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CNN Live Sunday
Al Qaeda Regroups
Aired May 18, 2003 - 18:06 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The recent attacks with the al Qaeda -- the lead suspect in them, may be proof that the terror organization has the been able to regroup and launch strikes with new targets in mind. CNN's Chris Plante is at the Pentagon with details on that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Two major terrorist attacks in the past week. First, Saudi Arabia, then Morocco. All civilian targets. Nations from West Africa to Southeast Asia on alert for more terror attacks and heightened concern in Britain and the United States. Osama Bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network, the leading suspects.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Al Qaeda never went out of business. We broke the beehive, but we didn't kill the bees, and we certainly haven't killed the queen bee.
PLANTE: Terrorism and Al Qaeda, apparently alive and well, say U.S. counterterrorism officials, and now focusing on what they call soft targets, undefended and unsuspecting, civilians at a restaurant, at a social club, and at a hotel in Morocco. Civilians at home in three walled housing complexes in Saudi Arabia's capital.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are trying to get the message across there is a network, an effective operation, and look out, we're coming. We are going to defend Islam at any cost.
PLANTE: A shift perhaps in terrorist strategy, experts say, aimed not only at randomly killing civilians but also at targeting government that maintain good relations with the United States and the west.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Al Qaeda is not just an organization; it is an ideology. So, people in Morocco may well not have actually been part of Al Qaeda, the organization; they just signed up to, you know basically attack westerners.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PLANTE: And Heidi, officials say that there is no question that the war against terrorism must be continued, but the more this goes on, the more people say that this war will be measured in the end in decades, rather than in merely in years -- Heidi.
COLLINS: So, Chris, what does that mean then? It sounds like there is going to have to be some sort of change in the way that they're thinking about terrorism, yes?
PLANT: Well, quite honestly, it's a cultural problem. It's taken root around the world. It's something that has to be addressed on a number of levels. And, certainly, not much progress will ever be made without serious cooperation from the countries where these organizations have been allowed to take root over the past several decades.
COLLINS: CNN's Chris Plante live from the Pentagon tonight. Thank you so much, Chris.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 18, 2003 - 18:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The recent attacks with the al Qaeda -- the lead suspect in them, may be proof that the terror organization has the been able to regroup and launch strikes with new targets in mind. CNN's Chris Plante is at the Pentagon with details on that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Two major terrorist attacks in the past week. First, Saudi Arabia, then Morocco. All civilian targets. Nations from West Africa to Southeast Asia on alert for more terror attacks and heightened concern in Britain and the United States. Osama Bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network, the leading suspects.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Al Qaeda never went out of business. We broke the beehive, but we didn't kill the bees, and we certainly haven't killed the queen bee.
PLANTE: Terrorism and Al Qaeda, apparently alive and well, say U.S. counterterrorism officials, and now focusing on what they call soft targets, undefended and unsuspecting, civilians at a restaurant, at a social club, and at a hotel in Morocco. Civilians at home in three walled housing complexes in Saudi Arabia's capital.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are trying to get the message across there is a network, an effective operation, and look out, we're coming. We are going to defend Islam at any cost.
PLANTE: A shift perhaps in terrorist strategy, experts say, aimed not only at randomly killing civilians but also at targeting government that maintain good relations with the United States and the west.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Al Qaeda is not just an organization; it is an ideology. So, people in Morocco may well not have actually been part of Al Qaeda, the organization; they just signed up to, you know basically attack westerners.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PLANTE: And Heidi, officials say that there is no question that the war against terrorism must be continued, but the more this goes on, the more people say that this war will be measured in the end in decades, rather than in merely in years -- Heidi.
COLLINS: So, Chris, what does that mean then? It sounds like there is going to have to be some sort of change in the way that they're thinking about terrorism, yes?
PLANT: Well, quite honestly, it's a cultural problem. It's taken root around the world. It's something that has to be addressed on a number of levels. And, certainly, not much progress will ever be made without serious cooperation from the countries where these organizations have been allowed to take root over the past several decades.
COLLINS: CNN's Chris Plante live from the Pentagon tonight. Thank you so much, Chris.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
