Al-Jazirah Reports on Al-Zawahiri and Al-Qa'ida

14 September 2004. Thanks to Micah White, www.why-war.org

FBIS is the CIA's Foreign Broadcast Information Service.

1. Al-Jazirah Carries Al-Zawahiri's Recorded Videotape

2. Al-Jazirah TV Airs Comments on Al-Zawahiri's 9 Sep Statement

3. Al-Jazirah Program Traces Origins, History of Al-Qa'ida

4. Al-Jazirah Television Carries 'Special Program' on 9/11 Anniversary, US Policy

Al-Jazirah Carries Al-Zawahiri's Recorded Videotape
Doha Al-Jazirah Satellite Channel Television in Arabic 2020 GMT 09 Sep 04
Thursday, September 9, 2004
Journal Code: 7874 Language: ENGLISH Record Type: FULLTEXT
Document Type: Daily Report; News
Word Count: 439

Announcer-read report over video; for assistance with multimedia elements, contact FBIS at 1-800-205-8615 or fbisinfo@rccb.osis.gov

The second-in-command in Al-Qa'ida Organization Ayman al-Zawahiri has said that those whom he called Mujahidin receive great popular support in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In a new tape, a copy of which was received by Al-Jazirah, Al-Zawahiri added that without the Pakistani Army's support for the Americans, the foreign forces would have been expelled from Afghanistan long time ago. The second man in Al-Qa'ida Organization said there are areas in Afghanistan near which the US and Afghan forces cannot come.

(Begin Al-Zawahiri recording) Afghanistan's east and south have now fully become an open arena for the Mujahidin. The hypocrites have been confined to the provinces capitals. As for the Americans, they are staying now in their trenches and refuse to come out to meet with the Mujahidin although the Mujahidin provoke them through shelling, firing, and cutting off the roads around them. Their defense is mainly through air bombardment, which wastes the US money in raising the dust.

As for the situation in Kabul, the Americans and the peace-keeping forces suffer from the Mujahidin's shelling and expect the martyrdom operations at any time, with God's help. (end recording)

The second-in-command in Al-Qa'ida Organization, also said that the era of security for the Americans has gone, and that they will not enjoy it again if their government does not stop what he called its crimes against Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine.

In a new recording, a copy of which Al-Jazirah has received, Al-Zawahiri added that their is a plan to tear the Arab and Islamic worlds, saying that this includes the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and Sudan.

Al-Zawahiri's talk about the situation in Darfur indicates that the recording is a new one.

Regarding Iraq, Al-Zawahiri said that the defeat of foreign forces there is only a matter of time.

(Begin Al-Zawahiri recording) As for Muslim Iraq, the Mujahidin in it have turned America's plan upside down after the interim government's weakness became clear. America's defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan has become a matter of time, God willing. The Americans in both countries are between two fires; if they continue, they will bleed until death, and if they withdraw, they will lose everything. (end recording)

(Description of Source: Doha Al-Jazirah Satellite Channel Television in Arabic -- Independent Television station financed by the Qatari Government)

AFS Document Number: GMP20040909000290
City/Source: Doha Al-Jazirah Satellite Channel Television
FBIS Document Number: FBIS-NES-2004-0909
Geographic Names: Near East & South Asia; The Americas; South Asia; Near East; North America; Afghanistan; Gaza Strip; Israel; Pakistan; United States; West Bank
NewsEdge Document Number: 200409131477.1_f1b8000d00e02b66
Original Source Language: Arabic
Region: Near East & South Asia; The Americas
WNC Document Number: 0i3zfpw047nnbu
WNC Insert Date: September 13, 2004

World News Connection®
Compiled and distributed by NTIS. All rights reserved.
Dialog® File Number 985 Accession Number 195200935

Al-Jazirah TV Airs Comments on Al-Zawahiri's 9 Sep Statement
Doha Al-Jazirah Satellite Channel Television in Arabic 10 Sep 04
Friday, September 10, 2004
Journal Code: 7874 Language: ENGLISH Record Type: FULLTEXT
Document Type: Daily Report; News
Word Count: 1,521

Doha Al-Jazirah Satellite Channel Television in Arabic at 2023 GMT on 9 September carries, after the statement made by Al-Qa'ida second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri, comments by Peter Singer, national security fellow at the Brookings Institute via satellite from Washington; Dr Radwan al-Sayyid, expert on Islamic affairs from Beirut; and barrister-at-law Muntasir al-Zayyat, an expert on Islamic affairs who was once defense counsel for fundamentalist groups, from Cairo.

Asked by anchorwoman Jumana Nammur if the Americans are indeed between two fires, as Al-Zawahiri has remarked in his statement, Singer, speaking in English followed by Arabic translation, says: "I thought this cannot but be a sad message, for the reality says that the Americans are not suffering, as he claims. Al-Zawahiri only expresses his own opinion. In Afghanistan, we saw elections and Afghans are able to vote in favor of their leaders." "In fact," Singer adds, "the statement contains many allegations and fallacies and what can be said in this context is that Taliban is over."

