04 October 2001
Transcript: Blair Reveals Evidence Against bin Laden, al-Qaida
(Three terrorist hijackers directly linked to al-Qaida) (2580)
British Prime Minister Tony Blair says three of the 19 terrorists who
hijacked U.S. commercial airplanes in attacks September 11th in the
United States were "positively identified" as associates of Usama bin
Laden and his terrorist organization al-Qaida.
Citing positive evidence of bin Laden's involvement, Blair told the
British Parliament in a special session that "it was Usama Bin Laden
and Al Qaida, the terrorist network which he heads, that planned and
carried out the atrocities" in the United States.
"Usama Bin Laden and Al Qaida were able to commit these atrocities
because of their close alliance with the Taleban regime in Afghanistan
which allows them to operate with impunity in pursuing their terrorist
activity," Blair said.
He said the attacks bear all of the hallmarks of a bin
Laden-engineered operation:
-- meticulous long-term planning;
-- a desire to inflict mass casualties;
-- a total disregard for civilian lives, including Muslims;
-- multiple simultaneous attacks; and
-- the use of suicide attackers.
"I can now confirm that of the 19 hijackers identified from the
passenger lists of the four planes hijacked on 11 September, at least
three of these hijackers have already been positively identified as
known associates of bin Laden, with a track record in his camps and
organization," Blair said.
He said that one of three identified was also directly involved in the
attacks on two U.S. embassies in east Africa and the USS Cole bombing
in Yemen.
Following is a transcript of Blair's remarks:
(begin transcript)
Prime Minister's statement to Parliament
October 4, 2001
The Prime Minister has made a statement to Parliament concerning the
terrorist attacks in the US.
I am grateful to you for recalling Parliament on a second occasion so
that the House can consider developments since it last met.
Then the scale of 11 September tragedy was still unclear. Even today
we do not yet know the precise numbers of those feared dead. But a
bleak picture has emerged: there are up to 7,000 feared dead,
including many British victims and others from 70 different countries.
Many were Muslims. It cannot be said too often: this atrocity appalled
decent Muslims everywhere and is wholly contrary to the true teaching
of Islam. And we condemn unreservedly racist attacks on British
Muslims here, most recently at an Edinburgh Mosque.
These acts are without any justification whatever and the full force
of the law will be used against those who do them.
I pay tribute again to all those in America who have been involved in
dealing with the human consequences of the attacks. The rescue
services and medical workers who worked tirelessly and with devotion
in the most harrowing conditions imaginable. I pay tribute to our own
consular staff in New York and London and the family counsellors and
Metropolitan Police officers who have supported relatives of the
victims. And, above all, to the relatives themselves. Those I met in
New York, still uncertain finally of the fate of their loved ones,
bore their grief with immense dignity which deserves the admiration of
us all.
Since 11 September intensive efforts have taken place here and
elsewhere to investigate these attacks and determine who is
responsible. Our findings have been shared and co-ordinated with those
of our allies, and are clear.
They are:
-- First, it was Usama Bin Laden and Al Qaida, the terrorist network
which he heads, that planned and carried out the atrocities on 11
September;
-- Second, that Usama Bin Laden and Al Qaida were able to commit these
atrocities because of their close alliance with the Taleban regime in
Afghanistan which allows them to operate with impunity in pursuing
their terrorist activity.
I will later today put in the Library of the House of Commons a
document detailing the basis for our conclusions. The document covers
the history of Usama Bin Laden, his relations with the Taleban, what
we know of the acts of terror he has committed; and some of what we
know in respect of 11 September. I enter a major caveat, much of the
evidence we have is intelligence and highly sensitive. It is not
possible without compromising people or security to release precise
details and fresh information is daily coming in. But I hope the House
will find it useful at least as an interim assessment. The Leader of
the Opposition and the Leader of the Liberal Democrats have seen the
full basis for the document on Privy Council terms. For myself and all
other Government Ministers who have studied the full information, we
have absolutely no doubt that Bin Laden and his network are
responsible for the attacks on 11 September. That was also the
unanimous view of the NATO members who were taken through the full
facts on 2 October. Much more of the evidence in respect of earlier
atrocities can be released in greater detail since it is already
subject to court proceedings; and this in itself is powerful.
