Follow Christiane on social media:
What time is Amanpour on CNN?
Check showtimes to see when Amanpour is on CNN where you are. Or watch online.
Al Qaeda plot: The story behind the story
by Lucky Gold
As dangerous as you can get
An al Qaeda plot, hatched in Yemen, to blow up a commercial aircraft over United States air space was exposed by the CIA, but many questions remain unanswered.
Ali Soufan, former FBI counter terrorist agent and leading expert on al Qaeda in Yemen, appeared exclusively on Amanpour Tuesday. His unique insights help provide the story behind the story.
It begins with Fahd al-Quso, a Yemeni national and top leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Penninsula, a man with a five million dollar price tag on his head.
“We first identified Fahd al-Quoso,” said Soufan, “as being a member of the (al Qaeda) cell that conducted the USS Cole attack (in 2000). We were able to arrest him and interrogate him and he provided a significant amount of intelligence about his connections to al Qaeda, about al Qaeda’s role in the USS Cole bombing and t he murder of seventeen sailors…and also about his relationship to Osama bin Laden.”
Soufan added, “He also provided us some information about a meeting…that was a planning summit for the 9-11 attack. So he is as dangerous as you can get.”
CHRISTIANE’S BRIEF: Austerity showdown
Two sides of the same coin
Guido Westerwelle, Germany’s Foreign Minister, appeared on Amanpour Monday, as Europe was still feeling the political aftershocks of Sunday’s elections.
Interviewed Friday, just prior to the elections, he was asked if the falling governments in France and Greece are a repudiation of the fiscal austerity policy championed by Germany.
“I think some of these governments came out of office because they worked too slowly,” said Westerwelle. “They didn’t do the reforms…Our policy is more than austerity and fiscal discipline. Our policy is both. Growth and fiscal discipline. These are two sides of the same coin.”
Westerwelle responded to the campaign promise of newly elected French President, Francois Hollande – that he would renegotiate the existing pact with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the other member states of the European Union.
“We cannot renegotiate this fiscal compact,” said Westerwelle, “because…this sends a signal, for example, to Italy, Spain, Portugal – they all implemented these reforms. They know they cannot survive…with always new debts.”
He added, “Our offer to France, to all our friends in the European Union, is to let us implement the fiscal compact because this is necessary to overcome the debt crisis.”
He rejected the idea that a choice must be made between austerity and spending: “Of course, we can spend more money. The only result will be more debt. And then we are once again in the same difficulty, in the same problem.”
Despite its defeat, he praised the Greek government for its attempts at reform: “I think this was a brave and courageous government,” said Westerwelle, “which brought through the reform. The problem for Greece is that they have a lack of competitiveness…They need companies – small and medium sized companies – which are the backbone of the economy.”
Olmert: Right-wing U.S. cash killed my peace plan
Highlights
- Ehud Olmert says extreme right-wing elements in the United States helped derail his peace plan
- They poured millions of dollars into efforts to topple him from office, he says
- Olmert, who quit as prime minister amid corruption allegations, does not name the right-wing figures
- His 2008 peace plan proposed a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders
By the CNN Wire Staff
(CNN) - Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said millions of dollars from the "extreme right wing" in the United States helped oust him from government and derailed a peace plan with the Palestinians.
In an exclusive interview aired Friday with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Olmert said his attempts to make peace had been "a killer" for him as prime minister.
In 2008, Olmert sought a "full comprehensive peace between us and the Palestinians" - a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. But the plan was never realized and Olmert was forced from office accused of corruption, which he denies.
"It was a killer for me, not only because of the opposition in Israel. I think that, by the way, in Israel, the majority of the Israelis would have supported my plan, had it come for elections," Olmert said.
"But I had to fight against superior powers, including millions and millions of dollars that were transferred from this country (the United States) by figures which were from the extreme right wing that were aimed to topple me as prime minister of Israel. There is no question about it."
Pressed to name names, Olmert replied: "Next time."
Friend of Chen: He wants his rights
Flesh and bones
Jerome Cohen, an American lawyer and friend of Chen Guangcheng, appeared on Amanpour today. He has been in contact with the Chinese dissident ever since his escape from house arrest, advising him on how best to secure his freedom and safety with the help of U.S. authorities.
According to Cohen, “Chen’s first choice was to stay in China…to study law, to take part in China’s further legal development, and to have free communication.” Cohen quoted him as saying, “I want simply the rights of every other Chinese citizen.”
At first, it seemed that the Chinese had agreed to let Chen remain in the country. Said Cohen, “We know the bare bones of the agreement. How flesh would be put on those bones remains to be seen.”
Cohen added, “China is evolving. This is the twenty-first century. The political system lags behind the rest of China’s progress. The time is right for legal progress.”
FULL POST
Is America rushing to leave Afghanistan?
Well, look, Christiane, this is Afghanistan
Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, appeared on Amanpour today, just hours after President Obama’s surprise visit to Afghanistan and in the immediate aftermath of an insurgent attack on the capital.
Ambassador Crocker responded to reports that a security breach some hours before the President’s plane touched down at Bagram Airfield might have come from inside Afghanistan itself, potentially compromising Mr. Obama’s security.
“The leak, such as it was, was incorrect,” said Ambassador Crocker, “and our collective judgment was that it did not propose a sufficient threat to the president.”
However, he did acknowledge that “there is always a risk.”
In a memorable phrase, he seemed to encapsulate the years of American involvement since 2001: “Well, look, Christiane, this is Afghanistan.”
Ambassador Crocker also addressed the suicide bombing in the heart of Kabul that occurred just after President Obama flew home to Washington. While admitting all the facts aren’t in, he didn’t think the attack was timed with the President’s visit.
“We looked at all aspects of that,” he said. “Everybody was comfortable. It went precisely according to schedule. We regret the loss of innocent Afghan lives. But overall, Kabul is a pretty normal, pretty secure city.” FULL POST
Olmert: Iran threat may be cooling
In his first sit-down interview in years, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is revealing and controversial speaking with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
CHRISTIANE'S BRIEF – Saudi Arabia: Paving the way for change
CNN’s Juliet Fuisz produced this piece for television.
CHRISTIANE'S BRIEF: How big is the Iranian threat?
CHRISTIANE'S BRIEF: Will scandal bring change to China?
Is Sarkozy the next domino to fall?
@camanpour on Twitter
