Most-Frequently Asked Questions
By Charlie Keenan
Captain Kevin Bohnsack from the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron administers medical aid to a young local in Kophisophi, Afghanistan. The troops were there on a Humanitarian/Medical Assistance mission in July. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Patrick Tharpe)
1. Is Osama bin Laden still alive?
U.S. officials say the last time they had a good idea of Osama bin Laden's location was in December, when he was believed to be hiding in the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan. The theory is that he fled as American and allied forces closed in. One recent account suggests bin Laden survived by leaving Afghanistan and crossing the White Mountains on horseback. Independently, Germany's foreign intelligence thinks bin Laden is alive. Dale Watson, the FBI's counterterrorism chief, says bin Laden is dead. Either way, experts say bin Laden will live on after his death as an inspiration to other terrorists.
2. Is al Qaeda still a functioning terrorist organization?
Al Qaeda still functions, but no one knows how strong the organization may still be. Experts believe al Qaeda was behind recent attacks in Pakistan. Thousands of al qaeda soldiers escaped to Pakistan after last year's bombing campaigns in Afghanistan. Officials guess that there are more than 3,500 militants keeping a low profile among tribal areas along the Afghan border and in big cities like Karachi and Peshawar. They have been given shelter by Pakistanis who support the terrorist group.
3. Was the war on terrorism in Afghanistan successful?
With the help of key allies such as Great Britain, U.S. forces helped topple the ruling Taliban regime and captured hundreds of al Qaeda members. U.S. forces also found a treasure trove of al Qaeda information left behind in the caves of Tora Bora. But critics charge the U.S. let too many of the terror group's loyalists slip across the mountainous border into Pakistan. They fear the militants will reorganize and plan more attacks on America. President George W. Bush is talking of taking the war on terrorism into Iraq.
4. Where else in the world are terrorists hiding?
The Pentagon estimates al Qaeda operatives are hunkered down in as many as 60 countries. Aside from Pakistan and Iraq, the Bush administration is watching Indonesia, the world's most-populous Muslim nation. Some fear terrorists could take over that nation's government. The Pentagon has sent military advisors to other hotspots such as the Philippines, Yemen, and the Republic of Georgia. Tunisia is a concern, too; a suicide bomber killed 19 people there in June. Police in Morocco, Syria, and Saudi Arabia recently arrested al Qaeda members suspected of planning attacks against U.S. interests.
5. Where will the U.S. go next in the war on terrorism?
All signs point to Iraq. The Bush administration's official policy is to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from power. He is believed to be developing weapons of mass destruction, such as biological, chemical, and even nuclear weapons. Officials fear that Hussein may try to hand off these weapons to terrorists, who would then carry out attacks against the U.S. The administration is now debating how to attack Iraq. If America did invade, it probably would not be until after the November congressional elections.
6. Which countries are supporting the U.S. in the war on terrorism?
One key ally is Pakistan. Washington has leaned heavily on President Pervez Musharraf to help hunt down and capture the al Qaeda members who escaped to his country from Afghanistan. Pakistan is working with the FBI, especially in the big cities. Elsewhere, America's European allies have also played a key role. Great Britain has been America's biggest military supporter, with France, Germany and Italy handing over key intelligence from their investigations. In Afghanistan, 19 countries make up the international peacekeeping force of 4,650 troops.
7. Why did someone try to assassinate Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf?
Religious extremists tried to assassinate the President in April with a car bomb. The militants have criticized Musharraf's support of the U.S., especially after he granted the U.S. permission to allow troops and special forces to operate in Pakistan. Musharraf has made few friends in this community by clamping down on religious extremism and declaring five militant Islamic groups illegal.
8. How long will Pervez Musharraf be President of Pakistan?
It all depends on how long Musharraf can keep the peace and avoid assassination. Musharraf came to power in 1999 in a bloodless takeover of the government by the military. He was given three years by the country's Supreme Court to reduce corruption, start reforms, and bring the country back to democracy. Musharraf extended his term for another five years in an April nationwide vote. He won in a landslide, but the result was widely criticized as a fraud. While there will be parliamentary elections in October, those elected will have little or no power. Musharraf's future might be determined by his ability to stop the Islamic militants, who are waging a campaign of terrorist attacks in the country. Should they succeed in assassinating Musharraf, a more extremist government could take over and the U.S. would lose an important ally.
9. Are there any terrorists in the U.S.?
Even though the government made sweeps of suspected terrorist organizations after September 11, Attorney General John Ashcroft recently told Congress that al Qaeda sleeper cells still exist here. Sleeper terrorists try to blend into everyday life while either recruiting members, organizing attacks, or just waiting for instructions from elsewhere. One recent focus has been in the Pacific Northwest. The region has a growing Muslim population, wide-open borders with Canada, and vast areas of rural lands. The number of strategic ports and military bases also make the region another target.
10. How many terrorists have been arrested since the 9/11 attacks?
About 2,400 people have been arrested worldwide since the attacks. Since December, 380 suspected al Qaeda members have been arrested in Pakistan. The war in Afghanistan also led to the transfer of 564 suspected Taliban or al Qaeda prisoners to a U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Arrests of suspected terrorists in France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and the Middle East have helped thwart future attacks. Still, top lieutenants in al Qaeda remain on the run.