Indeed, there is nothing hidden about Bin Laden's agenda. He openly
espouses the language of terror; has described terrorising Americans
as "a religious and logical obligation"; and in February 1998 signed a
fatwa stating that "the killing of Americans and their civilian and
military allies is a religious duty".
As our document shows, he has been responsible for a number of
terrorist outrages over the past decade:
-- The attack in 1993 on US military personnel serving in Somalia - 18
US military personnel killed.
-- In 1998, the bombings of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
224 people killed and over 4500 injured.
-- Attempted bombings in Jordan and Los Angeles at the turn of the
millennium, thankfully thwarted.
-- The attack on the USS Cole nearly a year ago which left 17 crew
members killed and 40 injured.
The attacks on 11 September bear all the hallmarks of a Bin Laden
operation: meticulous long-term planning; a desire to inflict mass
casualties; a total disregard for civilian lives (including Muslims);
multiple simultaneous attacks; and the use of suicide attackers.
I can now confirm that of the 19 hijackers identified from the
passenger lists of the four planes hijacked on 11 September, at least
three of these hijackers have already been positively identified as
known associates of Bin Laden, with a track record in his camps and
organisation. The others are being investigated still.
Of the three, one has also been identified as playing key roles in
both the East African Embassy attacks and the USS Cole attack.
Since the attacks, we have obtained the following intelligence:
shortly before 11 September, Bin Laden told associates that he had a
major operation against America under preparation; a range of people
were warned to return to Afghanistan because of action on or around 11
September; and most importantly, one of Bin Laden's closest
lieutenants has said clearly that he helped with the planning of the
11 September attacks and has admitted the involvement of the Al Qaida
organisation. There is other intelligence we cannot disclose of an
even more direct nature indicating guilt.
The closeness of Bin Laden's relationship with the Taleban is also
plain. He provides the Taleban with troops, arms and money to fight
the Northern Alliance. He is closely involved with the Taleban's
military training, planning and operations. He has representatives in
the Taleban's military command structure. Forces under the control of
Usama Bin Laden have fought alongside the Taleban in the civil war in
Afghanistan.
The Taleban regime, for its part, has provided Bin Laden with a safe
haven within which to operate, and allowed him to establish terrorist
training camps. They jointly exploit the Afghan drugs trade. In return
for active Al Qaida support the Taleban allow Al Qaida to operate
freely, including planning, training and preparing for terrorist
activity. In addition they provide security for the stockpiles of
drugs.
Mr. Speaker, in the face of this evidence, our immediate objectives
are clear. We must bring Bin Laden and other Al Qaida leaders to
justice and eliminate the terrorist threat they pose. And we must
ensure that Afghanistan ceases to harbour and sustain international
terrorism. If the Taleban regime will not comply with that objective,
we must bring about change in that regime to ensure that Afghanistan's
links to international terrorism are broken.
Since the House last met, we have been working ceaselessly on the
diplomatic, humanitarian and military fronts.
I can confirm that we have had initial discussions with the US about a
range of military capabilities with which Britain can help and have
already responded positively to this. We will consider carefully any
further requests and keep the House informed as appropriate, about
such requests. For obvious reasons I cannot disclose the exact nature
of our discussions. But I am fully satisfied they are consistent with
our shared objectives.
I believe the humanitarian coalition to help the people of Afghanistan
to be as vital as any military action itself.
Afghanistan was in the grip of a humanitarian crisis even before the
events of 11 September. Four years of drought, on top of over two
decades of conflict, have forced millions of people to leave the
country; and have left millions more dependent on international
humanitarian aid.
Last week the United Nations launched an appeal for $584 million to
meet the needs of vulnerable people in and around Afghanistan. The
appeal covers the next six months.
The international community has already pledged sufficient funds to
meet the most immediate needs. The British Government has contributed
£25 million, nearly all of which has already been allocated to UN and
other agencies. We have also made available a further £11 million for
support for the poorest communities in Pakistan, especially those most
directly affected by the influx of refugees.
I know President Bush will shortly announce details of a major US
programme of aid.
