US Al-Qaida Analysis -- USAGM
Metadata
- US Al-Qaida Analysis -- USAGM
- August 3, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script US Al-Qaida Analysis HEADLINE: US Says Terror Threat Hasn’t Died With al-Qaida Leader TEASER: ‘We're not taking our eye off the rest of the world,’ White House says after CIA killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri PUBLISHED AT: (8/2/2022 & TIME) BYLINE: Anita Powell CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: The White House VIDEOGRAPHER: AP VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: MCY, Reifenrath, DJ (ok) VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP, Rtrs PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 2:39 VID APPROVED BY: MCY TYPE: EDITOR NOTES: MARTIN EWI SOTS ALSO AVAILABLE IN FRENCH)) ((INTRO:)) [[The U.S.-directed killing of al-Qaida’s leader in Afghanistan was a blow to the terror group’s leadership, but will it affect its offshoots in the Middle East, Africa and Asia? The White House says it's not taking its eyes off any terror threats that arise, and terrorism researchers say the U.S. needs to be vigilant and patient. VOA’s Anita Powell reports from the White House.]] ((Establish Biden making the announcement, AP-4391041)) ((NARRATOR)) The White House says it has “high confidence” that its targeted strike killed al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri. ((Upsound over Biden saying “we have eliminated the emir of al-Qaida.”)) ((Zawahiri footage: https://app.frame.io/player/a96062aa-84ca-4fe7-a6c5-2e48814b7ccc)) But the White House also says cutting off the head of the beast may not neutralize the threat. [[Radio: John Kirby is head of strategic communications for the National Security Council.]] ((SOT, MRT requested NOTE CUTS)) ((John Kirby, National Security Council)) “They're in North Africa, they're in the Sahel, they're throughout the Middle East and they're in Yemen. // I get that we're focused on Afghanistan. But we're not taking our eye off the rest of the world, either.” ((Bin Laden footage https://app.frame.io/player/6be29224-6a39-482f-8820-7dd4b1fceb97)) ((NARRATOR)) Since Osama bin Laden formed the group in 1988, al-Qaida has sprouted numerous offshoots united over the decades by intolerance, hatred of the U.S. and Israel, and a strict interpretation of Islam. [[Radio: Michael Kugelman is deputy director of the Asia program at the Wilson Center. He spoke to VOA via Zoom.]] ((SOT, Zoom, from 9:22 , file here: https://app.frame.io/projects/ae30dd8f-b6c4-418a-b02d-530603115a58/975deaa0-912d-4441-ada1-1c46d8de74e2)) ((Michael Kugelman, Wilson Center)) “Al-Qaida may not be actively, operationally planning an attack on U.S. soil, but ideologically, it remains ideologically opposed to the U.S. So you know, that very fact is something that we shouldn't overlook.” ((AQ attack in Mali: AFP-V045_32F86GM; Al Qaeda Sahel AFP-V000_9268KC)) ((NARRATOR)) Especially in Africa, where affiliates have flourished. [[Radio: Martin Ewi is a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, based in Pretoria, South Africa. He spoke to VOA via Zoom.]] ((SOT, English, Zoom, from 17:30)) ((Martin Ewi, Institute for Security Studies)) ((Zoom)) “My advice to Biden and to the American government is that, yes, OK, we can, we can kill the leadership, but I think it's, it's a very tiny aspect of the fight against terrorism. The focus should actually be on addressing the factors, the political and economic factors that actually shield terrorism.” ((Zawahiri broll AP-4391030)) ((NARRATOR)) But al-Zawahiri's death will affect these groups. Although he was not seen as a charismatic leader like bin Laden, he was a disciplined one. [[Radio: Colin Clarke is director of policy and research at The Soufan Group. He spoke to VOA via Zoom.]] ((SOT, English, Zoom from 0:32 in file, video here: https://app.frame.io/projects/ae30dd8f-b6c4-418a-b02d-530603115a58/975deaa0-912d-4441-ada1-1c46d8de74e2)) ((Colin Clarke, The Soufan Group)) ((Zoom)) “Zawahiri was effective in kind of keeping this broader network of affiliates, franchise groups and branches together, you know, from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa and further afield. That's probably what he should get the most credit for is maintaining that alliance and doing it through the turbulent period of the Arab Spring and the rise of the Islamic State.” ((return to Biden, AP-4391041)) ((NARRATOR)) So what now? On that, the president was clear: ((SOT, English, AP-4391041)) (President Joe Biden)) “My administration will continue to vigilantly monitor and address threats from al-Qaida no matter where they emanate from.” ((Side by side of A-Z and Bin Laden: AP-4391049)) ((NARRATOR)) Analysts also urged patience. ((SOT, English, Zoom from 6:41 in file, video here: https://app.frame.io/projects/ae30dd8f-b6c4-418a-b02d-530603115a58/975deaa0-912d-4441-ada1-1c46d8de74e2)) ((Colin Clarke, The Soufan Group)) “These groups are patient, and they're highly capable. And so to dismiss them as kind of a nuisance or a has-been, and I know everybody wants to focus on great power competition with Russia and China and kind of leave behind the global war on terrorism, I would say, you know, let's not get ahead of ourselves.” ((Sept 11 footage: https://app.frame.io/player/3f9ba61f-f795-4b0c-9447-95c55d663aa2)) ((NARRATOR)) Al-Qaida attacked the World Trade Center the first time in 1993, killing six people. At the time, they were a relatively obscure group — until September 11, 2001. ((Anita Powell, VOA News, the White House))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Location (dateline) the White House
- Embargo Date August 2, 2022 22:29 EDT
- Byline ((Anita Powell, VOA News, the White House))
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English