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American Morning
Intelligence Windfall Coming from Capture of Al Qaeda's Operations Chief
Aired March 04, 2003 - 08:08 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: Now to the war on terror and the intelligence windfall coming from the capture of al Qaeda's operations chief, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. Information from cell phones, computers and other documents could reveal the names and locations of other al Qaeda operatives, including some suspected of being in the United States.
Mohammed was said to be targeting gas stations, bridges and power plants in New York City and other large cities.
Joining us now from Capitol Hill to talk more about what the U.S. hopes to learn from Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, chairman of the Intelligence Committee.
Welcome back to our broadcast.
Good to see you again, Senator.
SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R-MS), CHAIRMAN, INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: Well, thank you, Paula.
It's a pleasure to be here.
ZAHN: So, Senator, how helpful do you think Shaikh Mohammed will be to nailing other operatives in al Qaeda?
ROBERTS: Any time you take down the mastermind of the entire network of the al Qaeda, it's going to be extremely helpful. We're very carefully going through all the materials we've been able to confiscate. I think it'll be very productive. And you have to give the Pakistanis a great deal of the credit. This was a Pak operation. It was a joint operation, but primarily a Pak operation. We have to keep our resolve strong there and it shows you you can have a strong ally despite some of the differences in regards to Iraq.
ZAHN: Do you believe there will be arrests of operatives within the United States shortly?
ROBERTS: I wouldn't, I wouldn't say no. I really can't comment specifically on what has been found. We're having another briefing as of this morning. It'll become more clear at that. But with the information that's gathered it -- I'll just say this. It has been very helpful.
ZAHN: There are a couple published reports this morning suggesting that there is great concern on the Bush administration's part that these sleeper cells in the United States are still capable of carrying out attacks and they may do so. Do you share that concern?
ROBERTS: Well, I think that we've had a lot of unprovoked attacks by the al Qaeda simply because we took down Khalid. I don't think that has much bearing on it. I think that would have happened anyway. On the sleeper cells, I think most are already defined and under surveillance by the FBI. So I don't think you could say since you took down the brain or the mastermind you're going to have attacks. I think you'd have had attacks anyway.
ZAHN: Let me ask you about another chilling report in the "Washington Post" this morning that the nephews of Shaikh Mohammed seemed to be in a position to try to take over what is left of the al Qaeda operation.
Can you confirm that?
ROBERTS: Well, seeming to be in a position and then, you know, having that ability to do so are two different things. I read the same report. It could very well be with the new, bold, aggressive program we have with the Pakistanis that maybe their days are numbered, as well.
I think this has been a big downer for the al Qaeda. They were trying to mount a spring offensive. This has put a big whole in their operation. I think most of the chatter that we are now hearing is one of despair and being rather forlorn.
There's no question that there are other people that will try to take up the mantle. But you cannot really replace a man like this and continue the same level of operations.
ZAHN: On to the issue of Iraq. Do you think war is all but inevitable and, if so, when might it start?
ROBERTS: Well, we hope not. We hope there's a slim chance that he would disarm, although I think that chance is slim to none and slim probably left town. I just think that probably in the end result about mid-March we're going to see this happen. One thing I'm a little bit worried about is the operations temp. You have an awful lot of our people, very good people, who have been there over a month. The tip of that spear can remain sharp only a very short period of time.
This Turkey situation is a little bothersome, but we do have contingency plans. We were just over there a week ago. General McKiernan says that we can really fight this war successfully if, in fact, it comes to that.
I hope the vote in the Security Council goes well. I hope Mr. Blix's report will be on the money.
ZAHN: And if the vote does not go well and the U.S. doesn't get the number of votes that it needs to, the all important number nine, what are the consequences of going to war without that resolution? ROBERTS: Well, I don't think it's, I don't think the proof of the pudding is on the president. I understand Senator Kennedy will be making a very critical speech and saying we shouldn't go around with a chip on our shoulder. The people that have the chip on the shoulder are Saddam Hussein, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and the al Qaeda and all the other people that are causing us problems, not to mention Kim Jong Il of North Korea. That's not President Bush.
They represent a threat to our vital national security. Our focus should be there. It should be bipartisan. It shouldn't be really carping at the president.
ZAHN: Senator, we're going to have to leave it there this morning.
Thanks for spending some time with us this morning.
ROBERTS: OK, thank you, Paula.
