Bin Laden trial reveals business side of international terrorism
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, February 13, 2001
WASHINGTON — The trial in New York of aides to Saudi billionaire fugitive Osama Bin
Laden is providing a rare look at the workings of
the international Islamic terror network.
Details were disclosed during the testimony of Jamal Ahmed Al Fadl, a
government witness who was a member of Bin Laden's cell. Al Fadl told the
U.S. District Court in Manhattan that Bin Laden has established such
operations as farming, transportation, investment and import and export
businesses. He said these businesses were used to provide cover for
explosives training, gun-running and money laundering.
U.S. officials said they have tracked down many of Bin Laden's front
businesses. They said hackers on the federal government payroll have wrought
havoc by breaking into accounts and shifting funds.
On Saturday, Bin Laden's group denied that Al Fadl was a member.
Another trial is being prepared in the United States of suspected Bin
Laden aides. Ahmed Ressam will be tried on March 12 in Los Angeles on
charges of trying to bomb a U.S. installation. Ressam is also being tried in
absentia in Paris.
Ressam is said to have received military training in Afghtanisan and
belonged to a French gang that provided Muslim militants in Bosnia and
elsewhere funds, fake documents and logistical support.
The Bush administration is being urged to make
counterterrorism a priority and increase funding to protect the United
States against attack.
The appeal has come from both Congress and the intelligence community.
Last week, CIA director George Tenet presented a serious of terrorist
scenarios.
In New Mexico, a center is being established to help protect U.S.
computer, telecommunications or power systems from cyber attack. Congress
has allocated $5 million from defense funding for the Institute for Complex
Additive Systems Analysis, housed at the New Mexico Institute of Mining in
Socorro.
"The unintended or deliberate disruption to any number of the daily
functions upon which our military, as well as our economic prosperity, rely
could be catastrophic," Sen. Pete Domenici, who helped obtain the funding,
said.
Tuesday, February 13, 2001
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