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CNN Sunday Morning

Jerrold Post discusses Al Qaeda

Aired September 30, 2001 - 07:36   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: Still ahead on this Sunday morning, in CNN's continuing coverage, Bin Laden's Al Qaeda network, an inside look at a regime many have never seen or heard about until now. Then coming up in about 90 minutes, in the 9 a.m. Eastern hour, "GETTING THROUGH THE TRAUMA: THE TERRORIST ATTACKS."

We want your questions for the people who have been covering this story from day one; also, a psychologist will be us as well. Again, the address, ATTACK@CNN.com. That's coming up a bit later this morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Welcome back to our coverage of America's New War. It is Sunday, September 30. I'm Jeanne Meserve in Washington.

HEMMER: And I'm Bill Hemmer in New York.

Jeanne, good morning again to you; checking in again shortly in Washington. First, though, let's update the very latest developments we have on this Sunday.

A U.S. congressional delegation has met with the ousted king of Afghanistan and members of the Opposition Alliance in Rome, Italy. The Alliance Delegation saying the meeting explored ways to establish a new government in Kabul that's acceptable if the Taliban is ousted.

Also, the first solid evidence emerges that the Bush White House seeks to end Afghanistan's Taliban regime. According to an internal White House memo, the U.S. will directly aid those who seek to topple the Taliban.

Also, in the U.S., anti-war activists planning to take to the streets of Washington again today. They're opposed to the possibility of war in the Bush administrations' response to the terrorist attacks of September 11.

As promised, now, back to Washington and Jeanne - Jeanne.

MESERVE: Bill, government sources tell CNN it looks like those September 11 terrorist attacks were funded, developed and conceived in England, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. But does this match what we know about Al Qaeda, the network run by Osama Bin Laden. Dr. Jerrold Post, an international affairs professor at George Washington University, has researched the group and joins us this morning.

Thanks for coming in.

DR. JERROLD POST, PROFESSOR, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: My pleasure.

MESERVE: These countries, one of many where Al Qaeda is active, yes?

POST: It's now estimated they're active in some 60 countries, in fact. And this really goes back to the very beginnings of Al Qaeda where - while people think of the Afghan Freedom Fighters, in fact, was really the Afghan Arabs and some 5,000 come Saudi Arabia, some 3,000 from Algeria, 2,000 were to come from Egypt.

MESERVE: "New York Times" reporting this morning that the U.S. has been working with the anti-Taliban rebel forces for three years to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden. Would killing him do away with this problem?

POST: Killing him would just surely not do away with this probably. It would certainly be a blow in some of the charismatically lead movements -- have has significant setbacks when this occurred. But there's such a seething cauldron of hatred and anti-American resentment in that part of the world that by no means would radical, Islamic fundamentalism die away.

MESERVE: Who are his followers?

POST: His followers really - the core of his followership comes from the conflict in Afghanistan. And at that point, there was this worldwide recruitment effort to drive out the godless Soviets. At the end of that conflict, he, in many ways, had found himself as a leader and had some really agitating followers who, however, were now without an enemy. You've suffered from acute enemy deprivation. And he found at that time, when he went back to Saudi Arabia, his previous allies in many ways, Americans - this is during the Gulf crisis - the American military in Saudi Arabia and they now became the new target.

But his followers are a widespread group of radical Muslims from all over the world who have joined his banner.

MESERVE: Describe the psychology of what attracts them to Osaka Bin Laden?

POST: Well, one of the - part of the evil genius of Osama Bin Laden really is to take the roiling discontent in this part of the world, where there's a great deal of economic disparity, a great deal of despair, no real future, also the invasion of western mores, which offends many investments and to take and target quite singularly against the United States. They are the prowler. And it then becomes not only moral to not - immoral to kill them but a sacred obligation.

It's quite striking to see what Osama Bin Laden does with the Koran. And he kind of raps his instructions and makes this a sacred obligation. MESERVE: Talk about how you see that in this letter that's now been uncovered, that was found in several of the terrorists' materials.

POST: Well, the whole letter that comes - that almost has the quality of a coach or a team captain before the big event recognizing that some of his followers will have some apprehension, some anxiety before this ultimate accomplishment of their goals. And I'm really struck by one of the pieces of language in particular, where he talks about the need to become so they won't be recognized by cabin personnel - "You must not show any signs of nervousness or stress and be joyful, happy and cheerful and calm because you are about to carry out an action that Allah loves and that pleases him.

Then there will follow the day when, with Allah's permission, you will be with the nymphs in paradise. Accordingly, smile of the face of adversity, young man, for you are departing to the eternal paradise."

That's really quite extraordinary. And what is even more extraordinary is how with Allah, the merciful and the compassionate, he has, in effect, used the words of Allah to command the killing of Americans. This is his fatah against Jews and crusaders: "The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies, civilians and military, is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it in order to liberate the Alaxa Mosque (ph) and the Holy Mosque of Mecca. We, with God's help, call on every Muslim who believes in God and wishes to be rewarded, to comply with God's order to kill the Americans."

"God's order to kill the Americans," really quite extraordinary.

MESERVE: All right, we have to leave it there. Dr. Jerrold Post, George Washington University, thanks for coming in to join us today.

POST: My pleasure.

MESERVE: And later this morning on CNN, Peter Bergen, our terrorism analyst profiles Osama Bin Laden. Keep in mind, Bin Laden granted CNN an interview in 1997. We will have excerpts from that and more on "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" this morning at 9:30 Eastern.

Also, this morning, Christiane Amanpour, our chief international correspondent, has the rare opportunity to talk with Pakistan president, Pervez Musharraf. This is a CNN exclusive and you have free chances to see it today. The first just a few hours from now at 11 a.m. Eastern, 8 a.m. Pacific. And now, back to Bill Hemmer in New York - Bill.

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