Anchorwoman Nammur says: If Taliban and Al-Qa'ida are over, this is a new audio tape by Ayman al-Zawahiri in which he says there are areas, which US and Afghan troops cannot approach in Afghanistan. And, as far Iraq is concerned, American soldiers are surely being killed there. So what is your reply?

Responding, Singer says that Al-Zawahiri is hiding in a cave, and if Al-Qa'ida calls it a successful strategy, this is its own affair. "But, as to American suffering in Iraq," he says, "I would give the Bush administration A-plus on an assessment of the situation in Iraq. Regarding the injuries or deaths, we say that this is to be expected. But, they would eventually lead to elections in Iraq, just as they led to elections in Afghanistan. The people in Iraq and Afghanistan would elect their leaders and the American forces would then be able to withdraw from both of these countries."

Anchorwoman Nammur says: But, others might see contradictions in what you are saying. The United States continues to hold Al-Qa'ida responsible for the operations that are taking place to this today, while you say that it is over and that Al-Zawahiri is simply cooped up in a cave. This man says the era of security for the Americans has gone. The United States continues also to alert people to a possible threat.

Responding, Singer says: "Actually, we must view Al-Qa'ida as a movement or an ideology, rather than an organization. Ideologies cannot but express a desire to attack the United States. But, let us ask: Does this organization still exist? The answer must be no. This is the real situation in Afghanistan. Al-Qa'ida is no longer strong in Afghanistan. This is the situation, and it must reflect well on the Bush administration."

Continuing, Singer says: "Al-Zawahiri is not offering solutions but complaints and tactics to commit more terrorist acts. Is the situation in the Middle East now better than it was before 9/11? The answer is no, since a heavy price must be paid for protecting and backing the people in this region."

Anchorman Jamal al-Rayyan then interviews Dr Radwan al-Sayyid and Muntasir al-Zayyat. Asked his view on Al-Zawahiri's statement, Dr Radwan says: "Of course, this statement came on the third anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The US Administration had preceded him with a statement several days ago saying it expected the capture of Usama Bin Ladin very soon. Both sides are in an embarrassing situation due to the approach of the third anniversary of the attacks on Washington and New York. Either side wants to say that it has scored some points."

Anchorman Rayyan says: Let us stop at this point. So I take it that the question is one of one-upmanship. But, I don't know how Al-Zayyat reads this statement.

Responding, Al-Zayyat says: "The main thing I read in this statement is the smartness and shrewdness of this man, who has come up with the statement at the time when there is uproar over his disappearance and reports speaking about his death and that of his colleague and brother Shaykh Usama Bin Ladin. He has made it a point to choose the proper timing, while the whole world is getting ready to speak about the third anniversary of the 9/11 incidents. He preceded all the heresies and tales that would be told and came out to us confident, clear, composed, and determined in his mobilization discourse. He challenges the United States and the coalition armies and says the question of evicting the invasion forces from Afghanistan is a just matter of time. He also defies (Pakistani President) Pervez Musharraf. I say that Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri is managing an open match with his modest resources despite the world security alert against him. He is managing an open match with the United States with all its huge resources and intelligence services."

Interrupting, anchorman Rayyan says: Fine, Al-Zayyat. Dr Rawdan, is Al-Zawahiri indeed speaking from a position of strength, as Al-Zayyat maintains, especially when the United States is waging a savage war against Al-Qa'ida and Taliban in Afghanistan?

Responding, Dr Radwan says: "Al-Zawahiri mentions certain specific things and others that are not so specific. He says that the Americans are besieged in Kabul, that eastern and southern Afghanistan are under some control by the mujahidin, and that the Afghan and Pakistani people support and protect the mujahidin. He also certifies that the Pakistani Army is the only side harassing Al-Qa'ida Organization and the mujahidin. As for the Americans and their allies, they no longer harass them, but simply waste their bombs in raising the dust, as he said.

"I don't know if it is true that eastern and southern Afghanistan is under the control of the mujahidin, as he calls them, meaning the coalition of Al-Qa'ida with Taliban. But, it is clear that since he is able to make this challenge, this means that they still have fixed bases in those areas and that they are only harassed by the Pakistani Army."

Interrupting again, anchorman Rayyan says: Fine, Dr Radwan. Let us now move to the second point referred to by Al-Zawahiri and this question is addressed to Al-Zayyat in Cairo. Al-Zawahiri referred to the existence of plans to mutilate the Arab and Islamic worlds. He referred to the Arabian Peninsula, Sudan, and Egypt. But, what did he actually mean by referring to the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt, in your opinion?

Responding, Al-Zayyat says: "He certainly meant that the US Administration has well-known plans, over which there has been a great deal of debate. There are plans to split the Islamic World. I believe that what is taking place in Sudan today is a plot to split up the country, as we have seen a short while ago in your report on what is taking place in Darfur. I believe that he is implying that the Arabian Peninsula would be next, and that the US Administration is determined to weaken it, split it up, and sow discord in it.

