[iwar] [fc:Transcript:.VOA.Interview.With.Taliban.Leader]

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2001-09-23 16:18:25


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Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2001 16:18:25 -0700 (PDT)
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Subject: [iwar] [fc:Transcript:.VOA.Interview.With.Taliban.Leader]
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Transcript: VOA Interview With Taliban Leader

Compiled by Washington Post Staff
Saturday, September 23, 2001

Washington Post staff writers listened to Voice of America's Friday
interview with Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and compiled this
partial transcript:

Why don't you expel Osama bin Laden?

Omar: This is not an issue of Osama bin Laden.  It is an issue of Islam. 
Islam's prestige is at stake.  So is Afghan's tradition. 

Do you know that the U.S.  has announced a war on terrorism?

Omar: I am considering two promises.  One is the promise of God.  The
other is that of Bush.  The promise of God is that my land is vast.  If
you start a journey on God's path, you can reside anywhere on this earth
and will be protected.  .  .  .The promise of Bush is that there is no
place on earth where you can hide that I cannot find you.  We will see
which one of these two promises is fulfilled. 

But aren't you afraid for the people, yourself, the Taliban, your
country?

Omar: Almighty God.  .  .  .is helping the believers and the Muslims. 
God says he will never be satisfied with the infidels.  In terms of
worldly affairs, America is very strong.  Even if it were twice as
strong or twice that, it could not be strong enough to defeat us.  We
are confident that no one can harm us if God is with us. 

You are telling me you are not concerned, but Afghans all over the world
are concerned. 

Omar: We are also concerned.  Great issues lie ahead.  But we depend on
God's mercy.  This may appear to be a moment of certainty for us, but
God's mercy is with the Muslims. 

Consider our point of view: If we give Osama away today, Muslims who are
now pleading to give him up would then be reviling us for giving him up. 
.  .  .  The very same people would be asking: Why did you sacrifice the
prestige of Islam? Why did you bring shame on Muslims? Everyone is
afraid of America and wants to please it.  But let me tell you
something.  Americans will not be able to prevent such acts like the one
that has just occurred because America has taken Islam hostage.  America
has done that in the Islamic world and especially in the Islamic
countries. 

If you look at Islamic countries, the people are in despair.  They are
complaining that Islam is gone.  Secular law has replaced Islamic law. 
But people remain firm in their Islamic beliefs.  In their pain and
frustration, some of them commit suicide acts.  They feel they have
nothing to lose.  If the U.S.  really wants to end this evil, it knows
how to do it.  It should end its virtual grip on Islam.  It should let
go.  Then it would be relieved forever and the rest of the world can go
about its business. 

What do you mean by saying America has taken the Islamic world hostage?

Omar: America controls the governments of the Islamic countries. 
America keeps after them until they do its bidding, but they are very
distant from their own people.  The people ask to follow Islam, but the
governments do not listen.  The people are powerless against their
governments because they are in the grip of the United States.  In that
way, they become corrupt and ignore the people. 

If someone follows the path of Islam, the government arrests him,
tortures him or kills him.  This is the doing of America.  If it stops
supporting those governments and lets the people deal with them, then
such things won't happen. 

America has created the evil that is attacking it.  The evil will not
disappear even if I die and Osama dies and others die.  This is U.S. 
policy.  The U.S.  should step back and review its policy.  It should
stop trying to impose its empire on the rest of the world, especially on
Islamic countries. 

In the name of humanitarian aid, Americans brought thousands of bibles
to Afghanistan and were propagating Christianity.  If they dare do that
here, can you imagine what they have been doing in Arab countries? The
Muslims understand that.  They also know they can't do anything about
it.  .  .  .so they kill themselves in suicide attacks.  They no longer
want life on this earth. 

So it means you are not giving Osama bin Laden to the U.S.?

Omar: No.  we cannot do that.  If we did, it means we are not Muslims. 
.  .  .That Islam is finished.  If we were afraid of attack, we could
have surrendered him the last time we were threatened and attacked, so
America can hit us again, and this time we don't even have a friend. 

If you fight America with all your might, can the Taliban do that? Won't
America beat you and won't your people suffer even more?

On the surface it looks as if that is the case, but I'm very confident
that it won't turn out this way.  Please note this: There is nothing
more we can do except depend on almighty God.  If a person really
depends on God, then he is assured that the Almighty will help him, have
mercy on him and he will succeed. 

© 2001 The Washington Post Company

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