Military

DATE=10/15/02

TYPE=INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

TITLE=JOHN PARACHINI

NUMBER=3-386

BYLINE=SUSAN YACKEE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

/// EDITORS: THIS INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN DALET UNDER SOD/ENGLISH NEWS NOW INTERVIEWS IN THE FOLDER FOR TODAY OR YESTERDAY ///

INTRO: The deadly bombing in Bali is only one in a string of recent terrorist attacks around the world. John Parachini (pair-ah-'KEEN-ee) is a terrorism expert with the Washington policy analysis group "Rand." Susan Yackee asked him for an update on the progress of the war on terrorism.

MR. PARACHINI: The attack in Bali is a reminder of the ongoing nature of the war on terrorism. Recent events, such as concern about Iraq's development of weapons of mass destruction and, indeed, the sniper shootings in Washington, may have diverted attention, certainly of the media and of some policymakers, from this ongoing problem. Al-Qaida has shown in recent weeks, with attacks not only in Bali, Indonesia, but also in Kuwait and Yemen, that there is a soft underbelly that they are trying to attack and that they are still out there and still relevant.

MS. YACKEE: Are authorities not doing enough?

MR. PARACHINI: I think we are starting to see some of the fruits of international cooperation in the war against terrorism. The detention of Binalshibh in Pakistan, the breaking up of cells in the United States, in Lakawanna, New York, and in Oregon, all suggest that more pieces of the al-Qaida puzzle are falling into the grasp of law enforcement authorities around the world. But many thousands of people went through al-Qaida training camps in Afghanistan and were told, shortly before September the 11th, to return to their home countries and to conduct locally-based attacks, and that is what we are seeing.

MS. YACKEE: It seems that average people all over the world have underestimated this terrorist network.

MR. PARACHINI: You know, it's hard to underestimate the power of al-Qaida after September the 11th, where, in a very short period of time, a highly organized group of some 19 people commandeered an ordinary means of modern transportation and turned it into a mass destruction weapon. People who can do that will be doing anything they can.

Fortunately, since the rout of the Taleban and al-Qaida from Afghanistan, the group is on the run in different countries. So, instead of hundreds of people engaged in terrorist attacks against the civilized world, we are talking about smaller groups. Still, as the tragic events in Bali remind us, even a small group that may be connected to al-Qaida can put together a very powerful bomb and kill lots of unsuspecting people.

MS. YACKEE: We will never be rid of terrorism, but can you get rid of al-Qaida?

MR. PARACHINI: It is certainly within our powers to get rid of al-Qaida, and indeed to narrow the opportunities in which terrorists can attack us. But a key to that is long-term patience, and applying lots of different tools. It is not just military tools. It is not just law enforcement tools. But there is also diplomatic measures, financial measures, border control activities, intelligence cooperation. There is a full suite of things that the United States and other allies in this war against terrorism need to employ.

MS. YACKEE: But, on the other hand, we don't want to give up too many of our civil rights.

MR. PARACHINI: There is a tension between security and freedom. But I think, thus far, many countries are aware of this tension and that you cannot have freedom if you do not have security. And similarly, in the long run, you cannot have security if you don't have freedom.

(End of interview.)

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