"There has also been a great of talk in the past about splitting up Egypt and creating sedition in it. Al-Zawahiri seems to allude that once it had finished with Afghanistan and Iraq, the US agenda would deal with other priorities in Sudan, Egypt, and the Arabian Peninsula."

Asked if Al-Qa'ida could carry out another attack against the United States at any time, Dr Radwan says: "The Americans and Europeans raised the level of alert over the past several months and said that Al-Qa'ida was planning to do something or carry out attacks of a special nature. But, nothing of the sort had happened.

"Al-Qa'ida has accustomed us not to carry out haphazard attacks. It always carries out attacks that call for long-term planning and through sleeping cells or people who come from outside, rather from the country where the operations take place. It is correct to call Al-Qa'ida a movement, rather than an organization. But, most of the operations they have carried out so far imply the capability for sustained planning.

"Allow me to comment on the plans to split up countries. I believe that this is part of Al-Qa'ida's mobilization discourse. In fact, it is the discourse that Islamic fundamentalist movements have pursued for more than 50 years. This discourse says that there is a plot to split up the Islamic and Arab Worlds and that Muslims must be ready for it. It is also used as a justification for the operations that have been carried out by Al-Qa'ida so far, in that they are preemptive strikes. In other words, it is to inflict harm on the plotters so that they would not carry out their plot."

(Description of Source: Doha Al-Jazirah Satellite Channel Television in Arabic -- Independent Television station financed by the Qatari Government)

AFS Document Number: GMP20040910000059
City/Source: Doha Al-Jazirah Satellite Channel Television
FBIS Document Number: FBIS-NES-2004-0910
Geographic Names: Near East & South Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; The Americas; South Asia; Arab Africa; Arabian Peninsula; East Africa; North America; Afghanistan; Egypt; Saudi Arabia; Sudan; United States
NewsEdge Document Number: 200409131477.1_3615005e54a0ab45
Original Source Language: Arabic
Region: Near East & South Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; The Americas
WNC Document Number: 0i3zfq303p5b80
WNC Insert Date: September 13, 2004

World News Connection®
Compiled and distributed by NTIS. All rights reserved.
Dialog® File Number 985 Accession Number 195250597

Al-Jazirah Program Traces Origins, History of Al-Qa'ida
Afghanistan -- FBIS Report in Arabic 1525 GMT 10 Sep 04
FBIS REPORT
Friday, September 10, 2004
Journal Code: 9023 Language: ENGLISH Record Type: FULLTEXT
Document Type: Daily Report; News
Word Count: 3,041

"Under the Microscope" program featuring a documentary entitled "The Search for Al-Qa'ida" narrated by Ahmad Zaydan, Al-Jazirah correspondent in Islamabad; All Pakistani officials and persons interviewed in the program speak in English with superimposed Arabic translation.

1. gmp20040910000193 doha al-jazirah satellite channel television arabic 1525 gmt 10 sep 04 (FBIS Report)

Zaydan begins the program by saying: "Almost three years have passed in pursuit of the Al-Qa'ida network in Afghanistan and Pakistan, so who is searching for whom?" He notes that the pursuit has expanded from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia, "the homeland of Usama Bin Ladin, who managed to transfer the battle to it." Footage is shown of the aftermath of terrorist attacks on what appear to be Saudi targets as well as the corpse of an Al-Qa'ida operative who was killed in Saudi Arabia.

This is followed by footage of "what Al-Qa'ida claims are modern Al-Qa'ida training camps in Afghanistan." Men carrying light artillery can be seen training. This footage, notes Zaydan "bore a message with the title 'US Failure in the Excuse it Used To Launch the War Against So-Called Terrorism," which is the excuse for dismantling and striking Al-Qa'ida's training networks in Afghanistan."

The program shows footage distributed by Al-Qa'ida in Saudi Arabia showing images of its organization's military training camp there. It shows masked men in army fatigues receiving training in hand-to-hand combat and bomb making.

Zaydan observes that the organization was hit hard in Afghanistan when Nizam-al-Din Shamzi, the spiritual guide of Al-Qa'ida and Taleban, was assassinated. Tribes supporting Al-Qa'ida were also attacked so that they would be discouraged from supporting the movement.

Zaydan asks: "The question that arises now is: Who is Al-Qa'ida? How did it develop on the operational and ideological levels?" He then proceeds to narrate background information about the beginnings of Al-Qa'ida, saying that the movement was first launched in the mid-1980's in the area of Khost in Afghanistan. As for the movement's name, the program shows an archival video clip of Usama Bin Ladin saying it was spontaneous. In the clip, Bin Ladin is shown seated with a canvas behind him. He says: "The issue is not the way it is being portrayed by the West, in that there is a special organization with a special name. This name is very old and arose unintentionally. Brother Abu-Ubaydah Al-Banshiri -- God rest his soul -- formed a camp to train youth to fight against the oppressive, atheist, and truly terrorist Soviet Union. We called that place Al-Qa'ida ("base" in Arabic) in the sense that it was a training base and that is where the name came from. We are not separate from the nation. We are the sons of the nation and an inseparable part of it."

