absolutely necessary. Now, Binalshibh was captured in a raid in Karachi back in September.
He's been in U.S. custody ever since, but held in a secret location. Moussaoui, just to refresh everyone's memory, was arrested in August of 2001, just before the September 11 attacks. He has attempted to call Binalshibh as a defense witness in his conspiracy trial. That has turned into a major issue for the government, which does not want to make Binalshibh available, citing national security concerns -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: Kelli, we always ask this question -- how do we know that Binalshibh is telling the truth and that he's not trying to mislead?
ARENA: Well, this is information gathered by interrogators, that is, corroborated with other detainees that are held in various locations. So the sources that we've spoken to do believe that the information is credible. They have corroborated it with a variety of sources. It fits in terms of the investigation and timetable that investigators and prosecutors have laid out. So there is a good sense of security and confidence in the information that he is providing. But you're right, whenever investigators are dealing with any of the Al Qaeda detainees, or detainees of any terror organization, there is the fudge factor involved, and that's why there is an awful lot of corroboration that goes on across the board.
SAVIDGE: And that's why they're professionals. Kelli Arena, thank you very much, live from Washington.
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 November 20, 2002 - 13:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. officials say that Ramzi Binalshibh is talking. He was caught in September in Pakistan and is considered one of the biggest fish to be captured so far in the post- 9/11 dragnet.
CNN's Kelli Arena is working this story, and he joins us now Washington.
Kelli, do we know anything about what he's been telling authorities?
KELLI ARENA, JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, today, incriminating information from Binalshibh against accused terrorist Zacarias Moussouai. Sources tell CNN that Ramzi Binalshibh, who is an alleged coordinator of the September 11 attacks told U.S. investigators that Moussaoui met with senior Al Qaeda operative Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in the winter of the year 2000. Now, Mohammed is believed to be a mastermind behind the September 11 attacks.
According to those sources, Binalshibh also told investigators that Mohammed provided Moussaoui with contacts in the United States, and that Moussaoui was sent money on at least two occasions. He also told interrogators that Moussaoui was part of the initial planning for the September 11 plot, but that Al Qaeda leaders lost confidence in him, and thought he was drawing too much attention to himself while taking flying lessons in the United States.
Sources say that Binalshibh told interrogators Moussaoui was not to be used in the September 11th attacks unless it was absolutely necessary. Now, Binalshibh was captured in a raid in Karachi back in September.
He's been in U.S. custody ever since, but held in a secret location. Moussaoui, just to refresh everyone's memory, was arrested in August of 2001, just before the September 11 attacks. He has attempted to call Binalshibh as a defense witness in his conspiracy trial. That has turned into a major issue for the government, which does not want to make Binalshibh available, citing national security concerns -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: Kelli, we always ask this question -- how do we know that Binalshibh is telling the truth and that he's not trying to mislead?
ARENA: Well, this is information gathered by interrogators, that is, corroborated with other detainees that are held in various locations. So the sources that we've spoken to do believe that the information is credible. They have corroborated it with a variety of sources. It fits in terms of the investigation and timetable that investigators and prosecutors have laid out. So there is a good sense of security and confidence in the information that he is providing. But you're right, whenever investigators are dealing with any of the Al Qaeda detainees, or detainees of any terror organization, there is the fudge factor involved, and that's why there is an awful lot of corroboration that goes on across the board.
SAVIDGE: And that's why they're professionals. Kelli Arena, thank you very much, live from Washington.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
