Straits Times

LONDON - The Al-Qaeda and the deposed Taleban regime of Afghanistan might strike back today, the first anniversary of air strikes that led to their downfall, a terrorism expert said.

An Indian analyst said last month that terrorist Osama bin Laden practised a special brand of punishment terrorism, which meant that he was unlikely to stage another terrorist act on Sept 11 - the anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon near Washington last year.

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Mr B. Raman, director of the Institute for Topical Studies in Madras, said that the more emotionally significant date for the Al-Qaeda leader was Oct 7.

American spy satellites yesterday were reported to have intercepted a telephone call between Osama and the fugitive Taleban militia leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar.

Recorded less than a month ago, the conversation was between Omar and a senior aide and they were discussing the American-led hunt to track them down, according to The Observer newspaper.

Mid-way through the conversation, Omar exchanged words with a third person and said that 'the sheikh sends his salaam', or greetings.

Senior Taleban figures habitually refer to Osama as 'the sheikh'.

Voice analysis appeared to corroborate the identification of Osama, said The Observer.

'It shows he was alive recently at least,' a senior Afghan intelligence officer was quoted as saying.

The officer added that some people might like to think that Osama was dead because there had been no public statement from him since early this year.

But some analysts believe he was biding his time.

'He does not want to be rushed into saying something reactive. He wants to make statements on his own terms,' said Mr Abdel-Bari Atwan, editor of the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi.

Osama's whereabouts remain unknown, but it is thought that he is moving between Pakistan and Afghanistan via the border between the Afghan province of Paktia and the Pakistani tribal area of Waziristan.

There were unconfirmed sightings of him in eastern Afghanistan in March and April.

The only confirmed location for him so far was at Tora Bora, the cave complex south of Jalalabad in Afghanistan, in December last year.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2002

Answers

...the more emotionally significant date for the Al-Qaeda leader was Oct 7.

Why, I wonder.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2002

Link

President George W. Bush Speaks to America After the Strikes Begin.

Following is the text of the address made from the Treaty Room in the White House on October 7, 2001.

On my orders, the United States military has begun strikes against al-Qa'eda terrorist training camps and military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

These carefully targeted actions are designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations and to attack the military capability of the Taliban regime.

We are joined in this operation by our staunch friend, Great Britain. Other close friends, including Canada, Australia, Germany and France, have pledged forces as the operation unfolds.

More than 40 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and across Asia have granted air transit or landing rights. Many more have shared intelligence. We are supported by the collective will of the world.

More than two weeks ago, I gave Taliban leaders a series of clear and specific demands: Close terrorist training camps. Hand over leaders of the al-Qa'eda network, and return all foreign nationals, including American citizens unjustly detained in our country.

None of these demands were met. And now, the Taliban will pay a price.

By destroying camps and disrupting communications, we will make it more difficult for the terror network to train new recruits and coordinate their evil plans.

Initially, the terrorists may burrow deeper into caves and other entrenched hiding places. Our military action is also designed to clear the way for sustained, comprehensive and relentless operations to drive them out and bring them to justice.

At the same time, the oppressed people of Afghanistan will know the generosity of America and our allies. As we strike military targets, we will also drop food, medicine and supplies to the starving and suffering men and women and children of Afghanistan.

The United States of America is a friend to the Afghan people, and we are the friends of almost a billion worldwide who practice the Islamic faith.

The United States of America is an enemy of those who aid terrorists and of the barbaric criminals who profane a great religion by committing murder in its name.

This military action is a part of our campaign against terrorism, another front in a war that has already been joined through diplomacy, intelligence, the freezing of financial assets and the arrests of known terrorists by law enforcement agents in 38 countries.

Given the nature and reach of our enemies, we will win this conflict by the patient accumulation of successes, by meeting a series of challenges with determination and will and purpose.

Today we focus on Afghanistan, but the battle is broader. Every nation has a choice to make. In this conflict, there is no neutral ground. If any government sponsors the outlaws and killers of innocence, they have become outlaws and murderers themselves. And they will take that lonely path at their own peril.

I'm speaking to you today from the Treaty Room of the White House, a place where American presidents have worked for peace.

We're a peaceful nation. Yet, as we have learned, so suddenly and so tragically, there can be no peace in a world of sudden terror. In the face of today's new threat, the only way to pursue peace is to pursue those who threaten it.

We did not ask for this mission, but we will fulfill it.

The name of today's military operation is Enduring Freedom. We defend not only our precious freedoms, but also the freedom of people everywhere to live and raise their children free from fear.

I know many Americans feel fear today. And our government is taking strong precautions. All law enforcement and intelligence agencies are working aggressively around America, around the world and around the clock.

At my request, many governors have activated the National Guard to strengthen airport security. We have called up reserves to reinforce our military capability and strengthen the protection of our homeland.

In the months ahead, our patience will be one of our strengths — patience with the long waits that will result from tighter security, patience and understanding that it will take time to achieve our goals, patience in all the sacrifices that may come.

Today, those sacrifices are being made by members of our armed forces who now defend us so far from home, and by their proud and worried families.

A commander in chief sends America's sons and daughters into battle in a foreign land only after the greatest care and a lot of prayer.

We ask a lot of those who wear our uniform. We ask them to leave their loved ones, to travel great distances, to risk injury, even to be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice of their lives.

They are dedicated. They are honorable. They represent the best of our country, and we are grateful.

To all the men and women in our military, every sailor, every soldier, every airman, every Coast Guardsman, every Marine, I say this: Your mission is defined. The objectives are clear. Your goal is just. You have my full confidence, and you will have every tool you need to carry out your duty.

I recently received a touching letter that says a lot about the state of America in these difficult times, a letter from a fourth-grade girl with a father in the military.

'As much as I don't want my dad to fight,' she wrote, 'I'm willing to give him to you.'

This is a precious gift. The greatest she could give. This young girl knows what America is all about.

Since Sept. 11, an entire generation of young Americans has gained new understanding of the value of freedom and its cost and duty and its sacrifice.

The battle is now joined on many fronts.

We will not waiver, we will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail.

Thank you. May God continue to bless America.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2002

Oh. thanks for reminding me.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2002

I don't think anything too far out of the ordinary is going to happen today. Maybe next week, but not today.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2002

Well, they waited 7 or 8 years to complete the job on the WTC so they may wait several years more to celebrate this date too. Remember how patient the Arabs are. They think in terms of thousands of years, not a year or two necessarily. And they also like to surprise people, as in the homicide bombing of the oil tanker (the French have been very friendly to the Arabs and not to us). Meemur is right, could be next week. Or not for years.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2002