Zaydan then speculates about the true number of Al-Qa'ida members, noting that some put them at thousands, while others see them as much less. He adds that the existence of common goals, interests, and methods between Al-Qa'ida and many international Islamic organizations has made these numbers irrelevant. He observes that the organization is now known as a "transcontinental company."

Walking in the streets of Peshawar, where he says Al-Qa'ida started recruiting Arab youth coming to wage Jihad against the Soviet Union, Zaydan notes that the city and the surrounding Pakistani tribal areas were the launching point for the Taleban movement and others. He notes that "in the opinion of the Americans, these areas are the launching pad for the Taleban Movement and others against US forces in Afghanistan." Al-Qa'ida tried to play a leading position and establish training camps for the Arab fighters, establishing Salman Al-Farisi's training camps in Khost and Darunta camp near Jalalabad.

Over archival Al-Qa'ida training footage showing masked men in army uniforms marching in formation, Zaydan continues his narration of Al-Qa'ida's beginnings. Showing footage of young boys receiving military training, Zaydan notes that training included young boys who were the relatives and children of Al-Qa'ida elements in Afghanistan.

The program also shows the graves of Arabs who died fighting "to liberate Afghanistan from the Soviets" on the Pakistani-Afghan borders. Footage is also shown of areas near Jalalabad, east of Afghanistan, where Al-Qa'ida waged "its first battle alone without the other Afghan parties."

The program shows retired General Aslam Beg, former commander of the Pakistani Army, talking about the battle of Jalalabad. Beg notes that Bin Ladin suffered great losses in fighting the Soviets, which caused differences to arise between him and the other mujahedin factions, leading him to abandon his areas in Afghanistan and return to the Pakistani area of Sadda.

This is followed by footage of Afghan fighters dressed in military uniform, carrying RPG's, hiding in the rubble, and running out into a field

Zaydan says that the war that erupted between the Afghan jihad factions prompted Bin Ladin to leave to Sudan "in order to distance himself from the civil war that broke out after the collapse of the communist regime in Afghanistan." Then follows archival footage showing Bin Ladin being received with garlands of flowers and by Sudan's leader.

Zaydan adds that Bin Ladin was forced back into Afghanistan as a result of increasing international pressure on Sudan. While in Sudan, he formed an association for "advice and reform" and issued statements against the US presence in Saudi Arabia. Bin Ladin's comrades in arms from Jalalabad visited Sudan to encourage him to return to their country, upon which he returned along with his followers and family.

The program then airs old footage of Bin Ladin and Ayman Al-Zawahiri carrying automatic rifles, walking among masked men, entering a room, and sitting down.

Zaydan says that Bin Ladin announced the formation of the International Islamic Front Against Jews and Crusaders and joined forces with several international Islamic groups. This was followed by military action against two US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. Footage is shown of the two embassies in the aftermath of the attack and of the Afghan area of Khost following the US bombing of the area in retaliation for the embassy attacks.

Over archival footage showing Bin Ladin and Ayman Al-Zawahiri making a statement to the camera, Zaydan narrates that international pressure on the Taleban increased following the embassy attacks, causing it to impose a media ban on him. He notes that Bin Ladin cooperated with this ban "but manipulated it by taking advantage of social occasions, which he held, such as his son's betrothal to the daughter of his military commander Abu-Hafs Al-Masri." Usama Bin Ladin is shown delivering a speech at the wedding.

Zaydan moves on to the bombing of the USS Cole in the port of Aden, saying that Al-Qa'ida was anticipating a US retaliation to the attack but that it did not happen as quickly as anticipated, which was the reason it delayed its attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Zaydan says: "(Al-Qa'ida) waited for months that seemed like an eternity apparently in order to justify its response, for which it was preparing; namely, the New York and Washington attacks, which surprised the world, thus raising the pitch of the struggle through a pattern of action and reaction." The reaction was a US mobilization of international forces to fight the Al-Qa'ida phantom. Footage is shown of the passenger planes crashing into the World Trade Center twin towers and US military troops.

The United States' "important, flexible, and easily persuaded" ally, notes Zaydan, was Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, "who lacks popular legitimacy that he compensated for by winning US backing and as a result international support. This was summarized by a simple equation; namely, Musharraf's abandonment of the Taleban and cooperating with the US against it in return for Washington turning a blind eye to his military coup and not calling for the return of democracy to his country." Footage is shown of Musharraf meeting with US officials, mass demonstrations in Pakistan condemning Pakistan's position, and of the US bombing of Afghanistan.

Retired General Asad Durrani, former chief of Pakistani military intelligence, is interviewed on the US operation against the Taliban. He says Pakistan was an effective contributor to the war on Afghanistan, especially in terms of logistical support and security information.

