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American Morning

Rumsfeld Says He Thinks Bin Laden in Still in Afghanistan; Nine-Count Indictment Returned Yesterday Against Shoe Bomb Suspect

Aired January 17, 2002 - 07:05   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: Up front this morning, the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Several things to tell you about. As we just reported, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says he thinks the terrorist leader is still in Afghanistan. And a new published report may give some credence to that speculation. The "London Independent" says U.S. intelligence agents are talking to an informant who says he has detailed evidence on the whereabouts of bin Laden. The informant reportedly came to the U.S. Marines at Kandahar and said he was interested in the $25 million reward.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is standing by in Kandahar. He joins us live with more -- welcome, Ben. Anything else you can add to that report this morning?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, what we knows is here on the base they're describing this individual who came to the front gates of the Kandahar Airport on Tuesday morning, they're describing him rather gently as a guest. He is not a detainee. He was not on the wanted list that the U.S. drew up. Apparently this man has been described as a financier for the Taliban movement, one source here saying he was involved in the drug business here in Afghanistan, of course, drugs being probably the biggest business in this country.

Now, what they're also saying is that he's being very cooperative with U.S. intelligence officers. They're saying that these officers are very interested in what he has to say. But regarding these reports about the possible information that he could possess on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, they're not really saying anything here -- Paula.

ZAHN: They may not be saying what they think he might know, but what is the likelihood, if this is all true, that this guy was, made a lot of money off the drug trade that he would have any access to information that would lead to Osama bin Laden?

WEDEMAN: Well, certainly if he was involved in the drug trade and he was a financier for the Taliban movement, his sources of information could be very good. But that really gets into the realm of speculation. Clearly, this man does have information. Specifically what this information is we don't know, or they're not, they certainly aren't telling us here. They're making, they're telling us to refer most of, or all of our questions, really, beyond the basics to the U.S. government. But as we said before, the intelligence officers here are very interested in what he has to say. Clearly he's coming up with something more than, for instance, the current 320 officially detained members of Taliban and al Qaeda movement who are still here on the base. So he obviously is coming up with something that they're very interested in -- Paula.

ZAHN: Ben, there's also a report that has basically made the front page of most of the dailies today, and that is the report that Pashtun tribal leaders are balking at assisting the United States with any cave to cave search. Can you tell us anything more about that?

WEDEMAN: Well, I've been to those areas south of Kabul where the Pashtun tribesmen dominate and certainly there were protracted negotiations between the Northern Alliance and those Pashtun tribal leaders just to get access to the area. These men have had a long history of cooperation with the Taliban. They were, in fact, members of the Taliban. They had contacts with the al Qaeda movement and therefore they may be afraid of guilt by association. And therefore it's not surprising that they're not overly anxious to cooperate with U.S. forces -- Paula.

ZAHN: Ben Wedeman, thanks so much for the update. And the reason why this is so important, of course, the United States thinks any information they might get out of those caves could prevent future terrorist attacks.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in Afghanistan just a few hours ago and met with interim government officials to reassure them of America's long-term commitment to the country.

CNN's Andrea Koppel is on the road with the secretary.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Their meeting may have been brief, but for the ministers of Afghanistan's new interim government, the message behind Secretary Powell's visit was unmistakable -- this is the beginning of a new page in U.S.-Afghan history.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: This is a time of challenge for the Afghan people, but it is also a time of hope and we are determined to work with the chairman and with the other authorities in Afghanistan to make sure that hope is realized in a better life for all of the Afghan people.

KOPPEL: After 23 years of war, that's an awfully tall order. After all, this is a country in need of everything -- food, housing, schools, health care, electricity. As you can see, even here in the palace of the former Afghan king...

HAMID KARZAI, AFGHAN INTERIM GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN: What happened to our lights?

KOPPEL: ... lights are not guaranteed. Just one of many problems facing the head of this new interim government, Hamid Karzai, who told reporters his immediate challenge in the months to come is getting an infusion of cash, not printing more local currency.

KARZAI: We have great ability to print as much money as you want. That's part of the problem.

KOPPEL: So, too, is ensuring that all future money donated to rebuild Afghanistan, a feudal society with a long history of corruption, doesn't end up in someone's pocket, an assurance Hamid Karzai was quick to make.

KARZAI: Be sure that warlordism is over in Afghanistan. You may not see the signs, ma'am, but it's over.

