*EPF503 10/04/2002
Transcript: Ashcroft Announces Key Developments in War on Terrorism
(Suspected cell neutralized, Reid pleads guilty, Lindh sentenced) (3010)

Washington ���� Attorney General John Ashcroft told a news conference October 4 that this is a "defining day in America����s war against terrorism." He indicated his reasons for that view:

-- The neutralization of a suspected terrorist cell: six defendants were charged in an alleged conspiracy.

-- A guilty plea from Richard Reid regarding his attempt to ignite a bomb on an American Airlines flight and his confession that he is a member of Al Qaeda and an enemy of the United States.

-- The scheduled sentencing of John Walker Lindh, expected in a plea agreement to serve 20 years in jail for being a part of the Taliban. Later in the day, a federal judge imposed the sentence.

In addition to Ashcroft, FBI Director Robert Mueller, Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson, Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff, and Michael Mosman, U.S. Attorney for Portland, Oregon, were present at the news conference:

Following is a transcript of the news conference, released by the Justice Department:

(begin transcript)

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT NEWS CONFERENCE

SUBJECT: TERRORISM ARRESTS MADE BY PORTLAND AND DETROIT JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCES

PARTICIPANTS: ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN ASHCROFT FBI DIRECTOR ROBERT MUELLER DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL LARRY THOMPSON ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL MICHAEL CHERTOFF U.S. ATTORNEY FOR PORTLAND, OREGON, MICHAEL MOSMAN

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: Today is a defining day in America's war against terrorism. We've neutralized a suspected terrorist cell within our borders. We've convicted an attempted suicide bomber. And an American pledged and trained and captured in violent jihad is sentenced. Earlier today, agents of the Portland and Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Forces arrested suspected terrorist cell members charged with engaging in a conspiracy to join al Qaeda and to join Taliban forces fighting against the United States and allied soldiers in Afghanistan.

The alleged conspiracy names six defendants, five of whom are U.S. citizens, including one individual with U.S. military training. Jeffrey Battle, Patrice Lumumba Ford, Muhammad Bilal, Ahmed Bilal, Habis al Saoub and October Lewis are charged with four counts.

Count one, conspiracy to levy war against the United States. Count two, conspiracy to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations. Count three, conspiracy to contribute services to al Qaeda and the Taliban. Count four, possession of firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence.

Four of the accused are currently in custody. Two remain at large overseas. If convicted of these crimes, the defendants will face up to life in prison.

Today's arrests follow the capture in suburban Buffalo, New York, of six individuals charged with aiding terrorism. In addition, U.S. residents in other settings have been indicted for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.

With today's arrests, we have charged more than 17 individuals since August the 28th.

The facts alleged in the indictment are these: Following the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, defendants Battle, Ford, Muhammad Bilal and Ahmed Bilal and al Saoub acquired various firearms and engaged in weapons training and physical training in preparation to fight a jihad. In October 2001, as United States troops entered into battle against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the indictment charges that Battle, Ford, Muhammad Bilal, Ahmed Bilal and al Saoub began to travel to Afghanistan to join forces with Taliban and al Qaeda troops battling United States and allied military personnel.

The indictment charges that the five defendants purchased airline tickets to Hong Kong with the intent of traveling to Taliban- controlled Afghanistan via China and Pakistan. On November 2nd, 2001, Battle told his ex-wife and alleged co-conspirator, October Lewis, that the group had encountered difficulties crossing the border of China into Afghanistan. The indictment charges that on eight occasions, Lewis wired money to Battle overseas with the knowledge that the money would be used to support his attempt to reach Afghanistan to fight with Taliban and al Qaeda forces.

The indictment further charges that while in Bangladesh, attempting to gain entry into Afghanistan, Battle caused himself to be discharged administratively from the United States Army Reserve, in which he had enlisted in order to receive military training intended for use against the United States. According to the indictment, three of the defendants, Battle, Ford and Muhammad Bilal, returned to the United States in late 2001 and early 2002. They and alleged co- conspirator October Lewis are in custody of federal authorities at this hour.

I want to thank many local, state and federal law enforcement officers who worked together to bring about these arrests.

Today's case is a textbook example of the central role that cooperation with local, state and federal enforcement officials, cooperation plays in the prevention of terrorist attacks.

In December 2001, Portland authorities were contacted by a Skamania County, Washington, sheriff, Charles Bryan, from Washington state, who recognized one of the defendants from news reports of an Oregon criminal case with possible terrorist links. One of Sheriff Bryan's deputies, Mark Mercer, had come upon the defendant among a group of people shooting weapons while trespassing on private land. The information provided by Sheriff Bryan and his deputy, Sheriff Mercer, helped lead Oregon authorities to the individuals arrested today.

