Fact Sheet Outlines Progress in the Global War on Terrorism

(The White House 7/1/03) (800)





The following fact sheet was released by the White House July 1, 2003





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The White House


Office of the Press Secretary


July 1, 2003





Fact Sheet





Progress in the Global War on Terrorism





"As long as terrorists and their allies plot to harm America, America


is at war. We did not choose this war. Yet, with the safety of the


American people at stake, we will continue to wage this war with all


our might.





"From the beginning, we have known the effort would be long and


difficult, and that our resolve would be tested. We know that


sacrifice is unavoidable. We have seen victories in the decisive


defeat of two terror regimes, and in the relentless pursuit of a


global terror network. Yet the war on terror goes on. We will not be


distracted, and we will prevail." President George W. Bush, July 1,


2003.





Defeat of Two Terror Regimes





Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan:





-- Eliminated the repressive Taliban regime 





-- Denied al-Qaida safe-haven from which to plan, train, and conduct


operations





Operation Iraqi Freedom:





-- Ended a regime that possessed weapons of mass destruction, harbored


and supported terrorists, suppressed human rights and defied the just


demands of the United Nations and the world





-- Stopped Ansar al-Islam, an al-Qaida affiliate, from operating in


northeastern Iraq





-- Eliminated from Iraq the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi network, which had


established a poison and explosives training camp in northeastern Iraq





-- Shut down the Salman Pak training camp where members of al-Qaida


had trained





Pursuit of Global Terror Network:





-- Since September 2001, over 3,000 al-Qaida suspects have been


detained in over 90 countries





-- Almost all of those directly involved in orchestrating the


September 11th attacks are now in custody or confirmed dead





-- Of the senior al-Qaida leaders, operational managers, and key


facilitators we have been tracking, 65 percent have been captured or


killed





In the global war on terrorism, the United States and its allies have:





-- Denied al-Qaida its sanctuary in Afghanistan





-- Removed the Taliban regime which supported and provided sanctuary


to al-Qaida





-- Disrupted al-Qaida's finances





-- Dismantled entire al-Qaida cells throughout the world 





-- Captured or killed many of al-Qaida's top leaders from the 9/11


period, including





-- 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaykh Muhammad and key plotters Ramzi bin


al Shibh, Abu Zubaydah and Muhammad Atef





-- USS Cole attack planner Walid Ba'Attash 





-- Abu Yasir al-Jaz'iri, top al-Qaida facilitator





Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong have


all been strong partners in the War on Terrorism, arresting dozens of


terrorist leaders with al-Qaida ties





-- Pakistan has taken into custody more than 500 terrorist suspects,


including Ramzi bin al Shibh and Khalid Shaykh Mohammad





-- The U.S. is working closely with the Afghan and Pakistani


governments to deny sanctuary to terrorists moving into and among


their border areas





-- The United Kingdom along with Spain, Italy, Germany, France and


other European nations have disrupted al-Qaida cells





-- Many Middle East and North Africa nations have sought and arrested


al-Qaida members





-- Yemen has taken action against numerous al-Qaida members. It was in


Yemen that al-Harithi was found and killed





-- Jordan arrested two individuals with links to al-Qaida who were


responsible for the murder of USAID employee Laurence Foley in Amman





-- Saudi Arabian authorities have uncovered terrorist operations in


the holy city of Mecca





-- Saudi Arabian security services captured Abu Bakr al-Azdi, who is


believed to be a central figure in the Riyadh bombing of May 12, 2003





-- Security services also killed a major al-Qaida operational planner


and fundraiser, known as "Swift Sword"





-- Morocco arrested al-Qaida operatives planning attacks against U.S.


shipping





-- Djibouti is hosting the U.S. military as they pursue al-Qaida and


others in the Horn of Africa





Since 9/11, the U.S. and other countries have frozen over $137


million, much of which was supporting al-Qaida operations





We have developed partnerships with both Canada and Mexico to stop


illicit border crossings and facilitate legitimate trade and travel.





In the United States, al-Qaida associated cells were dismantled in


Buffalo, New York, and Portland, Oregon and arrested individuals


charged with supporting the Egyptian-based Al-Gamat Al-Islamiyya.





Terrorist Tracking and Threat Integration





To improve intelligence sharing and coordination, the President


directed the establishment of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center


(TTIC), whose partner agencies include CIA, FBI, DHS, DOD, and State.





The FBI established the National Joint Terrorism Task Force and we


have expanded FBI-led interagency Joint Terrorism Task Forces


investigating terrorist activity around the country to 66.





The Attorney General established the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task


Force to identify and locate terrorists.





The State Department has developed tamper-resistant visas and new


digital passports.





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