Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
98STATE96941
1998-05-30 15:41:00
SECRET
Secretary of State
Cable title:
TERRORISM: SEEKING HOST GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AGAINST OSAMA BIN LADEN THREAT TO U.S. FORCES
how-toO 301541Z MAY 98 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY SANAA IMMEDIATE INFO AMEMBASSY TASHKENT IMMEDIATE AMCONSUL PESHAWAR IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T STATE 096941
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2008
TAGS: PTER
SUBJECT: TERRORISM: SEEKING HOST GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
AGAINST OSAMA BIN LADEN THREAT TO U.S. FORCES
CLASSIFIED BY KENNETH R. MCKUNE, ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR FOR
COUNTERTERRORISM, S/CT, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 1.5 (B) (C) (D)
S E C R E T STATE 096941
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2008
TAGS: PTER
SUBJECT: TERRORISM: SEEKING HOST GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
AGAINST OSAMA BIN LADEN THREAT TO U.S. FORCES
CLASSIFIED BY KENNETH R. MCKUNE, ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR FOR
COUNTERTERRORISM, S/CT, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 1.5 (B) (C) (D)
1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE FOR ISLAMABAD, CAIRO,
SANAA, AND GCC STATES. PLEASE SEE PARAS 3 AND 4 BELOW.
TASHKENT, PESHAWAR, LONDON: THIS CABLE IS FOR YOUR
INFORMATION ONLY.
2. (U) THE USG IS VERY CONCERNED BY STATEMENTS MADE BY
TERRORIST OSAMA BIN LADEN AT A MAY 26 PRESS CONFERENCE IN
KHOST, AFGHANISTAN. BIN LADEN REPORTEDLY SAID: "ALL
MUSLIMS MUST DECLARE JIHAD AGAINST THEM (THE U.S. TROOPS)
AND EXPEL THEM FROM THE HOLY LAND (SAUDI ARABIA) .... THE
JIHAD FATWA HAS INDEED BEEN ISSUED." BIN LADEN ALSO
INDICATED THAT AN ATTACK COULD TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS.
3. (S) THE USG TAKES THESE STATEMENTS VERY SERIOUSLY.
WHILE WE DO NOT HAVE SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING TARGET
OR TIMING, THERE ARE OTHER INDICATIONS THAT BIN LADEN MAY
BE PLANNING AN IMMINENT ATTACK AGAINST U.S. OR SAUDI -
INTERESTS IN THE PERSIAN GULF. DEPARTMENT THEREFORE
REQUESTS THAT AMBASSADOR OR CHARGE APPROACH APPROPRIATE
SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE HOST GOVERNMENT AND DELIVER THE
POINTS IN PARA 4 BELOW.
4. (S) BEGIN POINTS.
- ON MAY 26, TERRORIST FINANCIER OSAMA BIN LADEN ADDRESSED
A PRESS CONFERENCE IN AFGHANISTAN AT WHICH HE AGAIN
CALLED FOR VIOLENT ATTACKS AND A JIHAD ON U.S. FORCES IN
THE PERSIAN GULF. HE INDICATED THAT SUCH ATTACKS COULD
OCCUR WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
- THESE STATEMENTS ARE ONLY THE LATEST IN A LONG STRING OF
BIN LADEN THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS
AROUND THE WORLD.
- THE USG TAKES- THESE THREATS VERY SERIOUSLY. WE HAVE
OTHER INDICATIONS THAT BIN LADEN MAY BE PLANNING AN
ATTACK AGAINST AMERICAN INTERESTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
- WE ASK YOUR GOVERNMENT'S ASSISTANCE IN THWARTING SUCH AN
ATTACK.
- FIRST, WE ASK THAT YOU INCREASE SECURITY AROUND U.S.
DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY FACILITIES. YOU MAY ALSO WISH
TO INCREASE SECURITY AT U.S. BUSINESSES AND OTHER
POTENTIAL TARGETS WHICH MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
U.S.
- SECOND, IF YOU ARE AWARE OF ANY BIN LADEN ASSOCIATES IN
YOUR COUNTRY, WE ASK THAT YOU INTERROGATE THEM AND WATCH
THEIR ACTIONS CLOSELY TO SEE IF YOU CAN LEARN ANYTHING
MORE OF PLANNING FOR AN ATTACK.