KOPPEL (on camera): And while Secretary Powell said rooting out al Qaeda and the Taliban continues to be a top U.S. priority, another priority is helping Afghanistan rebuild. With that in mind, from Kabul, Powell travels later this week to Tokyo, Japan for an international donors conference on Afghan reconstruction. No one knows exactly how much money will be needed, but the early estimates range anywhere from $8 to $45 billion.

(voice-over): Before leaving Kabul, Powell paid a quick visit to the newly reopened U.S. Embassy, the first secretary of state to stand on the embassy's steps in 25 years.

POWELL: We are back in business. We are here to stay. We are committed to the future of this country.

KOPPEL: A promise Afghanistan is counting on the U.S. to keep.

Andrea Koppel, CNN, Kabul, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: And Secretary Powell spoke with CNN about how the U.S. plans to help rebuild Afghanistan. Here is some of what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In your discussions today, the locations of Osama bin Laden came up and were a topic of discussion?

POWELL: No, in my conversations today we were concentrating on the future. We were concentrating on the reconstruction of Afghanistan. We were concentrating on security, how to get security out throughout the whole country and we were talking about humanitarian relief and the restoration of services and the financial needs of the interim authority.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did they ask for additional U.S. troops or have any position about U.S. troops remaining in the country?

POWELL: No, there was no request for additional U.S. troops and there was no concern about U.S. troops in the country. I think they welcome the presence of U.S. troops and it helps to provide some sense of stability to the people of Afghanistan working alongside the international security assistance force.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did they have any specific economic requests?

POWELL: They had a number of requests that had to do with how they would go about rebuilding a national army and a national police force and they frankly need operating cash to pay salaries, to pay for telephone services, to bring in office supplies, the very basic essentials one needs to put an administration, a government in place. And we talked about all of the various economic and administrative needs that they have. And one of the priority needs, really, is just cash to get going.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: Of course, Secretary of State Colin Powell speaking from Kabul a little bit earlier on this morning.

At home, the war on terrorism is keeping federal prosecutors very busy. A nine count indictment was returned yesterday against shoe bomb suspect Richard Reid for his alleged attempt to ignite explosives hidden in his shoes while on a Miami bound American Airlines flight last December.

Now, the charges carry five life sentences and allege for the first time that Reid was not acting alone.

CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Far from the lone wolf terrorist Richard Reid claims to be, authorities say the alleged shoe bomber is actually part of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network.

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Reid's indictment alerts us to a clear, unmistakable threat that al Qaeda could attack the United States again.

CANDIOTTI: Charges in a nine count indictment include attempting to use an airplane as a weapon of mass destruction, placing explosive devices -- shoes -- on an aircraft, attempted destruction of a plane, the attempted homicide of U.S. nationals during a transatlantic flight and the attempted murder of 197 passengers and crew. Five of the counts carry possible life terms.

ASHCROFT: Al Qaeda trained terrorists may act on their own or as part of a terrorist network, but we must assume that they will act.

CANDIOTTI: The government crediting the "Wall Street Journal" for unearthing information now part of the Reid investigation, information confirmed by CNN.

Computer files left behind in an al Qaeda safe house in Kabul and purchased by the paper describe the travels of one Abdul Ra'uff. His movements appear to mirror Richard Reid's and intelligence sources say they appear to be the same person.

Reid traveled to Amsterdam, Israel, Egypt and Pakistan. So did Ra'uff. On his way to Israel last July, Reid is searched before boarding an El Al flight. So was Ra'uff. Sources suggest Reid was in Israel scouting potential targets. Ra'uff does, too, the "Wall Street Journal" reports, photographing popular locations in Israel and Egypt, calling them ``exceptionally good opportunities.''

Last July in Amsterdam, CNN has learned, Reid received a new British passport, complaining his old one was worn out. Five months later in Brussels, Reid claimed the same problem and was issued another replacement. Ra'uff did the same thing.

SKIP BRANDON, FORMER FBI OFFICIAL: I'm a professional cynic. I don't believe in coincidence. There are an awful lot of things that appear to be coincidence in his travels, where he was, going and getting new passports.

CANDIOTTI: Officials say that new information could lead to additional charges.

(on camera): Reid claims he acted alone. Sources say they don't buy it and they're trying to pin down where the shoe bombs came from, who made them and who else was involved.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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