Discussing the committee's first report to the Security Council,Ambassador Heraldo Munoz of Chile said that, ironically, the successof the measures against the Taliban and al-Qaeda have closed somefinancial operations but "our progress has yielded new ways in whichthe groups are operating." (博讯boxun.com)

    "I would like to emphasize this is a long-term task. This is not goingto be achieved merely through a couple of reports in a couple ofyears," said Munoz, who is the chairman of the Security CouncilCommittee on al-Qaeda Sanctions.

    Michael Chandler, chairman of the committee's monitoring group, saidthat "further success in bringing down the al-Qaeda network willrequire a sustained international effort with continued and probablyenhanced, sharing of information, and coordination between memberstates."

    "This is not something any one country is going to do on its own. It'sgot to be teamwork -- international teamwork. And its working," hesaid.

    Chandler said that the arrests of members of Osama bin Laden'soriginal "command team," including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Yasiral-Jaziri, Waleed bin Attash and other senior lieutenants, dented itsoperational capacity significantly and provided critical intelligenceconcerning the network.

    "It has led to the break-up of cells in a number of countries and thedetention of substantial numbers of the network's supporters andoperatives. However ... recent events have demonstrated with thebombings in Saudi Arabia, Chechnya, Morocco, and Afghanistan thatal-Qaeda and its associated groups still pose a significant threat tointernational peace and security," Chandler said.

    "The network continues to recruit new adherents, receive funds,explosives and arms, and is able to have some of its people ... appearto be able to move around to do what they want to do," he said.

    "The success of clamping down on the formal banking system has driventhe terrorist groups ... to use other information means," Chandlersaid. "We found that many of the cells that were broken up in Europewere actually self-sufficient in many ways. They were able to surviveand able to raise quite considerable sums of cash purely by pettystreet crime, small drug sales, credit card fraud, and other similarscams which are quite common."

    "These are the facts we have to face: The network clearly retainsstrong appeal among Islamic extremist elements around the world and isable to draw on a substantial cadre of people who were probablytrained in Afghanistan or in other centers associated in the past withthe network," Chandler said.

    Chandler also said that the name of a Chechen rebel is being added tothe sanctions list and there is evidence that the Chechen rebels maybe linked to the al-Qaeda network.

    "They have links with people who have worked through Bosnia intoChechnya," Chandler said. "There are certain aspects of the way theyoperate -- the Chechen rebel movement -- that is very, very similar tothe way al-Qaeda operates with suicide bombings and ... the hostageattempt at the theater" in Russia.

    Pointing out that the list "is only a small subset of the criticalmembership of the al-Qaeda network," Chandler said that the committeebelieves that the list "should be expanded to take in a much broaderset of al-Qaeda members and associates and those who have supportedthem, particularly people who are known to some countries to have beento Afghanistan, come back, and are let loose back into society."

    In its report, the committee said that there should be as complete acatalogue as possible of persons believed to be members of al-Qaedacells or to have participated in training in Afghanistan or othercamps associated with the network, as well as all known members ofal-Qaeda and its associated groups.

    "We must internationally redouble our efforts to assure that al-Qaedaand its associates do not acquire nuclear, radiological, chemical orbiological weapons or materials," Chandler added.

    Munoz called on all nations to submit their reports to the committee.

    "Only 56 member states have submitted reports complying withresolution 1455 out of 190-some member states. This is still a longroad ahead of us in order to receive all the information we need frommember states," he said.

    Chandler emphasized that is it important that the list is accurate andfull of all data possible "so agencies around the world, whether itslaw enforcement, financial banking or even the most vulnerable -- theborder officials, have accurate, good information."

    "Every member state should be looking at the list on a regular basis,"he said.

    In its report, the committee said that the principal value of thetravel ban on Taliban and al-Qaeda members is as a "politicalstatement intended to make it clear to countries that they should notpermit Taliban, al-Qaeda or associated group members to gather, seekrefugee in, or transit through their territories."

    "As a practical matter, few, if any, of the designated al-Qaedamembers are likely to seek open entry or transit using their own nameand legitimate documents," the report said. Nevertheless, al-Qaedamembers have retained a high degree of mobility and have been able toinitiate terrorist attacks in several countries around the world.

    Another problem identified in the report is the use of charities toprovide support to the al-Qaeda network through cash with theexpenditure supported with false documents. In addition, over the lastdecade so-called charitable activities have given rise to anincreasingly active program of indoctrination, recruitment, andtraining in support of al-Qaeda and related terrorist groups.

    In most of the world, charities remain unregulated and there is stilla strong desire in many countries to protect the identity of donors.But this provides a permissive environment in which al-Qaeda andassociated groups are able to access funds and resources, the reportsaid.

    "Cracking down on these activities will require a sustainedinternational effort and an increased willingness to shareinformation. Cooperative intelligence and law enforcement work arevital in this effort," the report said.

    (The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of InternationalInformation Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:http://usinfo.state.gov) (博讯boxun.com)