Investigators Identify 4 to 5 Groups Linked to Bin Laden 伀瀀攀爀愀琀椀渀最 椀渀 唀⸀匀⸀㰀⼀䈀㸀㰀⼀䘀伀一吀㸀 㰀䈀刀㸀一漀 䌀漀渀渀攀挀琀椀漀渀 䘀漀甀渀搀 䈀攀琀眀攀攀渀 ✀䌀攀氀氀✀ 䴀攀洀戀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 ഀ
19 Hijackers, Officials Say 㰀倀㸀㰀䘀伀一吀 猀椀稀攀㴀ⴀ㸀䈀礀 䈀漀戀 圀漀漀搀眀愀爀搀 愀渀搀 圀愀氀琀攀爀 倀椀渀挀甀猀㰀䈀刀㸀圀愀猀栀椀渀最琀漀渀 倀漀猀琀 匀琀愀昀昀 ഀ
Writers
Sunday, September 23, 2001; Page A01 㰀倀㸀ഀ
Al Qaeda, Arabic for "the Base," is a loose confederation of extremist 䤀猀氀愀洀椀挀 最爀漀甀瀀猀 氀攀搀 戀礀 匀愀甀搀椀 昀甀最椀琀椀瘀攀 洀椀氀氀椀漀渀愀椀爀攀 伀猀愀洀愀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀Ⰰ 眀栀漀洀 倀爀攀猀椀搀攀渀琀 ഀ Bush and other government officials have publicly charged with responsibility 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 一攀眀 夀漀爀欀 愀渀搀 圀愀猀栀椀渀最琀漀渀 愀琀琀愀挀欀猀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
There has been widespread fear and speculation about other al Qaeda groups in 琀栀攀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 匀琀愀琀攀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀猀 猀愀礀 琀栀攀礀 栀愀瘀攀 渀漀 猀瀀攀挀椀昀椀挀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 愀戀漀甀琀 ഀ their plans.
㰀倀㸀∀吀栀攀礀 愀爀攀 猀漀 最漀漀搀 愀琀 挀漀洀瀀愀爀琀洀攀渀琀愀氀椀稀椀渀最Ⰰ∀ 愀渀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀 猀愀椀搀 礀攀猀琀攀爀搀愀礀Ⰰ 渀漀琀椀渀最 ഀ and anguishing over the difficulty of finding clear links among the cells. The 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀猀 搀攀挀氀椀渀攀搀 琀漀 椀搀攀渀琀椀昀礀 琀栀攀 挀椀琀椀攀猀 眀栀攀爀攀 琀栀攀 愀氀 儀愀攀搀愀 最爀漀甀瀀猀 愀爀攀 ഀ located.㰀倀㸀䤀渀瘀攀猀琀椀最愀琀漀爀猀 愀爀攀 昀椀渀搀椀渀最 愀 栀椀最栀氀礀 甀渀甀猀甀愀氀 搀攀最爀攀攀 漀昀 搀椀猀挀椀瀀氀椀渀攀 愀渀搀 瀀愀琀椀攀渀挀攀 ഀ in the groups, which usually number fewer than a dozen individuals. One of the 挀攀渀琀爀愀氀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀猀 琀栀攀 䘀䈀䤀 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 猀琀爀甀最最氀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 椀猀 眀栀礀 琀栀攀 最爀漀甀瀀猀 栀愀瘀攀 猀琀愀礀攀搀 ഀ in the United States. One official speculated that they could be here to gather 椀渀琀攀氀氀椀最攀渀挀攀 漀爀 琀漀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 漀爀 攀砀攀挀甀琀攀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀 愀琀琀愀挀欀猀⸀ 䤀琀 椀猀 愀氀猀漀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀Ⰰ ഀ the official said, the cells are here to earn money because the United States is 漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 昀攀眀 挀漀甀渀琀爀椀攀猀 眀栀攀爀攀 攀渀琀爀礀 椀猀 攀愀猀礀 愀渀搀 樀漀戀猀 愀爀攀 爀攀愀搀椀氀礀 愀瘀愀椀氀愀戀氀攀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀThe members of al Qaeda have a level of commitment and zeal that is not 攀愀猀椀氀礀 甀渀搀攀爀猀琀漀漀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 匀琀愀琀攀猀⸀ 圀栀椀氀攀 椀渀 琀爀愀椀渀椀渀最Ⰰ 琀栀攀礀 猀椀最渀 愀渀 ഀ agreement called a bayat. They agree to go to a country on which a jihad has 戀攀攀渀 搀攀挀氀愀爀攀搀 愀渀搀 眀愀椀琀 琀漀 戀攀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 甀瀀漀渀 琀漀 甀渀搀攀爀琀愀欀攀 愀 琀愀猀欀Ⰰ 愀挀挀漀爀搀椀渀最 琀漀 ഀ testimony at the recent New York City trial of bin Laden associates who were 挀漀渀瘀椀挀琀攀搀 漀昀 戀漀洀戀椀渀最 琀栀攀 唀⸀匀⸀ 攀洀戀愀猀猀椀攀猀 椀渀 䬀攀渀礀愀 愀渀搀 吀愀渀稀愀渀椀愀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
"You swear to agree about the jihad, listen to the emir . . . and do whatever 眀漀爀欀 琀栀攀礀 愀猀欀 礀漀甀 椀渀 最爀漀甀瀀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 搀漀 椀琀Ⰰ∀ 猀愀椀搀 琀栀攀 最漀瘀攀爀渀洀攀渀琀✀猀 瀀爀椀洀攀 ഀ witness, Jamal Ahmed Mohamed al-Fadl. "If they ask me to go anywhere in the 眀漀爀氀搀 昀漀爀 猀瀀攀挀椀昀椀挀 洀椀猀猀椀漀渀 漀爀 琀愀爀最攀琀Ⰰ 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 氀椀猀琀攀渀⸀ ⸀ ⸀ ⸀ 吀栀攀礀 猀愀礀 眀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 ഀ make bayat and you agree about the al Qaeda and about the war, anything."
㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 搀漀洀攀猀琀椀挀 愀氀 儀愀攀搀愀 最爀漀甀瀀猀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀攀 椀渀 愀 猀椀洀椀氀愀爀 昀愀猀栀椀漀渀 琀漀 琀栀攀 栀椀樀愀挀欀攀爀猀 ഀ who carried out the Sept. 11 attacks: They stick together, moving among 椀渀攀砀瀀攀渀猀椀瘀攀 栀漀琀攀氀猀Ⰰ 洀漀琀攀氀猀 愀渀搀 愀瀀愀爀琀洀攀渀琀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 欀攀攀瀀椀渀最 氀愀爀最攀氀礀 琀漀 ഀ themselves.㰀倀㸀䄀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀猀 栀愀瘀攀 渀漀琀 挀漀渀渀攀挀琀攀搀 琀栀攀猀攀 最爀漀甀瀀猀 琀漀 琀栀攀 栀椀樀愀挀欀攀爀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀礀 ഀ have made a connection among the four teams of hijackers. The FBI has identified 䴀漀栀愀洀攀搀 䄀琀琀愀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 ㌀㌀ⴀ礀攀愀爀ⴀ漀氀搀 䔀最礀瀀琀椀愀渀 眀栀漀 愀甀琀栀漀爀椀琀椀攀猀 猀愀礀 瀀椀氀漀琀攀搀 漀渀攀 漀昀 ഀ jetliners that hit the World Trade Center, as the main figure connecting the 昀漀甀爀 琀攀愀洀猀 漀昀 栀椀樀愀挀欀攀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 挀漀洀洀愀渀搀攀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 瀀氀愀渀攀猀⸀ 伀渀攀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 栀椀洀 ഀ "the axle" who apparently coordinated the attacks.㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 洀攀洀戀攀爀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 愀氀 儀愀攀搀愀 最爀漀甀瀀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 匀琀愀琀攀猀 眀攀爀攀 椀渀 猀漀洀攀 挀愀猀攀猀 ഀ initially identified by the CIA through intelligence gathered abroad that 挀漀渀渀攀挀琀攀搀 猀瀀攀挀椀昀椀挀 椀渀搀椀瘀椀搀甀愀氀猀 琀漀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀 漀爀 琀栀攀 愀氀 儀愀攀搀愀 渀攀琀眀漀爀欀⸀ 唀渀搀攀爀 愀渀 ഀ agreement, the CIA passes this information to the FBI, which then launches 椀渀瘀攀猀琀椀最愀琀椀漀渀猀 愀渀搀 猀甀爀瘀攀椀氀氀愀渀挀攀 眀椀琀栀椀渀 琀栀攀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 匀琀愀琀攀猀⸀ 伀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 氀愀猀琀 琀眀漀 ഀ years, the CIA has provided the FBI with approximately 100 names of people 愀猀猀漀挀椀愀琀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 愀氀 儀愀攀搀愀 渀攀琀眀漀爀欀 眀栀漀 栀愀瘀攀 攀渀琀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀渀琀爀礀 氀攀最愀氀氀礀 椀渀 ഀ most cases.㰀倀㸀伀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 礀攀愀爀猀Ⰰ 猀漀洀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 愀氀 儀愀攀搀愀 洀攀洀戀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 漀琀栀攀爀 椀搀攀渀琀椀昀椀攀搀 愀猀猀漀挀椀愀琀攀猀 ഀ of terrorist groups in the United States have been subjects of investigation, 戀甀琀 琀栀攀椀爀 挀愀猀攀猀 眀攀爀攀 挀氀漀猀攀搀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 渀漀 挀爀椀洀攀猀 眀攀爀攀 甀渀挀漀瘀攀爀攀搀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀAt least two of the hijackers, Khalid Al-Midhar and Nawaq Alhazmi, were on a 眀愀琀挀栀 氀椀猀琀 最攀渀攀爀愀琀攀搀 戀礀 琀栀椀猀 䌀䤀䄀ⴀ䘀䈀䤀 氀椀愀椀猀漀渀 愀 洀漀渀琀栀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 琀栀攀 愀琀琀愀挀欀猀⸀ ഀ Officials said that those names were not connected to any other known bin Laden 愀猀猀漀挀椀愀琀攀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 匀琀愀琀攀猀Ⰰ 椀渀挀氀甀搀椀渀最 琀栀攀 昀漀甀爀 漀爀 昀椀瘀攀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀渀最 挀攀氀氀猀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
"There was no pattern, nothing seemed to fit with information we had, and 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀 椀渀琀攀氀氀椀最攀渀挀攀 漀爀 猀甀最最攀猀琀椀漀渀 琀栀愀琀 猀漀洀攀 瀀氀漀琀 眀愀猀 愀昀漀漀琀Ⰰ∀ 愀渀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀 ഀ said.
㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 椀渀瘀攀猀琀椀最愀琀椀漀渀 椀猀 栀愀洀瀀攀爀攀搀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 琀栀攀 䌀䤀䄀 愀渀搀 䘀䈀䤀 栀愀瘀攀 栀愀搀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 猀甀挀挀攀猀猀 ഀ over the past decade in infiltrating the tightly knit cells of Islamic 昀甀渀搀愀洀攀渀琀愀氀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀猀 眀栀漀 漀昀琀攀渀 愀爀攀 氀椀渀欀攀搀 戀礀 戀氀漀漀搀 漀爀 洀愀爀爀椀愀最攀⸀ 䴀漀猀琀 漀昀 愀氀氀Ⰰ ഀ they join in a strict view of their religion, which is cemented by vows they 琀愀欀攀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀礀 樀漀椀渀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀAt any one time, the CIA has had fewer than six informants within the groups 琀栀愀琀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 愀猀猀漀挀椀愀琀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀Ⰰ 猀愀椀搀 愀 猀攀渀椀漀爀 椀渀琀攀氀氀椀最攀渀挀攀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀⸀ ഀ The FBI at most had a "handful," according to a former FBI official with 攀砀琀攀渀猀椀瘀攀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀 椀渀 挀漀甀渀琀攀爀琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀洀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
"They are unlike the mafia, which built loyalty out of criminal enterprise, 戀甀琀 眀栀攀爀攀 瀀攀爀猀漀渀愀氀 愀渀搀 攀瘀攀渀 昀愀洀椀氀礀 爀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀猀 挀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 漀瘀攀爀挀漀洀攀 眀椀琀栀 洀漀渀攀礀 漀爀 ഀ deals with those in prison," the former FBI official said. The Islamic 昀甀渀搀愀洀攀渀琀愀氀椀猀琀猀Ⰰ 栀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ∀眀漀甀氀搀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 最椀瘀攀 甀瀀 琀栀攀椀爀 爀攀氀椀最椀漀甀猀 戀攀氀椀攀昀猀 琀漀 ഀ become sources [for the FBI], and that is potentially more dangerous than threat 漀昀 搀攀愀琀栀⸀∀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
He said the terrorists believe that death in fighting in a religious war 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀栀攀椀爀 攀渀攀洀椀攀猀 瀀甀琀猀 琀栀攀洀 椀渀 攀琀攀爀渀愀氀 栀攀愀瘀攀渀⸀ 吀甀爀渀椀渀最 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀栀攀椀爀 ഀ religious vows, by informing authorities about their activities, damns them to 攀琀攀爀渀愀氀 栀攀氀氀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
"In order to enter a [terrorist] cell," he said, "someone inside must vouch 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 戀漀渀愀 昀椀搀攀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 渀攀眀挀漀洀攀爀⸀ 圀愀氀欀椀渀最 椀渀 挀漀氀搀 椀猀 瘀攀爀礀 栀愀爀搀⸀∀ 䠀攀 愀氀猀漀 猀愀椀搀 ഀ that religious leaders, called emirs, in the United States and abroad solidify 琀栀攀 猀瀀椀爀椀琀甀愀氀 琀椀攀猀Ⰰ 爀攀洀椀渀搀椀渀最 琀栀攀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀猀 琀栀攀椀爀 攀琀攀爀渀愀氀 昀愀琀攀 爀攀猀琀猀 椀渀 ഀ remaining true to their cause.
