Computer in Kabul holds chilling memos: PC used by al-Qaida leaders reveals 4 years of terrorism

Wall Street Journal ^ | 12/31/01 | Alan Cullison and Andrew Higgins

[aristeides]

Another headache was al-Qaida’s relationship with the Taliban. A July 1998 report stored in the computer details what seems to have been a near rupture in relations between Afghanistan’s then leaders and bin Laden’s network. Addressed to Ayman — apparently Zawahri — the report describes an angry meeting between the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, and “Abu Abdullah.” This could be a reference to bin Laden, since that was one of his aliases. The report blames the quarrel on a “bankrupt failure to achieve any real external victory.” It warns that Arabs operating in Afghanistan risk losing access to their training camps, just as they were earlier expelled from Sudan, bin Laden’s main base until 1996.

This confirms a report I read earlier that, just before Clinton bombed the aspirin factory in Khartoum and the bin Laden camps in Afghanistan in August 1998, the Taliban were engaged in serious negotiations with Saudi Arabia about handing bin Laden over to the Saudis.

According to that report, one of the effects of Clinton's bombing of those camps was to derail those negotiations and solidify the relationship between bin Laden and the Taliban. I believe that this was one of the results of the bombing that Clinton intended. I remember reading reports of the evacuation of U.S. embassy dependents from Pakistan and of non-governmental organization people from Pakistan and Afghanistan in the day or two before that bombing, because an imminent American attack was expected (our embassies in East Africa had been bombed two weeks before.) I read those reports in the Indian and Pakistani press on line. Surely Clinton was well aware that bin Laden would be well away from those camps.

[aristeides]

In October 1998, shortly after U.S. cruise missiles slammed into an al-Qaida training camp in retaliation for the Africa embassy bombings, the Kabul computer was used to create letterhead for a fictional company, Challenge for Media Services, and to draft letters to ABC, CNN and CBS. Each was signed Dr. Mohammed Atef and offered a business deal: cash for film of bin Laden and his bomb-destroyed training camp at Khost in eastern Afghanistan.

Peter Bergen, then of CNN, has said that he corresponded with Atef at that time.

[aristeides]

Though written under Al-Siri’s name, the letter, according to the Kabul computer’s internal properties, which give the user’s name in Arabic, was crafted by Mohammed Zawahri. It is unclear whether this refers to Zawahri, who is known to speak French and sometimes goes by the alias “Abu Mohammed,” or possibly to his brother, Mohammed Zawahiri, a fellow Islamic militant who helped set up a terror cell in Albania in the 1990s.

Odd that the letter should have been written in "clumsy French." Upper-class Egyptians learn fluent French, so I would think that the upper-class and highly educated Ayman Zawahiri, who lived in Geneva for years, (and presumably also his brother) would be able to write good French.

[aristeides]

Looks as if the planning for the Masud hit was done in Kabul. Whatever Belgian and Dutch cells may have done in carrying out the plan, it looks as if they did not devise it.

Al Qaeda's operations seem to have been remarkably centralized. Which hopefully means that, by wiping out its base (and hopefully its leadership,) we cripple its ability to act.

[Alamo-Girl]

Great catch! Thanks for the heads up!!!

[StriperSniper]

the terrorists were using the internet to send messages...

I seem to recall reports that they were using porn sites (how I wouldn't know) to communicate. Does that sound right?

[El Gato]

Gee, according to the FBI, the terrorists were using the internet to send messages...

As they probably were, but just not from that particular machine, or even from Kabul or Afghanistan, but rather from other more "wired" locations.

[aristeides]

I think Shoe Boy Reid, in all his travels, was one of the couriers carrying messages on diskettes between al Qaeda operatives.

[aristeides]

ABC, CBS and CNN say they never received any letters nor bought any videos from Atef.

Since CNN and the other networks deny receiving letters from Atef, I should give my source: Bergen talked about corresponding with Atef in his interview on C-SPAN's Booknotes a couple of weeks ago.

[MizSterious]

I wouldn't be surprised to find that you're right. Your other comments here, too, help fill out the rest of the story.

[MizSterious]

"A Wall Street Journal reporter acquired them for $1,100, copying hundreds of files and getting some of them translated from the Arabic. U.S. officials confirm the authenticity of the files, most protected by passwords, and say they provide a trove of information about the inner workings of the secretive organization. "

Does this particular chain of custody bother anyone besides me? The WSJ copies files before turning it over to the U.S. authorities apparently--and given some of western journalism's past fiascos, one can only hope they didn't accidentally or deliberately erase or change any of the files thereon.

[OKCSubmariner]

Aristeides has a very interesting analysis in his replies #21,#22,#23,#24.

Thanks for flagging me aristeides.

The Saudi connection in all of this, particularly in the royal family is troubling. It appears Clinton and GW Bush were too protective of the Saudi royals when it came to the Saudi's not cracking down on terror activities and bank transfers (donations)involving Saudis and AlQuaeda and Bin Laden types. Also recall GW blocked FBI investigations involving Saudis business activities in the US possibly connected to terrorism a few months before 9/11.

[Doctor Stochastic]

If there's this much information available from Kabul-Komputer-Korner, (maybe some organizational data), how much would be available on the missing State Department Computers (lost by The Previous Administration)?

[MizSterious]

Yes, Aristeides' comments are important reads. I was just about to flag you, but I see you already found it. :)

[MizSterious]

I still can't help but ask, "lost" or something else?

[snopercod]

I seem to recall reports that they were using porn sites

The FBI claimed they could communicate by changing just a few bits in a graphic. Yeah, right...

[snopercod]

Does this particular chain of custody bother anyone besides me?

I would trust experts hired by the WSJ much more than the bunglers at the FBI "crime lab", where evidence is routinely lost.

[harpseal]

My impression is that the central head of Al Qaeda is involved in almost all their cells operations but that is an impression from many miles away it does make the cutting off the head strategy much more useful.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[knighthawk]

The things I am really worried about are the Saudi links with the islamic organizations over here in Holland. Even when Osama and his buddies are out of control, there still will be others that organize terror.

When Osama is dead, we still need to unwind the web that they builded over the whole world, otherwise other people will replace Osama (think of organizations like Ubu Sayyaf).