21 September 2001
Transcript: Powell Interview with ABC News' Peter Jennings
(Says Taliban has ability to hand over bin Laden) (670)
Secretary of State Colin Powell said September 20 that Afghanistan's
ruling Taliban group has the power and the ability to find and turn
over Osama bin Laden "once they realize it's in their interest to do
so."
In an interview with ABC News anchorman Peter Jennings, Powell also
said that bin Laden would still be attacking the interests of the
United States and its friends even if there were no conflict between
Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East.
The secretary said the United States will "look at all of the tools at
our disposal," including information warfare and financial warfare, in
going after the al-Qaida network "all over the world."
Following is the transcript of Powell's interview:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
INTERVIEW SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL BY PETER JENNINGS OF ABC
NEWS
September 20, 2001
Washington, D.C.
MR. JENNINGS: Mr. Secretary, given the history of Afghanistan, do you
believe that attacking Afghanistan will do any good if the Taliban do
not give up Osama bin Laden?
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I think what we have to do, Peter, is look at
all of the tools at our disposal. Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaida
organization is not just in Afghanistan; it's all over the world. So
we're going to go after it all over the world. And the weapons we will
use include information warfare, financial warfare.
With respect to Afghanistan, we know that they have had camps there;
that's where he has lived for a number of years, and I am sure that
our military planners are looking at what targets might be appropriate
to the kind of campaign that we are planning on running.
Q: Do you believe that the Taliban has the authority and the power to
give him up or expel him from the country?
A: Yes, I think they do. I mean, he is very close to the Taliban, and
it's been something of a relationship of -- a very tightly intertwined
relationship. But my understanding and my belief is that they have the
power to find him, and all of his lieutenants, and turn them over once
they realize it's in their interest to do so.
Q: Must Osama bin Laden be returned to the US justice system, or would
the United States be satisfied to see him put on trial somewhere else?
A: I think that's a step or two down the road. I think that there are
many ways he can brought to justice. US justice is one form. But there
are other forms of justice, and there are other nations that might
play a role. Let's see if we can get him out first.
Q: You have said that any nation which supports or harbors terrorists
must be punished. Saudis have been involved in these acts in some
cases and in financing these acts. What do you do about Saudi Arabia?
A: There's a difference between Saudis being involved, and the Saudi
Government. The Saudi Government has been very supportive. And they
have pledged full cooperation to root out terrorism. So we look
forward to working closely with the Saudis.
Q: Do you believe that United States policy in the Middle East and
further to the east, in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India has
anything to do with the violence?
A: This is a man who has a hatred of western values and ideals, and he
manifests that hatred against the United States of America. So if
there was no Middle East peace problem right now and we had solved all
of that, there would still be an Osama bin Laden and an al-Qaida
attacking U.S. interests and our friends' interests.
Q: The Secretary of State a little while ago.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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