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American Morning

62 Names Added to List of Suspected Financial Helpers of Bin Laden

Aired November 07, 2001 - 11:01   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: With the start of the new hour, though let's start at the White House, where the Bush team is moving again today to choke off the money pipeline.

And CNN's White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace there with us once again. And Kelly, what do we expect today to hear from the president on this issue and more?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, as you know President Bush has said repeatedly that there are many fronts to this war.

Look for him to say the same thing today and to say that the financial front, the financial fight against terrorism, just as important as the military campaign. As you noted, the White House targeting a new area in this financial fight against terrorism. Going after these informal money exchanges, known as hawalas. They are loosely regulated -- for the most part, unregulated -- money exchanges.

U.S. officials going to name two financial networks that they believe are providing financial support to bin Laden's Al Qaeda network. We showed you this list last hour. Again, this a new list, an updated list, from the Treasury Department. 62 names of individuals, groups, financial entities will be added to the list today. Believed to be linked to these two financial networks.

And as, Bill, as we talked about last hour, one of these networks is apparently so big that it does business in 40 countries, including the United States, and that it apparently provides a percentage of every money transaction to the Al Qaeda network, unbeknownst, U.S. officials say, to many individuals whose use this network innocently enough to try to transfer money to family members.

So again the administration saying this is a major crackdown, going after the very infrastructure that these terrorist organizations use to move their money around the world. Bill.

HEMMER: And that tracking is certainly no easy task. With regard to the coalition, Kelly. We had Jacques Chirac there yesterday, Tony Blair later today. How is that operation continuing on the coalition-building side? WALLACE: Absolutely. Very important. And we did early this morning also have the first deputy prime minister of Kuwait already into see the president. As you noted, British Prime Minister Tony Blair here later today. Other leaders coming this week as well, Bill. U.S. officials saying the goal here: to show that this coalition remains strong and united.

But does come at somewhat of difficult time for the administration. There is some concern, some skepticism, even in European nations, about the progress of the military campaign; concerns about civilian casualties; as you know -- concerns on the part of Arab and Muslim nations about continuing this military action through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

So, again a very big challenge for the administration. British Prime Minister, though, Tony Blair saying on "LARRY KING LIVE" last night, Bill, that this it means -- is more important than ever for the president, the prime minister to keep reiterating what this campaign is all about. And that it will take time. So look for that message from the two when they go before reporters later today.

HEMMER: We certainly will, Kelly, thanks. Kelly Wallace at the White House.

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