Embassy Responds to President Musharraf's Criticism on CNN
aired on CNN's "The Situation Room"
03/06/2006
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: In our CNN "Security
Watch," a new tape believed to be from Osama bin Laden's
and an increasing focus on what's being described as economic
terrorism.
CNN's Brian Todd is joining us now live from Washington.
He has some details -- Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, on this tape,
Ayman al- Zawahiri calls on his followers to make Western powers
"bleed for years." And as you mentioned, he seems
especially interested in making them bleed financially.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice over): Experts believe Ayman al-Zawahiri
likely made this tape before the attack on a Saudi oil processing
terminal in late February. But they say his message touches
a central al Qaeda strategy, keep hitting the West where its
money is.
Al-Zawahiri tells followers to prevent the Western
crusaders from stealing the Muslims' oil and makes reference
to recent cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI, AL QAEDA (through translator):
They have the rights to invade our land, rob our wealth and
then insult us.
TODD: Experts, including a former CIA deputy director
and a former CIA analyst, say perhaps unwittingly, al-Zawahiri
may actually be helping U.S. leaders readjust their focus in
the war on terror.
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER:
At a time when we are spending a lot of energy worrying about
how one of our best counterterrorism partners, the UAE, will
manage some terminals at our ports, Zawahiri's statement may
be a useful reminder that there could be some greater dangers
out there to focus on. TODD: The tape offers proof that at least
until a few weeks ago, al Qaeda's number two figure was alive,
while two leaders hunting for him are quarreling. Pakistan president
Pervez Musharraf telling Wolf Blitzer he is irate that Afghan
president Hamid Karzai gave him intelligence on Taliban and
al Qaeda leaders' whereabouts in Pakistan. Intelligence made
public around the time of President Bush's visit. Intelligence
that Musharraf says was outdated.
PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PAKISTANI PRESIDENT: I am totally
disappointed with their intelligence, and I feel there is a
very, very deliberate attempt to malign Pakistan by some agents,
and President Karzai is totally oblivious of what is happening
in his own country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: Contacted by CNN, Afghanistan's ambassador
to the U.S. says the intelligence was not outdated, that his
government's intent was to help Musharraf's forces. And they
believe the Pakistanis can do more to hunt al Qaeda and Taliban
suspects along their common border.
One former top intelligence official says we shouldn't
read too much into this dispute. Tensions have flared before
among these two governments, and they'll likely do so again.
But the timing of this argument was not great for perception
coming on the heels of al- Zawahiri's message -- Wolf.
BLITZER: I've interviewed President Musharraf
on several occasions, Brian, and he was irate yesterday when
we spoke. He was in Rawalpindi.