- FINALLY, WE ASK THAT YOU SHARE WITH US ON AN URGENT
BASIS ANY INFORMATION YOU LEARN ON BIN LADEN OR HIS
ASSOCIATES.
- WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION IN THIS MATTER, WHICH IS
OF THE UTMOST CONCERN TO THE U.S.
END POINTS.
ALBRIGHT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2008
TAGS: PTER
SUBJECT: TERRORISM: SEEKING HOST GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
AGAINST OSAMA BIN LADEN THREAT TO U.S. FORCES
CLASSIFIED BY KENNETH R. MCKUNE, ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR FOR
COUNTERTERRORISM, S/CT, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 1.5 (B) (C) (D)
1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE FOR ISLAMABAD, CAIRO,
SANAA, AND GCC STATES. PLEASE SEE PARAS 3 AND 4 BELOW.
TASHKENT, PESHAWAR, LONDON: THIS CABLE IS FOR YOUR
INFORMATION ONLY.
2. (U) THE USG IS VERY CONCERNED BY STATEMENTS MADE BY
TERRORIST OSAMA BIN LADEN AT A MAY 26 PRESS CONFERENCE IN
KHOST, AFGHANISTAN. BIN LADEN REPORTEDLY SAID: "ALL
MUSLIMS MUST DECLARE JIHAD AGAINST THEM (THE U.S. TROOPS)
AND EXPEL THEM FROM THE HOLY LAND (SAUDI ARABIA) .... THE
JIHAD FATWA HAS INDEED BEEN ISSUED." BIN LADEN ALSO
INDICATED THAT AN ATTACK COULD TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS.
3. (S) THE USG TAKES THESE STATEMENTS VERY SERIOUSLY.
WHILE WE DO NOT HAVE SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING TARGET
OR TIMING, THERE ARE OTHER INDICATIONS THAT BIN LADEN MAY
BE PLANNING AN IMMINENT ATTACK AGAINST U.S. OR SAUDI -
INTERESTS IN THE PERSIAN GULF. DEPARTMENT THEREFORE
REQUESTS THAT AMBASSADOR OR CHARGE APPROACH APPROPRIATE
SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE HOST GOVERNMENT AND DELIVER THE
POINTS IN PARA 4 BELOW.
4. (S) BEGIN POINTS.
- ON MAY 26, TERRORIST FINANCIER OSAMA BIN LADEN ADDRESSED
A PRESS CONFERENCE IN AFGHANISTAN AT WHICH HE AGAIN
CALLED FOR VIOLENT ATTACKS AND A JIHAD ON U.S. FORCES IN
THE PERSIAN GULF. HE INDICATED THAT SUCH ATTACKS COULD
OCCUR WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
- THESE STATEMENTS ARE ONLY THE LATEST IN A LONG STRING OF
BIN LADEN THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS
AROUND THE WORLD.
- THE USG TAKES- THESE THREATS VERY SERIOUSLY. WE HAVE
OTHER INDICATIONS THAT BIN LADEN MAY BE PLANNING AN
ATTACK AGAINST AMERICAN INTERESTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
- WE ASK YOUR GOVERNMENT'S ASSISTANCE IN THWARTING SUCH AN
ATTACK.
- FIRST, WE ASK THAT YOU INCREASE SECURITY AROUND U.S.
DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY FACILITIES. YOU MAY ALSO WISH
TO INCREASE SECURITY AT U.S. BUSINESSES AND OTHER
POTENTIAL TARGETS WHICH MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
U.S.
- SECOND, IF YOU ARE AWARE OF ANY BIN LADEN ASSOCIATES IN
YOUR COUNTRY, WE ASK THAT YOU INTERROGATE THEM AND WATCH
THEIR ACTIONS CLOSELY TO SEE IF YOU CAN LEARN ANYTHING
MORE OF PLANNING FOR AN ATTACK.
- FINALLY, WE ASK THAT YOU SHARE WITH US ON AN URGENT
BASIS ANY INFORMATION YOU LEARN ON BIN LADEN OR HIS
ASSOCIATES.
- WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION IN THIS MATTER, WHICH IS
OF THE UTMOST CONCERN TO THE U.S.
END POINTS.
ALBRIGHT