“Bin Laden’s CNN interview [conducted by journalist Peter Bergen on March 22, 1997] was the first time that he told Western reporters he was declaring war on the United States. ‘We declared jihad against the U.S. government, because the U.S. government is unjust, criminal and tyrannical. It has committed acts that are extremely unjust, hideous, […]
Category: quotes
3/22/1997
“…in [March 22] 1997 bin Laden told CNN that [convicted Day of Terror plotter] ‘Shaikh Omar Abdel Rahman is a Muslim scholar well known all over the Muslim world. He represents the kind of injustice that is adopted by the U.S. A baseless case was fabricated against him even though he is a blind old […]
3/20/1997
“In March [20, 1997], bin Laden had told reporter Peter Arnett on CNN that he had ‘declared jihad against the U.S. government because the U.S. government is unjust, criminal, and tyrannical.’ ” – Peter Lance, Triple Cross, Page 275 […]
3/18/1997
In an interview conducted by journalist Hamid Mir that appeared in the March 18, 1997, edition of Pakistan, Osama bin Laden said: ” ‘During the past twenty-four years the price of oil has not increased more than a few dollars, because the U.S. is holding a gun against the forehead of the Arab countries. …Muslims […]
3/18/1997
According to an interview conducted by journalist Hamid Mir in the March 18, 1997, edition of Pakistan: “In total, bin Laden has said he sent 250 fighters to help [Somali warlord Mohammed] Farah Aideed’s group [in their efforts against UN and U.S. forces in late 1992].” – Michael Scheuer, Through Our Enemies’ Eyes, Page 148 […]
3/18/1997
In a March 18, 1997 issue of the Daily Pakistan, journalist Hamid Mir interviewed Osama bin Laden. ” ‘It is true that my companions fought with [warlord Mohammed] Farah Adid’s forces against the US troops in Somalia,’ bin Laden said later. ‘But we were fighting against US terrorism. Under the cover of [the] United Nations, […]
3/18/1997
According to a recently declassified CIA intelligence report from March 18, 1997: “Islamic extremist financier Usama Bin Ladin reportedly has been involved in attempts to acquire uranium [redacted] and allegedly may have been exploring the possibility of mounting operations with weapons of mass destruction. [Redacted] Bin Ladin’s Islamic Army [al Qaeda] learned that [redacted] was […]
3/15/1997
“In March 1997, the Taliban delivered the definitive response to [Secretary of State Warren] Christopher’s letter [in December 1996, asking them to expel Osama bin Laden]. There was the direct answer that Maulvi Ehsanullah, a member of the Taliban inner shura and later deputy interior minister in charge of intelligence, gave to three U.S. diplomats […]
3/15/1997
In March 1997, “a Taliban spokesman told reporters that bin Laden was a ‘visitor’ living under Taliban protection. He said the militia would ‘never allow anyone to use Afghan soil to make attacks against another country.’ “ [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.] – Roy Gutman, How We Missed the […]
3/15/1997
“His [Osama bin Laden’s] intention of fomenting rebellion within Saudi Arabia is well illustrated in the interview given to CNN’s Peter Arnett [in March 1997]: ‘The first [problem] is their subordination to the US. So our main problem is the US government while the Saudi regime is but a branch or an agent of the […]