ZAHN: Appreciate it.
Good luck to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Operations Chief>
Aired March 4, 2003 - 08:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the war on terror and the intelligence windfall coming from the capture of al Qaeda's operations chief, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. Information from cell phones, computers and other documents could reveal the names and locations of other al Qaeda operatives, including some suspected of being in the United States.
Mohammed was said to be targeting gas stations, bridges and power plants in New York City and other large cities.
Joining us now from Capitol Hill to talk more about what the U.S. hopes to learn from Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, chairman of the Intelligence Committee.
Welcome back to our broadcast.
Good to see you again, Senator.
SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R-MS), CHAIRMAN, INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: Well, thank you, Paula.
It's a pleasure to be here.
ZAHN: So, Senator, how helpful do you think Shaikh Mohammed will be to nailing other operatives in al Qaeda?
ROBERTS: Any time you take down the mastermind of the entire network of the al Qaeda, it's going to be extremely helpful. We're very carefully going through all the materials we've been able to confiscate. I think it'll be very productive. And you have to give the Pakistanis a great deal of the credit. This was a Pak operation. It was a joint operation, but primarily a Pak operation. We have to keep our resolve strong there and it shows you you can have a strong ally despite some of the differences in regards to Iraq.
ZAHN: Do you believe there will be arrests of operatives within the United States shortly?
ROBERTS: I wouldn't, I wouldn't say no. I really can't comment specifically on what has been found. We're having another briefing as of this morning. It'll become more clear at that. But with the information that's gathered it -- I'll just say this. It has been very helpful.
ZAHN: There are a couple published reports this morning suggesting that there is great concern on the Bush administration's part that these sleeper cells in the United States are still capable of carrying out attacks and they may do so. Do you share that concern?
ROBERTS: Well, I think that we've had a lot of unprovoked attacks by the al Qaeda simply because we took down Khalid. I don't think that has much bearing on it. I think that would have happened anyway. On the sleeper cells, I think most are already defined and under surveillance by the FBI. So I don't think you could say since you took down the brain or the mastermind you're going to have attacks. I think you'd have had attacks anyway.
ZAHN: Let me ask you about another chilling report in the "Washington Post" this morning that the nephews of Shaikh Mohammed seemed to be in a position to try to take over what is left of the al Qaeda operation.
Can you confirm that?
ROBERTS: Well, seeming to be in a position and then, you know, having that ability to do so are two different things. I read the same report. It could very well be with the new, bold, aggressive program we have with the Pakistanis that maybe their days are numbered, as well.
I think this has been a big downer for the al Qaeda. They were trying to mount a spring offensive. This has put a big whole in their operation. I think most of the chatter that we are now hearing is one of despair and being rather forlorn.
There's no question that there are other people that will try to take up the mantle. But you cannot really replace a man like this and continue the same level of operations.
ZAHN: On to the issue of Iraq. Do you think war is all but inevitable and, if so, when might it start?
ROBERTS: Well, we hope not. We hope there's a slim chance that he would disarm, although I think that chance is slim to none and slim probably left town. I just think that probably in the end result about mid-March we're going to see this happen. One thing I'm a little bit worried about is the operations temp. You have an awful lot of our people, very good people, who have been there over a month. The tip of that spear can remain sharp only a very short period of time.
This Turkey situation is a little bothersome, but we do have contingency plans. We were just over there a week ago. General McKiernan says that we can really fight this war successfully if, in fact, it comes to that.
I hope the vote in the Security Council goes well. I hope Mr. Blix's report will be on the money.
ZAHN: And if the vote does not go well and the U.S. doesn't get the number of votes that it needs to, the all important number nine, what are the consequences of going to war without that resolution? ROBERTS: Well, I don't think it's, I don't think the proof of the pudding is on the president. I understand Senator Kennedy will be making a very critical speech and saying we shouldn't go around with a chip on our shoulder. The people that have the chip on the shoulder are Saddam Hussein, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and the al Qaeda and all the other people that are causing us problems, not to mention Kim Jong Il of North Korea. That's not President Bush.
They represent a threat to our vital national security. Our focus should be there. It should be bipartisan. It shouldn't be really carping at the president.
ZAHN: Senator, we're going to have to leave it there this morning.
Thanks for spending some time with us this morning.
ROBERTS: OK, thank you, Paula.
ZAHN: Appreciate it.
Good luck to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Operations Chief>
