Bin Laden’s reach extends to 34 countries
Published 9:00 pm Thursday, September 13, 2001
By George Gedda
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The terrorist organization headed by Saudi exile Osama bin Laden has cells identified or suspected in 34 countries or territories, and represents a global threat to the United States, a congressional report says.
"In building this network, bin Laden has assembled a coalition of disparate radical Islamic groups of varying nationalities to work toward common goals — the expulsion of non-Muslim control or influence from Muslim-inhabited lands," said the report, made available Thursday.
The Congressional Research Service report was dated Monday, the day before the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday identified bin Laden as a suspect in the attacks.
The assertion that bin Laden’s Al Qaida organization has links in dozens of countries is significant, given Powell’s promise to carry out a global war on terrorism.
Once the United States has acted against those responsible for Tuesday’s attacks, Powell said, "we will continue with a global assault on terrorism in general."
The report, written by Middle East specialist Kenneth Katzman, said bin Laden is estimated to have $300 million in personal financial assets with which he funds a network of 3,000 Islamic militants.
The organization presents a "global threat to U.S. citizens and national security interests," the report said.
It also said Al Qaida cells have been identified or suspected in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Sudan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Chechnya, Somalia, Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Uruguay, Ecuador, Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States itself.
The report lists 19 Near Eastern terrorist organizations, and ranks Al Qaida as the only one with an "extremely high" terrorist activity level.
Only two were ranked "very high": the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, also a Palestinian organization.
Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
