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To Terror's Source
John Miller's 1998 Interview With Osama Bin Laden

Former ABCNEWS correspondent John Miller interviewed Osama bin Laden in May 1998, three
months after bin Laden issued a fatwa calling for the deaths of all Americans. Bin Laden is now the
main suspect in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

ABCNEWS correspondent John

Miller interviews Osama bin
Laden in his secret hideaway in
the mountains, of Afghanistan.
(ABCNEWS)

The interview was conducted on May 28,1998. Miller and his crew were led by armed Islamic militants by foot
through the mountains of southern Afghanistan to meet bin Laden at a secret hideaway.

JOHN MILLER Mr. bin Laden, to Americans you are an interesting figure: A man who comes from a background of wealth and comforts who
ended up fighting on the front lines. Many Americans would think that's unusual.

OSAMA BIN LADEN Thanks be to Allah. It is hard for one to understand if the person does not understand Islam. In our religion we believe
that Allah created us to worship him. Allah is the one who created us and blessed us with this religion, and orders us to carry out the holy
struggle jihad lo raise the word of Allah above the words of the unbelievers.

We believe this is a form of worship we must follow despite our financial ability. This is a response to Westerners and secularists in the Arab
world who claim the reason for the awakening and the return to Islam is financial difficulties. This is untrue. In fact, the return of the people to
Islam is a blessing from Allah, and their return is a need for Allah.

This is not a strange issue. During the days of jihad, thousands of young men who were well off financially left the Arabian Peninsula and other
areas and joined the fighting — hundreds of them were killed in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Chechnya. We pray Allah grants them martyr status.

JOHN MILLER You have been described as the "World's Most Wanted Man." There is word that the American government intends to put a
price on your head in the millions for your capture. Do you think about that? Does it worry you?

OSAMA BIN LADEN Praise be to Allah. It does not worry us what the Americans think. What worries us is pleasing Allah. The Americans
impose themselves on everyone who believes in his religion and his rights. They accuse our children in Palestine of being terrorists. Those
children that have no weapons and have not even reached maturity. At the same time they defend a country with its airplanes and tanks, and
the state of the Jews, that has a policy to destroy the future of these children.

Clinton stands after Qana and defends the horrible massacre that severed the heads of children and killed about 100 persons. Clinton stands
and claims Israel has the right to defend itself. We do not worry about American opinion, or the fact the place prices on our heads.

We as Muslims believe that our fate is set. If the whole world decides to get together and kill us before our time has come, we will not die, our
livelihood is set. No matter how much pressure America places on the regime in Riyadh to freeze our assets and to prevent people from
contributing to this great cause, we rely on Allah.

JOHN MILLER You have said, "If the Americans are so brave they will come and arrest me." Do you think that is something my country will
try?

OSAMA BIN LADEN We have seen in the last decade the decline of the American government and the weakness of the American soldier
who is ready to wage Cold Wars and unprepared to fight long wars. This was proven in Beirut when the Marines fled after two explosions. It
also proves they can run in less than 24 hours, and this was also repeated in Somalia. We are ready for all occasions. We rely on Allah.

Fatwa Against Americans

JOHN MILLER Mr. bin Laden, you have issued a fatwa calling on all Muslims to kill Americans where they can, when they can. Is that directed
htt45://printerMendly.abcnews.com/printerfnendly/Print?fetchFromGLUE=trae&GLUEService=ABCNe... 7/28/2004
"TO^TUesponse | Bin Laden: Focus on Saudi Arabia Pagel of 10

j[** JUST Response

Focus on Saudi Arabia - an
interview with Osama Bin Laden
By Peter Arnett

QT. Mr Bin Ladin, could you give us your main criticism of the
Saudi royal Family that is ruling Saudi Arabia today?