Also interviewed on the program is Hamid Mir, the Pakistani journalist whom Zaydan says was the last to interview Bin Ladin in Afghanistan during the US strike. A picture is shown of Mir sitting on the floor next to Bin Ladin with two rifles propped against the wall next to them. Speaking about "what was going on inside Bin Ladin's head" at the time, Mir says: "The war was at its peak, but he was very satisfied with the progress of the fighting. He was laughing, smiling, eating, and drinking Arabic tea. I asked him several questions and he said that what is happening is the beginning of the war and that we will evacuate the major cities, adding that we do not want innocent people to be killed by the US bombing because of us. We will evacuate the major cities and we will go to the mountains, deserts, and jungles in order to regroup and launch attacks on the US forces and their allies. He did not show any dissatisfaction. He never expressed any kind of disappointment to me, he was very satisfied."

Zaydan speaks to the camera as he is walking down a street in Jalalabad, which -- according to the city's residents -- was the last place Bin Ladin was seen before disappearing into the Tora Bora Mountains. Zaydan says that part of Al-Qa'ida fighters sought refuge in Pakistan, where they were received by a Pakistani tribe and handed over to the government, which in turn delivered them to Guantanamo Bay. The other half sought refuge in Khost.

Commenting on the escape of some Al-Qa'ida elements to Pakistan, Sami Pracha, identified as a Pakistani journalist in Khost, says: "The Al-Qa'ida and Taleban thought they would be safe in Pakistan and crossed over into there. However, their confidence in Pakistan was misplaced, for they were arrested. At that time, I spoke to a government official who was part of the committee that interrogated the detainees and he informed me that they were informed by the US FBI that all Arabs and Muslim Europeans that were arrested would be sent to their countries and tried according to the laws of their respective countries. This did not happen, however. The US insisted that they be handed over to it so that it would interrogate them in Guantanamo in Cuba."

Zaydan says: "The Arab fighters who were in and around Kandahar withdrew to the Pakistani city of Quetta and the Arabian Sea after that to disappear in many Arab countries. Bin Ladin, the igniter of the first war of the century, disappeared into the Soleiman Mountains, which extend from Pakistan to Afghanistan. No traces of him have been found in a region that hates the US policy and defies the Pakistani Government by exhibiting his pictures and all that is associated with him." The program shows footage of Bin Ladin hiking in a heavily wooded area. Also shown are stores showing products with Bin Ladin's photograph on them, including a Bin Ladin action figure.

Zaydan notes: "Bin Ladin was militarily defeated in Afghanistan but won politically in Pakistan, when Islamic parties jumped into the political scene." Footage shows Pakistani Islamists in parliament. Afghanistan, adds Zaydan, entered a new stage after the fall of the Taleban regime that supported it. This stage, which Zaydan describes as "the first of its kind in the history of the armed opposition to states," is called "resistance without governmental cover." Zaydan says this new stage is an unprecedented phenomenon but is resistance with a social cover gained by the protection offered to Al-Qa'ida by the Pakistan tribes.

Zaydan states that Al-Qa'ida busied itself with securing protection for its elements and succeeded to a large extent in doing so. Footage shows Bin Ladin walking among masked armed men. Zaydan says: "Bin Ladin may have lost Afghanistan as a state, but his followers say that the blood being shed from every corner of the world is still being shed in his name." Footage shows old footage of Bin Ladin making a video speech.

Zaydan says that the US hunt for Al-Qa'ida led to the arrest of Abu-Zubaydah, "the official in charge of Al-Qa'ida's camps" who is of Palestinian origin. He was arrested in a house in the suburbs of the Pakistani city of Faysalabad. Footage is shown of the house with Pakistani military officers walking in it. Abu-Zubaydah was wounded in the battle that erupted during his arrest and was taken to hospital, after which he was taken somewhere outside Pakistan.

Zaydan adds: "FBI and CIA agents dispersed throughout Pakistan continued to track down Al-Qa'ida elements and leaders. They arrested Ramzi Bin-al-Shibh, the coordinator of the New York and Washington conquests, as they are called in Al-Qa'ida literature." The Al-Qa'ida leader was arrested following a bloody battle in the Pakistani city of Karachi. Footage is shown of Bin-al-Shibh being led blindfolded by a Pakistani officer and seated in the back of a police truck.

The third Al-Qa'ida leader arrested was Khalid Al-Shaykh, whom Zaydan describes as the person who masterminded the New York and Washington attacks. He was apprehended in a house a few meters away from the Pakistani Army command.

Pakistani nuclear scientists and medical doctors were also included in the US crackdown and were accused of "harboring Al-Qa'ida elements and their families," but they were released later.

Dr. Ahmad Jawid Khawajah, a doctor who had treated Bin Ladin, is shown speaking to the camera. He says: "The role of the FBI elements was important. I knew from the start that those who arrested me were the FBI in order to interrogate me. The interrogations focused on my treatment of Bin Ladin. They conducted these interrogations for a while, but then stopped."