I have been in detailed consultation with the UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers and
other leaders. Kofi Annan has now appointed Lakhdar Brahimi to be his
high level coordinator for the humanitarian effort in and around
Afghanistan. We will give Mr. Brahimi all the support we can, to help
ensure that the UN and the whole of the international community comes
together to meet the humanitarian challenge.
Action is already in hand to cope with additional outflows of
refugees. UNHCR are working with the governments of the region to
identify sites for additional refugee camps. The first UNHCR flight of
relief supplies, including tents donated by the British Government,
arrived in Iran yesterday. A second flight will depart at the end of
this week, carrying more tents, plastic sheeting and tarpaulins, so
that we can provide essential shelter for refugees.
We are also stepping up the effort to get food into Afghanistan,
before the winter snows begin. A UNICEF convoy carrying blankets and
other supplies left Peshawar for Kabul on Tuesday. A World Food
Programme convoy carrying over 200 tonnes of wheat arrived in Kabul on
Monday. Further WFP convoys have left for Afghanistan from Pakistan
and Turkmenistan.
We will do what we can to minimise the suffering of the Afghan people
as a result of the conflict; and we commit ourselves to work with them
afterwards inside and outside Afghanistan to ensure a better, more
peaceful future free from the repression and dictatorship that is
their present existence.
On the diplomatic front, over the past three weeks the Foreign
Secretary and I have been in intensive contact with foreign leaders
from every part of the world. In addition, the Foreign Secretary has
visited the Middle East and Iran. I have visited Berlin, Paris and
Washington for consultations with Chancellor Schroeder, President
Chirac and President Bush respectively. Later today I will travel to
Moscow to meet with President Putin.
What we have encountered is an unprecedented level of solidarity and
commitment to work together against terrorism. This is a commitment
that spans all continents, cultures and religions, reinforced by
attacks like the one on the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in Srinagar
which killed over 30 innocent people.
We have already made good progress in taking forward an international
agenda. Last week the United Nations Security Council unanimously
adopted resolution 1373. This makes it mandatory for all states to
prevent and suppress terrorist financing and requires the denial of
safe haven to who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts.
The European Union too has taken firm action. Transport, interior,
finance and foreign ministers have all met to concert an ambitious and
effective European response: enhancing police co-operation; speeding
up extradition; putting an end to the funding of terrorism; and
strengthening air security.
We are also looking closely at our national legislation. In the next
few weeks, the Home Secretary intends to introduce a package of
legislation to supplement existing legal powers in a number of areas.
It will be a carefully-appraised set of measures: tough, but balanced
and proportionate to the risk we face. It will cover the funding of
terrorism. It will increase our ability to exclude and remove those
whom we suspect of terrorism and who are seeking to abuse our asylum
procedures. It will widen the law on incitement to include religious
hatred. We will bring forward a bill to modernise our extradition law.
It will not be a knee-jerk reaction. But I emphasise we do need to
strengthen our laws so that, even if necessary only in a small number
of cases, we have the means to protect our citizens' liberty and our
national security.
We have also ensured, insofar as is possible, that every reasonable
measure of internal security is being undertaken. We have in place a
series of contingency plans, governing all forms of terrorism. These
plans are continually reviewed and tested regularly and at all levels.
In addition, we continue to monitor carefully developments in the
British and International economy. Certain sectors here and around the
world have inevitably been seriously affected, though I repeat the
fundamentals of all the major economies, including our own, remain
strong. The reduction of risk from terrorist mass action is important
also to economic confidence as 11 September shows. So there is every
incentive in this respect also, to close down the Bin Laden network.
Mr. Speaker, three weeks on from the most appalling act of terrorism
the world has ever witnessed.
The coalition is strong. Military plans are robust. The humanitarian
plans are falling into place.
And the evidence against Bin Laden and his network is overwhelming.
The Afghan people are not our enemy. For they have our sympathy and
they will have our support.
Our enemy is Usama Bin Laden and the Al Qaida network who were
responsible for the events of 11 September. The Taleban regime must
yield them up or become our enemy also. We will not act for revenge.
We will act because for the protection of our people and our way of
life, including confidence in our economy, we need to eliminate the
threat Bin Laden and his terrorism represent. We act for justice. We
act with world opinion behind us. And we have an absolute
determination to see justice done, and this evil of mass terrorism
confronted and defeated.
(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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