In addition to these arrests, two self-confessed enemy soldiers in the war on terrorism meet justice in United States courts today. In Boston, Richard Colvin Reid pled guilty to all counts in the indictment for attempting to ignite a bomb on American Airlines Flight 63, and to murder 197 passengers and crew. This morning, Richard Reid confessed in open court that he is a member of al Qaeda pledged to Osama bin Laden, and confessed in open court that he is an "enemy" of the United States.

In addition, John Walker Lindh is scheduled to be sentenced this afternoon in federal court in Virginia. Today is a victory for justice and for the citizens who are vigilant in the pursuit of justice. Although he was captured on the other side of the world, allied with terrorists who loathe our freedom and mock our justice, John Walker Lindh was brought to America to answer for his actions.

It was the heroic efforts of the citizens aboard American Airlines Flight 63 that stopped Richard Reid in the midst of his attempt to kill hundreds. Thanks to the outstanding work of our prosecutors, in less than a year both cases have reached resolution; both criminals have been brought to justice here in the United States.

I want to thank Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson for his outstanding help on a continuing basis in pursuing these matters; FBI Director Robert Mueller; Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff, who heads the Criminal Division.

Each of these individuals has been important in the Department of Justice in securing justice in these cases.

In specific, I want to extend my appreciation to the United States attorney from Portland, Oregon, Mike Mosman, for his leadership. I want to express my gratitude to Portland FBI Special Agent in charge Charlie Mathews and all of the agents in the bureau who have been so diligent and who have been successful in this matter.

Today is a day of justice for the citizens, the soldiers and law enforcement officers who defend our nation and our values, and defend them each and every day. It is a day both of victory and a day of resolve, of well-deserved thanks for a job well done, coupled with a rededication to the job that lies ahead.

And today is a day of vindication for the nation and President Bush. Over one year ago, we pledged to expend every effort and devote every available resource to intercept terrorists and defend our nation. And in the words of President Bush, we will not relent until justice is done and our nation is secure. He put it this way: "What our enemies have begun, we will finish." The president was right, and we will continue to work to achieve these objectives.

I'm pleased now to call upon Director of the FBI Bob Mueller. Bob?

MR. MUELLER: Thanks, General.

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: Congratulations to you.

MR. MUELLER: Thank you.

Good afternoon. The work that was accomplished today in Oregon was not the work of just the FBI; it was the work of state and local law enforcement. And I want to today thank the cooperative efforts of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Portland, Oregon, in Oregon, but also in Detroit, as well as our partners in state and local law enforcement throughout the country.

I also want to thank other government agencies for their extraordinary efforts, as well as key foreign partners who have helped us in this global war against terrorism. As we have often said over the last year, fighting terrorism is the FBI's primary mission. And those who support terrorists or engage in acts of terrorism will be brought to justice.

And we come to this battle, I believe, well-armed, and with dedicated personnel, which are critical to the war on terrorism. State-of-the-art technology helps, but in the end, we depend on the seamless partnerships with our partners here and abroad, and the support of our citizens. And for that, I am most grateful.

And let me assure you that the FBI will continue to take all steps that are necessary to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the United States.

Thank you. Thank you, General.

Q: Attorney General Ashcroft or Director Mueller, a quick read of the indictment shows that these men were trying to get to Afghanistan to fight with the Taliban and then they had some small- arms training here. Is there any evidence that they intended to do any harm to Americans in this country?

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: I'm not going to make a -- any comment beyond the facts alleged in the indictment at this time in this case.

Q: Is that a no?

Q: Does the United --

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: That is -- (chuckling) -- I am not going to make any comment beyond the facts of the -- I'm not going to comment on evidence. What is alleged in the indictment is the limit of what I'm going to say about the facts of the case.

Yes, sir?

Q: Does the United States have any idea which country the two missing individuals are in?

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: We're not going to comment further about the potential location of the individuals who have not been arrested at this time.

Yes, sir?

Q: Let me try this. Could you comment on the timing at all? It seems each time there is an announcement of this kind, we wonder whether there might be value in continued surveillance of these individuals for more information, as opposed to conducting the arrests. In the case of Buffalo, there seemed to be a message or something that triggered the arrests. Is there anything you can say here to explain why --

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: I think I would just say this: that our efforts in this respect are made with an awareness that is -- that seeks to balance all the national security interests of the United States. And when we make arrests, we do so with a full range of those considerations in mind.

Yes, sir?

Q: What was the nature of the weapons training that the people actually received?

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: For me to go beyond the limits of the indictment now would be inappropriate and commenting on the evidence in the case.

Yes?

Q: Have you had assistance from China in this matter?

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: We are not going to go beyond the limits of the indictment in commenting on the evidence in the case.

Yes, sir?

Q: We say these gentlemen had some training out on private lands out in Oregon. Is this in any way connected to the Ajama (sp) case out of Seattle?