Zaydan says that Islamic movements in Pakistan took over Al-Qa'ida's role after it succeeded in mobilizing everyone against Western interests.

The result, says Zaydan, was the attack on the US Consulate in Karachi, the targeting of the French near the Sheraton Hotel, and other incidents. Footage is shown of the aftermath of the attacks on the consulate and the Sheraton.

Zaydan notes that Al-Qa'ida's operations in the West decreased, but that its attacks continued on Arab and Islamic countries, including the Riyadh and Casablanca operations. Footage is shown of the Riyadh and Casablanca bombings. On the Madrid operation, Zaydan says this was the most critical Al-Qa'ida operation because it came only two days before the Spanish elections, causing the defeat of an important US ally in its war on terrorism.

Speaking from an aircraft flying over mountainous areas in Afghanistan, Zaydan says Afghanistan's mountains have now become refuge for Al-Qa'ida's elements. He adds that Al-Qa'ida started to rearrange itself in Afghanistan, leading to a rise in military operations in that country. Zaydan shows images "of what Al-Qa'ida describes as the booty of these battles." The footage shows military body armor, ammunition, canvas bags, hard-back cases, weapons, and radios.

Zaydan states that the United States distributed flyers and rewards in the tribal areas in order to bring about the arrest of Bin Ladin "but this did not succeed in changing the people's convictions."

On Al-Qa'ida's ties with international media, Zaydan says this relationship is a mystery to many. He adds: "Al-Qa'ida's websites and websites affiliated with it have played an important role in this relationship despite attempts to shut them down." Journalist Mir comments: "I went to Dubai and someone contacted me and gave me a Bin Ladin cassette. I went to Bangkok and someone contacted me and offered me a cassette. The same thing happened when I was in Frankfurt. I asked them: How did you know my whereabouts? I think they have a wide communications network and may have people inside the US institution itself. They have a lot of information and know about its strategy before it is executed."

Zaydan observes that the Pakistani military operations that were conducted in the tribal areas "apparently failed to apprehend the wanted big fish." Pakistani Army Spokesman Shawkat Sultan is shown speaking to the camera and says: "I think the Pakistani Army's operations do not aim to hunt down individuals. There is a war on terrorism and in this war we want to uproot terrorism from our society. We do not want to see foreigners or illegal residents in our land who are engaged in terrorist activities. We will not allow this. I believe these operations have achieved quite a big success."

Mawlana Abd-al-Malik, a member of the Pakistani parliament representing the tribal areas, refutes this and says in statements to Zaydan in Pashto with superimposed Arabic translation: "This is our army and we respect it, but what is happening in the tribal areas is the result of a hidden agenda that everyone knows. I think the operations should stop before they become an all-out confrontation between the army and the tribes."

Zaydan notes that Al-Qa'ida's response to this security crackdown was violent, where it carried out two assassination attempts against the Pakistani president. Footage is shown of the aftermath of the assassination attempts and Musharraf speaking to the press about these attempts, where he accuses Al-Qa'ida of carrying out attacks throughout Pakistan.

Zaydan concludes: "Those following Al-Qa'ida's news are confident that it has grown to be more than a military organization and has become a phenomenon protesting US policy. Its supporters are growing even though they do not dare reveal themselves."

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AFS Document Number: GMP20040910000220
City/Source: Afghanistan -- FBIS Report
FBIS Document Number: FBIS-NES-2004-0910
Geographic Names: Near East & South Asia; The Americas; South Asia; Arabian Peninsula; North America; Afghanistan; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; United States
NewsEdge Document Number: 200409131477.1_5cd30169bfecfc93
Original Source Language: Arabic
Region: Near East & South Asia; The Americas
WNC Document Number: 0i3zfqm039938p
WNC Insert Date: September 13, 2004

Al-Jazirah Television Carries 'Special Program' on 9/11 Anniversary, US Policy
Middle East -- FBIS Report in Arabic 1415 GMT 11 Sep 04
FBIS REPORT
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Journal Code: 9023 Language: ENGLISH Record Type: FULLTEXT
Document Type: Daily Report; News
Word Count: 2,316

"From Washington" talk show on the 9/11 anniversary, featuring a recorded interview with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, and live panel discussion with Dr Azizah al-Hibri, law professor at The University of Richmond; Shibli Talhami, professor of political science at Maryland University; and Khalil Jahshan, former president of the American-Arab National Association; and moderated by Washington Bureau Chief Hafiz al-Mirazi.

Doha Al-Jazirah Satellite Channel Television in Arabic at 1415 GMT on 11 September carries a live 45-minute "special episode" of its weekly "From Washington" talk show moderated by Washington Bureau Chief Hafiz al-Mirazi. The episode discusses the 9/11 anniversary.

