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CNN Sunday Morning
How Can Terrorism be Stopped?
Aired September 16, 2001 - 11:16 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: Right now, we're going to check in with William Gavin, who is the -- or at one time was the deputy director of the FBI. He has been involved in a number of terrorist investigations and he's going to lend us some of his skill here, this morning. Welcome, good to have you with us, sir.
WILLIAM GAVIN, FORMER FBI DIRECTOR: Good morning.
ZAHN: What have you learned from the World Trade Center bombing in '93 that might assist investigators in their investigation today?
GAVIN: I think that the one thing that we learned was that you must pay close attention in the investigative phase of this case. You have to pay close attention to every single detail. Every piece of evidence, every statement that's made, everything that somebody might have heard, every suspicion they might have had. All of these things are woven together to help one -- to help us solve this case, and that's probably one of the primary things. The other thing is the resiliency of the people of not only of New York City, but of the people of the United States. We will go on, but we will resolve this matter.
ZAHN: I think your thoughts are seconded by many folks across America. Let's get back to the investigation for a moment. Based on what you are hearing that the FBI has confirmed, do you believe, as President Bush told us yesterday, that indeed, Osama bin Laden is the prime suspect?
GAVIN: Well, I think there's no doubt about that. That's something that I've believed since 9/11, that he was, in fact, the prime subject in this horrific act that was committed against the humanity. Not just the American people, but against humanity. I don't think there's any doubt. The sights, the sounds, the smells. The -- his ability to weave this intricate web of treachery all points to Osama bin Laden.
ZAHN: And you were talking about the need to pay such close attention to every single detail, to every single statement that has been made. When you think back to your first World Trade Center investigation, how were you able to trace the men you did, and their followers, to the bombing?
GAVIN: Well, it started out in terms of that piece of metal that had the serial number stamped in it from the... ZAHN: To where?
GAVIN: ... the Ryder rental truck. That piece of metal that was found -- I'm sorry, I have...
ZAHN: Sorry. Sorry, Mr. Gavin, I know. There've been a number of interruptions. I'm really sorry to interrupt your flow of thought.
GAVIN: That's OK.
ZAHN: Carry on with how your investigation led you to Mr. Youssef.
GAVIN: Yes, sir. The -- yes, ma'am, the problem was there, when we first found the identification number stamped in the rail of the Ryder truck, tracing it from the manufacturer to the first buyer, to the renter, all the way back to Jersey City, to Mohammed Salomay (ph), who had rented that truck. That triggered a huge investigative effort, determining who Mohammed Salomay (ph) was, and quite frankly, he was very helpful in this case, because he showed up in Jersey City to pick up a deposit for that truck that he had reported stolen, knowing full well that he had filled it full of explosives and tried to blow up the World Trade Center.
ZAHN: I wanted you to provide some perspective on a debate that's raging now, and then will continue to rage in the days to come, and that is the debate about how much leverage the United States really has. If they can prove that Osama bin Laden did this, to in some -- any way target him. Senator Schumer was a guest earlier this morning, and he said he believes that some of the restrictions that law enforcement agencies had to operate with might be relaxed. Is that what it will take to stop this man if, in fact, he is the prime suspect?
GAVIN: Well, there's a couple of things here. I believe, No. 1, the country must go on to do what they have to do in order to catch him. But in order to stop him -- in order to stop future terrorist acts by whomever may want to accomplish them, we do have to take those handcuffs off just a bit in order to help us get what needs to be done. I say "us" meaning law enforcement; I keep reverting back to the past.
But in order to get what we need done, we have to take those handcuffs off and give law enforcement and intelligence agencies a bit more flexibility in getting the job done.
ZAHN: William Gavin, thank you again for your participation today. I apologize for the number of interruptions.
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