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: We're not going to comment on evidence beyond those items which are included in the indictment.

Yes, sir?

Q: General, you said in your opening remarks that we've neutralized a suspected terrorist cell in our border; yet there's not an allegation that they were acted as a cell here and preparing acts here. Is a superseding indictment possible, or is that maybe a mischaracterization of what --

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: We will continue to investigate matters that relate to terrorism, not only in the country generally, but in this area. But for me to comment beyond the limits of the indictment wouldn't be appropriate here in terms of describing evidence.

Q: Continuing to investigate? Is it still ongoing?

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: We continue to investigate, although we are prepared, based on what we have achieved in investigation, to support the allegations in this complaint.

Yes?

Q: Do you have any reason to believe there are other associates of these people now in Oregon or Washington or the Northwest?

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: I'm not going to comment on whether there would be additional evidence. Obviously, if additional inquiry on our part develops additional things that would merit indictment, we would proceed in that direction.

Mike, you're hearing me comment a lot on your case. Mike Mosman, who is the U.S. attorney, has been working diligent on this matter for quite some time, because I've been personally involved in my awareness for quite some time.

Mike, if you want to make additional comments in that respect, I'd be pleased to have you do so.

MR. MOSMAN: Thank you, sir.

I'll just echo what's been said so far. This represents an extraordinary amount of work by state, local and federal law enforcement officials. I've had a number of years as a prosecutor and never seen before the level of cooperation and trust and vigilance exemplified by this investigation.

So I'm proud of the people involved, from a deputy sheriff of a local rather rural county in Washington, to the many FBI agents and police officers and state police and others who helped. So I express my gratitude to them for their efforts. I think if the public were aware of how much time was spent and how much sacrifice was made, they'd be proud of the people involved.

Thank you.

Q: Is there any more detail you can give us about how the sheriff and his deputy came upon all this information?

MR. MOSMAN: No, not at this time.

Q: Can we expect court appearances today?

MR. MOSMAN: I believe there's a court appearance in Detroit at 1:00, and we expect a court appearance in Portland also this afternoon.

Q: Mr. Mosman, what threat do you think this group posed to on U.S. soil --

MR. MOSMAN: I'm sorry I couldn't hear your question.

Q: What do you think this group posed as far as targets on U.S. soil?

MR. MOSMAN: Again, I'm going to limit my comments to what's in the indictment and leave it at that.

Yes, sir?

Q: Actually, I have two kind of related questions. One, why weren't they charged with treason, since it seems pretty treasonous to travel and fight against U.S. forces after September 11th. Second question, why are they being treated in the criminal justice system and not as enemy combatants?

MR. MOSMAN: I think I'll answer the first one and defer to the attorney general for the second one.

Treason is a very specific charge with very specific elements, not only in the Federal Criminal Code but in the Constitution. And we believe, based on a lot of consideration by various people, that these charges best fit the facts we have in this particular case.

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: I think the response that I made earlier, that we try to consider these cases with an awareness of a broad range of possibilities. The Justice Department has authority for criminal charges; doesn't have authority for any other ways in which individuals might be detained or otherwise treated as participants in this war against terrorism. We have what we believe to be a sound basis, obviously, for what we're doing here. It's reflected in the indictment. But let me cite to you that we don't operate in a vacuum, and we feel that this is the best thing to do in the national interest.

Q: Does the indictment charge that any of the defendants ever actually fired a shot on behalf of the Taliban?

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: I think I'll just leave the indictment as it is. You have copies of the indictment; you'll be able to draw conclusions on your own.

Yes?

Q: General, there's a named, unindicted co-conspirator in the indictment, somebody is actually named in the indictment. Can you or Mr. Mosman give us any idea what that person's status is? Is it somebody in custody, cooperating?

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: That individual, I believe, is in -- is serving time pursuant to another sentence in a federal institution.

Q: Sir, while we have you, there's great public concern in the Washington region about the sniper and the several deaths that have resulted. I wonder if you or Director Mueller could comment for us at all about any federal role or assistance that you have in that matter?

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: Well, first of all, we are greatly concerned, and obviously want to provide whatever assistance we can. And I believe that assistance has been offered early in this setting, and it's a continuing offer.

The director may want to provide any details that would relate to it.

Bob?

MR. MUELLER: Immediately after the events of yesterday, we offered to Montgomery County Police all of our people, assets, lab and the like. And we are assisting, upon the request of the local police, where it's important to give them a hand. And we will do whatever is necessary to provide what support is requested to augment the good work that is being done by the Montgomery County Police Department.

STAFF: Last question.

Q: General Ashcroft, on Mr. Battle, is there concern about how he was able to get into the Reserves? Was there proper vetting done? Were there any violations of policy allowing him to become a Reservists?

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: I don't have a capacity to comment on that at this time.

Thank you all very much.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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