Osama Bin Laden: Regarding the criticisms of the ruling

regime in Saudi Arabia and the Arabian peninsula, the first one
is their subordination to the US. So, our main problem is the
US government while the Saudi regime is but a branch or an
agent of the US. By being loyal to the US regime, the Saudi
regime has committed an act against Islam. And this, based
on the ruling of Shari'a [Islamic jurisprudence], casts the
regime outside the religious community. Subsequently, the
regime has stopped ruling people according to what God
revealed, praise and glory be to Him, not to mention many
other contradictory acts. When this main foundation was
violated, other corrupt acts followed in every aspect of the
country, the economic, the social, government services and so
on.

Q2: Mr Bin Ladin, if the Islamic movement takes over Arabia,

what kind of society will be created and will Saudi Arabia, for
example, return to the laws of the Koran at the time of the
Prophet?

Bin Laden: We are confident, with the permission of God,

Praise and Glory be to Him, that Muslims will be victorious in
the Arabian peninsula and that God's religion, praise and glory
be to Him, will prevail in this peninsula. It is a great pride and a
big hope that the revelation unto Muhammad, Peace be upon
him, will be resorted to for ruling. When we used to follow
Muhammad's revelation, Peace be upon him, we were in great
happiness and in great dignity, to God belong credit and
praise.

Q3: Mr Bin Ladin, if the Islamic movement takes over Saudi

Arabia, what would your attitude to the West be and will the
price of oil be higher?

Bin Laden: We are a nation and have a long history, with the
grace of God, Praise and Glory be to Him. We are now in the
15th century of this great religion, the complete and
comprehensive methodology, has clarified the dealing
between an individual and another, the duties of the believer
towards God, Praise and Glory be to Him, and the relationship
between the Muslim country and other countries in time of
peace and in time of war. If we look back at our history, we will
find there were many types of dealings between the Muslim

http://www.justresponse.net/Bin_Laden4.html 7/28/2004
 nntino bin laden: who is bin laden?: interview with osama bin laden (in may 1998) | PBS Page 1 of9

B I N L A D E N

INTERVIEW OSAMA BIN LADEN

(may 1998)

In the first part of this interview which occurred in May 1998, a little over
two months before the U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania,
Osama bin Laden answers questions posed to him by some of his followers
at his mountaintop camp in southern Afghanistan. In the latter part of the
interview, ABC reporter John Miller is asking the questions.

HOME
INTRODUCTION
WHO IS B\h LADEN?
TRAIL OF EVIDENCE
TWO TERRORISTS
INTERVIEWS ... What is the meaning of your call for
Read the translation of the
Muslims to take arms against America in ABC John Miller interview
particular, and what is the message that (videotaped) which is
you wish to send to the West in general? further down on this page.
Or, read the full interview
The call to wage war against America was with Bin Laden which
made because America has spear-headed the starts with questions
crusade against the Islamic nation, sending posed to him by his
tens of thousands of its troops to the land of followers. This interview
the two Holy Mosques over and above its begins right here; it is
meddling in its affairs and its politics, and its then followed by the
translation of the Miller
support of the oppressive, corrupt and interview with Bin Laden.
tyrannical regime that is in control. These are
the reasons behind the singling out of
America as a target. And not exempt of responsibility are those Western
regimes whose presence in the region offers support to the American troops
there. We know at least one reason behind the symbolic participation of the
Western forces and that is to support the Jewish and Zionist plans for expansion
of what is called the Great Israel. Surely, their presence is not out of concern
over their interests in the region.... Their presence has no meaning save one and
that is to offer support to the Jews in Palestine who are in need of their Christian
brothers to achieve full control over the Arab Peninsula which they intend to
make an important part of the so called Greater Israel....

Many of the Arabic as well as the Western mass media accuse you of
terrorism and of supporting terrorism. What do you have to say to that?

There is an Arabic proverb that says "she accused me of having her malady,
then snuck away." Besides, terrorism can be commendable and it can be
reprehensible. Terrifying an innocent person and terrorizing him is
objectionable and unjust, also unjustly terrorizing people is not right.
Whereas, terrorizing oppressors and

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/who/interview.html 7/28/2004