U.S. officials say the last time they had a good idea of Osama bin Laden's location was in December, when he was believed to be hiding in the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan. The theory is that he fled as American and allied forces closed in. One recent account suggests bin Laden survived by leaving Afghanistan and crossing the White Mountains on horseback. Independently, Germany's foreign intelligence thinks bin Laden is alive. Dale Watson, the FBI's counterterrorism chief, says bin Laden is dead. Either way, experts say bin Laden will live on after his death as an inspiration to other terrorists.
2. Is al Qaeda still a functioning terrorist organization?
Al Qaeda still functions, but no one knows how strong the organization may still be. Experts believe al Qaeda was behind recent attacks in Pakistan. Thousands of al qaeda soldiers escaped to Pakistan after last year's bombing campaigns in Afghanistan. Officials guess that there are more than 3,500 militants keeping a low profile among tribal areas along the Afghan border and in big cities like Karachi and Peshawar. They have been given shelter by Pakistanis who support the terrorist group.
3. Was the war on terrorism in Afghanistan successful?
With the help of key allies such as Great Britain, U.S. forces helped topple the ruling Taliban regime and captured hundreds of al Qaeda members. U.S. forces also found a treasure trove of al Qaeda information left behind in the caves of Tora Bora. But critics charge the U.S. let too many of the terror group's loyalists slip across the mountainous border into Pakistan. They fear the militants will reorganize and plan more attacks on America. President George W. Bush is talking of taking the war on terrorism into Iraq.
4. Where else in the world are terrorists hiding?
The Pentagon estimates al Qaeda operatives are hunkered down in as many as 60 countries. Aside from Pakistan and Iraq, the Bush administration is watching Indonesia, the world's most-populous Muslim nation. Some fear terrorists could take over that nation's government. The Pentagon has sent military advisors to other hotspots such as the Philippines, Yemen, and the Republic of Georgia. Tunisia is a concern, too; a suicide bomber killed 19 people there in June. Police in Morocco, Syria, and Saudi Arabia recently arrested al Qaeda members suspected of planning attacks against U.S. interests.
5. Where will the U.S. go next in the war on terrorism?
All signs point to Iraq. The Bush administration's official policy is to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from power. He is believed to be developing weapons of mass destruction, such as biological, chemical, and even nuclear weapons. Officials fear that Hussein may try to hand off these weapons to terrorists, who would then carry out attacks against the U.S. The administration is now debating how to attack Iraq. If America did invade, it probably would not be until after the November congressional elections.
6. Which countries are supporting the U.S. in the war on terrorism?
One key ally is Pakistan. Washington has leaned heavily on President Pervez Musharraf to help hunt down and capture the al Qaeda members who escaped to his country from Afghanistan. Pakistan is working with the FBI, especially in the big cities. Elsewhere, America's European allies have also played a key role. Great Britain has been America's biggest military supporter, with France, Germany and Italy handing over key intelligence from their investigations. In Afghanistan, 19 countries make up the international peacekeeping force of 4,650 troops.
7. Why did someone try to assassinate Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf?
Religious extremists tried to assassinate the President in April with a car bomb. The militants have criticized Musharraf's support of the U.S., especially after he granted the U.S. permission to allow troops and special forces to operate in Pakistan. Musharraf has made few friends in this community by clamping down on religious extremism and declaring five militant Islamic groups illegal.
8. How long will Pervez Musharraf be President of Pakistan?
It all depends on how long Musharraf can keep the peace and avoid assassination. Musharraf came to power in 1999 in a bloodless takeover of the government by the military. He was given three years by the country's Supreme Court to reduce corruption, start reforms, and bring the country back to democracy. Musharraf extended his term for another five years in an April nationwide vote. He won in a landslide, but the result was widely criticized as a fraud. While there will be parliamentary elections in October, those elected will have little or no power. Musharraf's future might be determined by his ability to stop the Islamic militants, who are waging a campaign of terrorist attacks in the country. Should they succeed in assassinating Musharraf, a more extremist government could take over and the U.S. would lose an important ally.
9. Are there any terrorists in the U.S.?
Even though the government made sweeps of suspected terrorist organizations after September 11, Attorney General John Ashcroft recently told Congress that al Qaeda sleeper cells still exist here. Sleeper terrorists try to blend into everyday life while either recruiting members, organizing attacks, or just waiting for instructions from elsewhere. One recent focus has been in the Pacific Northwest. The region has a growing Muslim population, wide-open borders with Canada, and vast areas of rural lands. The number of strategic ports and military bases also make the region another target.
10. How many terrorists have been arrested since the 9/11 attacks?
About 2,400 people have been arrested worldwide since the attacks. Since December, 380 suspected al Qaeda members have been arrested in Pakistan. The war in Afghanistan also led to the transfer of 564 suspected Taliban or al Qaeda prisoners to a U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Arrests of suspected terrorists in France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and the Middle East have helped thwart future attacks. Still, top lieutenants in al Qaeda remain on the run.
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