The program begins with a live three-minute video report from correspondent Abd-al-Rahim Fuqara at New York's "Ground Zero," the site where the World Trade Center towers were destroyed. Fuqara describes what is going on at the site. Fuqara says: "The 9/11 events continue to be fresh in the memory of the families of those who were lost three years ago. However, and generally speaking, the events are being gradually forgotten, or at least the manifestations of grief in New York have started to wane."

Al-Mirazi notes that while President Bush has not visited the site this year, "as he did on the previous two anniversaries, yet he has chosen to speak to the American people on this occasion."

Next in the program is a three-minute live video report by Washington correspondent Muhammad al-Alami at the White House where a special ceremony is being held on the occasion. Al-Alami says: "The absence of President Bush from New York, and even from the Pentagon here in Washington, shows that those who are managing his election campaign do not want the President to appear as though he is politically exploiting this calamity more than necessary. This is despite the fact that during his election campaign he has on all occasions mentioned the 9/11 events and how they transformed him personally, how they transformed the United States, and how the United States transformed the world because of these events." Al-Alami says that in his televised speech to the nation today, the President repeated remarks he made yesterday in answer to the question: "How does George Bush want to see the world 50 years from now?" Al-Alami adds: "The point that he stressed yesterday and today is that he is seriously endeavoring to transform the Middle East region, and that freedom and democracy in that part of the world will eventually mean security for the Americans. This made many observers believe that this endeavor to transform the Middle East politically is apparently more than an election slogan."

Al-Mirazi then mentions remarks made by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the Arlington Cemetery, where he spoke about "the sacrifices made by the United States, adding: "Rumsfeld has always said that these sacrifices are nothing compared to -- if we consider the 1,200 killed in the Afghan and Iraq wars -- to the 3,000 killed on 9/11 and probably 30,000 or 300,000 who might be killed in another terrorist attack against the United States like the 9/11 attack. Rumsfeld always tells the Americans that we better face them there rather than facing them here."

The program then carries a five-minute interview with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, held the previous day. Armitage speaks in English fading into Arabic translation. Asked if the United States feels that it is more secure now than it was three years ago, Armitage says: "My opinion would be biased because I am a government official, but, I believe, if you ask most of the Americans, they will tell you that they feel somewhat safer now."

Asked to comment on the new tape of Al-Qa'ida's second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri, Armitage says: "I think that they (Usama Bin Ladin and Al-Zawahiri) exploit such opportunities in order to appear in the news media. This is what Dr Al-Zawahiri is doing, in my opinion. His talk about Darfur and the current situation in Sudan is one of the things that shows that the recorded tape is genuine. However, if you listen to what he says, you will find that he lacks adequate information. He said that we will be defeated in Afghanistan, but I believe that the fact that almost 10 million people have registered to vote in Afghanistan under the Taliban threat shows clearly that democracy will triumph. Therefore, Al-Zawahiri is misinformed and continues to sing a discordant tune. This is what I say."

Asked about the "military option" in dealing with Iran, Armitage says: "We are currently working with our friends who share us our thoughts, particularly the Europeans, in an attempt to improve the situation with Iran regarding the nuclear issue. The situation between America and Iran is not necessarily tense or always full of problems. However, currently, and due to the Iranians' nuclear activities, the situation is tense, not only with America, but also with France, Germany, Britain, and others of those who express concern over the Iranian nuclear activities that are taking place these days."

Al-Mirazi then presents a documentary on the 9/11-related reactions prepared on the first anniversary of the attack, including footage on how people reacted following the attacks, and with short interviews with US nationals, including Arabs and Muslims. A Pakistani woman, whose son was killed in the attack, says: "God willing, my son will help restore respect for Islam. He has done that and I will carry on with this after him." The documentary also includes an interview with an Egyptian who fled from the building and was arrested as a suspect in the attack but was released a few months later.

At 1440 GMT, Al-Mirazi introduces in the studio three panelists, who were interviewed by Al-Jazirah one year after the 9/11 attacks, and asks them what has changed since that time. They are: Dr Azizah al-Hibri, law professor at the University of Richmond; Shibli Talhami, professor of political science at Maryland University; and Khalil Jahshan, former president of the American-Arab National Association and currently at the Pepperdine University in California.

Al-Mirazi directs the following question at the panel: "Has the issue of trading freedom for security been decided, given the US measures over the past three years?"

Al-Hibri says: "The issue has not been decided yet. The dispute is still very strong on the subject. There are those who want to give up more freedom in exchange for more security because there is fear and because politicians are apprehensive that other operations might take place. However, others say that the United States is beginning to feel the impact of this barter deal and they want civil liberties to be restored."

Talhami says: "Undoubtedly the issue has not been decided yet. However, it has become a political issue in this election campaign. The Democratic Party is concentrating on domestic liberties and is opposed to restricting these freedoms. The US Administration is strongly defending them. This issue is not confined to the American people's fears but is linked with the current election campaign as well."