㰀倀㸀伀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 戀甀爀攀愀甀✀猀 昀攀眀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀渀琀猀 猀甀瀀瀀氀椀攀搀 琀栀攀 琀椀瀀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀眀愀爀琀攀搀 愀 㤀㤀㌀ ഀ attempt to blow up the United Nations headquarters building after the first 圀漀爀氀搀 吀爀愀搀攀 䌀攀渀琀攀爀 戀漀洀戀椀渀最 栀愀搀 琀愀欀攀渀 瀀氀愀挀攀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ"The trouble was we used him [the informant] and he got burned," the official 猀愀椀搀⸀ 䤀搀攀渀琀椀昀椀攀搀Ⰰ ∀栀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀 爀攀琀椀爀攀⸀ ⸀ ⸀ ⸀ 圀攀 最愀瘀攀 栀椀洀 愀 渀攀眀 椀搀攀渀琀椀琀礀 愀渀搀 栀攀✀猀 ഀ gone," the official added.
㰀倀㸀∀吀栀攀 愀戀椀氀椀琀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䘀䈀䤀 琀漀 瀀攀渀攀琀爀愀琀攀 椀猀 瘀攀爀礀 氀椀洀椀琀攀搀⸀ ⸀ ⸀ ⸀ 吀栀攀 ഀ fundamentalist Islamic community is very tight and different from other Muslims 椀渀 琀栀攀 挀漀洀洀甀渀椀琀礀Ⰰ∀ 猀愀椀搀 愀 昀漀爀洀攀爀 猀攀渀椀漀爀 戀甀爀攀愀甀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀 眀椀琀栀 氀漀渀最 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀 椀渀 ഀ the counterterrorism field.㰀倀㸀䤀渀 琀栀攀 㤀㠀 猀 愀渀搀 攀愀爀氀礀 㤀㤀 猀Ⰰ 䌀䤀䄀 挀漀瘀攀爀愀最攀 漀昀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀 最爀漀甀瀀猀 愀渀搀 漀琀栀攀爀 ഀ Muslim terrorist operators was helped because they regularly talked over cell 瀀栀漀渀攀猀Ⰰ 漀昀琀攀渀 戀爀愀最最椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 眀栀愀琀 琀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀漀 搀漀 漀爀 眀栀愀琀 琀栀攀礀 栀愀搀 搀漀渀攀Ⰰ ഀ according to former intelligence officials.㰀倀㸀䤀渀 愀搀搀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 搀甀爀椀渀最 琀栀攀 㤀㠀 猀Ⰰ ∀眀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 昀椀渀搀 愀 瀀愀爀琀椀挀椀瀀愀渀琀 眀栀漀 眀漀甀氀搀 ഀ turn in the others for $1 million, a new identity and a house in California," he 猀愀椀搀⸀ ∀吀栀愀琀 栀愀猀 愀氀氀 挀栀愀渀最攀搀⸀ 一漀眀 琀栀攀礀 愀爀攀 爀攀愀搀礀 琀漀 挀漀洀洀椀琀 猀甀椀挀椀搀攀⸀∀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀToday, the U.S. foreign intelligence community's direct coverage of bin Laden 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 椀渀琀攀爀挀攀瀀琀椀渀最 挀漀洀洀甀渀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 洀愀樀漀爀 猀漀甀爀挀攀猀 愀爀攀 ഀ reports from foreign intelligence services through liaison relationships 洀愀椀渀琀愀椀渀攀搀 瀀爀椀洀愀爀椀氀礀 戀礀 䌀䤀䄀 愀渀搀 洀漀爀攀 爀攀挀攀渀琀氀礀 戀礀 䘀䈀䤀 愀最攀渀琀猀 猀琀愀琀椀漀渀攀搀 ഀ overseas.
㰀倀㸀䤀渀 愀 一攀眀 夀漀爀欀 琀爀椀愀氀 漀昀 琀栀攀 攀洀戀愀猀猀礀 戀漀洀戀椀渀最 挀漀渀猀瀀椀爀愀琀漀爀猀Ⰰ 琀攀猀琀椀洀漀渀礀 攀洀攀爀最攀搀 ഀ about bin Laden's radio-telephone conversations over a special satellite system 琀栀愀琀 眀攀爀攀 椀渀琀攀爀挀攀瀀琀攀搀 戀礀 唀⸀匀⸀ 椀渀琀攀氀氀椀最攀渀挀攀⸀ 伀渀挀攀 琀栀愀琀 琀攀猀琀椀洀漀渀礀 眀愀猀 瀀甀戀氀椀猀栀攀搀Ⰰ ഀ "conversations on that circuit ended," an intelligence official said 礀攀猀琀攀爀搀愀礀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ 㰀倀㸀ഀ