Military

DATE=10/11/01

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE= TERRORISM NETWORKS

NUMBER=5-50300

BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The hunt for the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon focuses on the fugitive Saudi-born millionaire Osama bin Laden and his group, al-Qaida. The investigation has led to the detention of hundreds of suspects in the United States, Germany, Italy and Belgium, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Correspondent Laurie Kassman takes a look at the global reach of the terrorist network.

TEXT: Counter-terrorism experts say al-Qaida, which is based in Afghanistan, is actually the core of a much larger network. They say operating funds come from Osama bin Laden's personal fortune, drug trafficking, money laundering and even private donations.

Some analysts compare al-Qaida which means 'the base' in Arabic to a multi-national structure of loosely-affiliated groups that share operatives, depending on the skills required for certain undertakings.

Jessica Stern lectures on terrorism at Harvard University.

/// STERN ACT ///

It's not one group or one network. It's a network of networks, and a broader movement that supports the networks. For instance, there are groups in the Philippines that are funded by bin Laden, according to the U-S government. There are groups in Indonesia funded by bin Laden. There are groups all over the world the Islamic movement of Uzbekistan, Pakistan, all over the world that are affiliated with al-Qaida.

/// END ACT ///

The F-B-I's list of most-wanted terrorist suspects includes two former leaders of the outlawed Egyptian group, Islamic Jihad, as well as suspects from Lebanon, Libya, Kenya, Tanzania and Saudi Arabia.

Counter-terrorism analyst John Pike, who runs a defense and intelligence policy group outside Washington, says Osama bin Laden's anti-American rhetoric provides a unifying inspiration for extremist Muslim groups around the world.

/// PIKE ACT ///

It's very hard to say at this point how extensive the threat is. It would appear that the network of terrorist groups have been unified under the banner of al-Qaida, whose common goal is ejecting the United States from Southwest Asia and imposing their own vision of Islamic government throughout that realm.

/// END ACT ///

Professor Stern of Harvard says the terrorist network draws on thousands of Muslims from around the world who joined forces two decades ago to oust the Soviet military from Afghanistan. Young fighters today are also recruited from a handful of extremist Islamic schools in Pakistan.

/// STERN ACT TWO ///

These kids come from all over the world, that's the really troubling thing. They come from Kuwait, from Russia, from Chechnya, from China. They're coming from all over, and they go to these schools, and after some time, want nothing more than to be what's called mujahedin.

/// END ACT ///

Evidence presented at recent terrorist trials also shows how better-educated operatives are sent off to Europe, the United States and elsewhere to acquire special skills, or simply to settle in and wait for future instructions.

Professor Stern describes a sophisticated structure, with different departments for public relations, counter-intelligence or recruitment. She says operatives communicate through encrypted messages or face-to-face encounters to avoid detection. But Ms. Stern says they also use the Internet.

/// STERN ACT THREE ///

They're very active on the Internet. They recruit operatives on the Internet. They seek funding on the Internet.

/// END ACT ///

John Pike of Global Security says the U-S military action against terrorist-related targets in Afghanistan is a key to disrupting the terrorist network.

/// PIKE ACT TWO ///

More important than catching bin Laden is denying any terrorist organization the use of Afghanistan as a safe haven and training ground, because establishing a liberated zone is the fundamental tenet of any guerrilla organizations. It's what Mao Tse Tung did to win over China. It's what Che Guevara tried to do in the 1960's (in Latin America), and its what bin Laden and others like him succeeded in acquiring in Afghanistan.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Pike says attacking terrorists' suspected training camps and command bases inside Afghanistan should help degrade their ability to function as an organization. But he says the campaign also needs to destroy the funding and communications network that reaches beyond Afghanistan. (Signed)

NEB/LMK/TW