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EDITOR'S NOTE:
The following is a transcript of the Prince Turki Al-Faisal
interview on CNN with Wolf Blitzer on December 6, 2004.
Prince Turki Al-Faisal's Views on Terrorist Attacks and Bin
Laden
Wolf Blitzer: More now on that bloody attack on the U.S.
Consulate earlier today in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.
Earlier, I spoke with the former Saudi intelligence chief,
Prince Turki Al-Faisal, who is now that nation's ambassador to
Britain. He joined me from London.
Prince Turki, once again thanks very much for joining us.
What's the latest information you're getting from your
government now on this attack at the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah?
Prince Turki Al-Faisal: The latest information I have is
that eight people were killed, five of them employees of the
consulate and three of them were the terrorists. My information
is that there were two wounded officers, one slightly more
seriously wounded than the other. This is as far as casualties
are concerned. I know there is a lot of confusion now as to
whether there was penetration of the consulate or not. You have
to remember, Wolf, that the consulate in Jeddah is a compound
with not only a wall around the compound but another security
barrier outside the wall surrounding the compound. What these
people did is that they blew themselves into the first barrier
wall outside the compound. As they tried to enter the compound
itself, that's where they were engaged by Saudi security forces,
and three of them were killed. Unfortunately, five of the
employees of the consulate were killed as well.
Wolf Blitzer: Prince Turki, who are these people who did
this?
Prince Turki Al-Faisal: I cannot give you a definitive
answer. I have not received anything from my government yet, but
it has all the hallmarks of people we've been tracking and
dealing with over the last year and a half in the Kingdom --
people with Al Qaeda or connected to it in one way or another.
Wolf Blitzer: We heard that videotape from Ayman Al-Zawahiri,
the number two Al Qaeda leader, in which he seemed to make a
suggestion that they were going to attack in the coming weeks,
maybe around Christmas, which is celebrated by Christians of
course all over the world. What's your reading of the level of
anxiety that should be placed right now, given this threat?
Prince Turki Al-Faisal: I believe the threat is present.
These people have managed to inflict destruction and devastation
in many countries of the world -- in Spain, in Saudi Arabia, in
Morroco, in Indonesia, in Turkey, let alone the September 11th
attack on the United States. So, one should be on guard about
the capabilities of these people and never underestimate them
because they have managed to score some fantastic and very
devilish and bloody attacks worldwide.
Wolf Blitzer: What's your latest information on Osama bin
Laden? Where do you believe he is hiding out?
Prince Turki Al-Faisal: I believe he is still hiding on
the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Wolf Blitzer: Do you believe the U.S. and its allies, the
Pakistani allies and the Afghan allies, are any closer to
finding him today than they were a year to three years ago?
Prince Turki Al-Faisal: I don't have to speculate on
that. I've been reading statements by President Perez Musharraf
of Pakistan in which he says that unfortunately, bin Laden's
trail has been lost, but that in his belief, bin Laden is still
on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. So, from a year
and a half ago or a year ago, unfortunately, according to
President Musharraf, his trail has been lost.
Wolf Blitzer: Prince Turki, it's always good to speak
with you. Thanks very much for joining us.
Prince Turki Al-Faisal: Thank you.
[Interviewed by Wolf Blitzer (CNN) on December 6, 2004. Aired at
5pm (ET).]
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