Posted on 09/02/2005 11:42:12 AM PDT by jmc1969
Hudhayfah Azzam worked closely with Bin Laden in Afghanistan for 12 years and was close to both Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi and Ayman al-Zawahiri but differed with them on important issues.
Q) Did you meet with Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi when you were in Afghanistan or after that?
A) I knew Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi and met him for the first time in Afghanistan in 1990. He was an ordinary person who had just returned to Islam and had not gained enough understanding of the teachings of religion. At that stage, differences arose between the Arab mujahidin and the Taliban. I met Osama Bin Laden and asked him what we should do concerning this matter. He said that he would leave for Sudan. The Arab mujahidin began their preparations to return to their countries of origin. Some of them went to Tajikistan, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Chechnya. Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi returned to Jordan. In 1993, he was tried and imprisoned in connection with the Bay'at al-Imam case and was released in the 1999 general amnesty. I remember that immediately after he was released, and when the opportunity arose, he left for Afghanistan. I was an eyewitness to his development as Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi who first refused to join Al-Qaeda or the Taliban ranks and then established a camp in the Herat region on the Iranian border. He received training and trained his men until the events of 9/11 took place. Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi once again refused to join Al Qaeda. Then he left for Iraq and remained there.
At that time, the former Iraqi regime objected to the mujahidin operating in Iraq. It restricted their movement and freedom. They fought in Umm Qasr, Basra, and Al-Nasiriyah. When they found that the Iraqi army did not want to fight, many withdrew and went to Sunni areas because the areas in which they had been staying became insecure. After going to the Sunni areas, they decided to begin organized jihadist work in view of the disappearance of the Iraqi regime and its restrictions. These men began their operation and Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi emerged as a man experienced in military affairs as well as in handling weapons and explosives. There is no argument about that.
Q) Have you contacted Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi recently?
A) Contact with Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi is impossible right now, but if you want to reach a person, it would be easy, especially if you have a certain purpose, whether concerning reform, debate, or dialogue. We held indirect talks with him and told him that what he was doing was impermissible; that it harmed the jihadist work, the reputation of the mujahidin, and the Iraqi cause.
Q) Have you contacted Osama Bin Laden?
A) The last time I had direct contact with him was in 1998. I lived close to him for more than 12 years and that was during the days of jihad in Afghanistan. He is still there because if he leaves he will lose his strength. In fact, he cannot leave Afghanistan and I do not think he will for many reasons.
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