Jahshan says: "Undoubtedly the war is continuing and has not been decided yet. I think that the first battle has been decided. I mean that the current that tends to tip the balance in favor of the state's interests or national security, as we call it today, on the one hand and civil rights on the other, has succeeded. The opposition to the US Patriot Act and other laws that were enacted very hastily has weakened and there is now a majority supporting this current. However, the conflict on this issue is continuing and we hope that the balance will change in the future and we hope that the traditional balance between the state's rights and the rights of individuals will be resorted to its natural place."

Asked if the "Vietnam complex" will be revived in the United States, Talhami says: "The American people do not want to make human sacrifices, not only because they do not want to lose their loved ones. All people hate losing lives. However, the American people are prepared to make sacrifices. They gave thousands of lives in World War II. There has been an understanding that US interests were involved and there were direct threats to the United States. However, the American people cannot understand what the link is between Iraq and the real interests of the United States, especially after it transpired that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The rejection is not directed against the logic of using force or accepting sacrifices, as we understand it. They reject further human sacrifices in Iraq because the US interests in this case are not clear to the American people."

Al-Hibri says that the Abu-Ghurayb prison abuses affected the American people's psychology and affected the democratic image of the United States. She adds: "There are new voices in the United states. They want contacts with the Islamic world to be between peoples and not between states."

Jahshan says that Arab and Muslim communities in the United States passed through some difficulties, and adds: "Restrictions continue. There are measures that affect Arab and Islamic activities but matters have relatively returned to normal in the sense that the Arab and Islamic communities have become acclimatized to the pragmatic American society, which can easily come to terms with events, even if they are as grave as the 9/11 events."

Asked to comment further on the US image abroad, Talhami says that the problems are not confined to the Arab and Islamic worlds, and adds: "There are public opinion problems in US relations with Europe and the world regions. This is an important factor but it does not affect the factor of fear of the threats that the United States is facing and what are believed to be threats. Therefore, there has been an emphasis on Iraq. When the United States made a war decision against Iraq, the stress shifted to Iraq and there has been a determination to emerge successful in Iraq, regardless of the reasons. This desire for success shifted the attention of the world public opinion from other problems. It has forced the antiwar activists from the Democratic Party to support at least the success in Iraq, regardless of the reasons for the war."

Al-Mirazi asks whether the American people, given the 9/11 Commission report and other developments, can now ask the question "Why do they hate us?" He says that "the question was partially answered; namely, because of dictatorships in the Arab world and not the Israeli issue." He asks Al-Hibri to comment. She says: "I do not believe there is readiness yet to convey the full analysis of what is going on and the reasons that led to 9/11. This is very regrettable, but I believe that what is going on on the world level and on the domestic level will in the long run --especially in view of some domestic developments that have taken place -- open the door for hearing these reasons in the future, and not now."

Discussing another point raised by Jahshan, Al-Hibri says: "My colleague says Muslims have become acclimatized to the situation. I say that the Muslims in the United States have become acclimatized to seeing articles in newspapers assailing not only Muslims who have carried out operations, but also Islam itself. Today we found such articles. However, I say that voices that oppose such thinking have emerged. For instance, in Richmond, Virginia, there was a great upheaval this summer when someone wrote that Islam was a cancer in the world. Non-Muslim Americans responded to him. I believe there are hopeful signs, but we must consider the issue of 9/11 and the Iraqi crisis as long, drawn-out issues that will take 20 or 30 years before we understand the full results."

Asked to comment on Bush's intention to spread democracy in the Middle East "because this will protect our children here," Jahshan says: "We support a change to freedom, civil liberties, and respect for human rights in the Arab world but frankly speaking, the US stand and policy will have no credibility if the United States wants to wage this battle now, given the President's remarks about the motives or the real reasons.

He says we wants democracy in the Arab world for the benefit of the coming generations in the United States. If he changes this language and says that he wants democracy for the benefit of the Arab and Muslim youths in the Arab and Islamic worlds, then his ideas will be more credible in the eyes of the Arab and Islamic world."

Talhami for his part says that "there is a need for democracy in the Arab world and this has nothing to do with 9/11. The American people listen to the President but do not believe him because they can see what is going on in Iraq and they can see that the world public opinion considers that the Middle East now is less democratic now than it was before the Iraq war."

As a concluding remark, Al-Hibri adds the following to what the others have said: "Moreover, the main victims of all of this are the issues of democracy and women's rights. This is because the Arab and Islamic world had been proceeding along this path until these events took place with the result that some in the Arab and Islamic world understood these reforms to be Western ideas that should be rejected."

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AFS Document Number: GMP20040912000087
City/Source: Middle East -- FBIS Report
FBIS Document Number: FBIS-NES-2004-0912
Geographic Names: Near East & South Asia; The Americas; Near East; Arabian Peninsula; North America; Iraq; Israel; Qatar; United States
NewsEdge Document Number: 200409131477.1_4b8700cd7173f72f
Original Source Language: Arabic
Region: Near East & South Asia; The Americas
WNC Document Number: 0i3zfrr03s3dg9
WNC Insert Date: September 13, 2004