CB: "This war is about
something else. It's about trying to stabilize this
country..."
Friday, September 11, 2009
Length: 2:30
LARGE (28.8 MB)
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SMALL (3.1 MB)
Michael is part of a panel discussion about
Osama bin Laden and 9/11, but I've clipped just his
section. (I pulled the preview clip as well, since
during the actual segment they showed B-roll of OBL
rather than the video of Michael.)
CAMPBELL
BROWN: Osama bin Laden still out there, but does he
still matter? Is he still relevant? And how has he
managed to remain free, despite the offer of a $25
million reward to anyone who turns him in?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These are men who
are prepared to die for bin Laden. In fact, they're
eager for the opportunity to do so, to martyr
themselves in bin Laden' name. Compared to eternal
life, compared to sacrificing your own life, your own
existence, what's $25 million?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Michael, you're there. You're on the ground in
Afghanistan today. Does bin Laden even feel relevant?
WARE: Well, certainly, to the war in Afghanistan,
less and less so.
I mean, the fighting that is going on here day in,
day out is not being perpetrated by bin Laden. The
attacks primarily, the grinding day-to-day of
ambushes and roadside bombs and indeed even most of
the suicide bombings are being conducted by the
Afghan Taliban. So, the American troops here are
fighting and dying not so much about Osama bin Laden
and al Qaeda, because they're no longer in this
country. They don't have the sanctuary they once did.
They have been pushed across the border to Pakistan.
This war is about something else. It's about trying
to stabilize this country, in the hope that al Qaeda
training camps don't return. But in terms of
destroying al Qaeda and hunting for Osama bin Laden,
this war means very little, if not anything at all.
BROWN: Michael, the U.S. is still offering this huge
reward, $25 million, for bin Laden. Why do you think
that having that kind of money out there never really
worked?
WARE: Well, for those who would know where bin Laden
actually is -- and I would dare say those people
could be counted on the fingers or less of one hand
-- $25 million means nothing.
These are men who are prepared to die for bin Laden.
In fact, they're eager for the opportunity to do so,
to martyr themselves in bin Laden's name. Compared to
eternal life, compared to sacrificing your own life,
your own existence, what is $25 million,
Campbell?