A look at the suspected
state sponsors of terrorism
The State Department officially lists seven countries as state sponsors of terrorist
groups and organizations. Because the U.S. does not recognize the Taliban regime currently
in control of most of Afghanistan, that country is not on that list.
Afghanistan
Taliban-controlled Afghanistan remains a primary hub for terrorists and a home
or transit point for the loosely organized network of "Afghan alumni," a web of
informally linked individuals and groups who were trained and fought in the Afghan war.
Afghan alumni have been involved in most major terrorist plots or attacks against the
United States in the past 15 years and now engage in international militant and terrorist
acts throughout the world.
Cuba
Cuba continued to provide a safe haven to several terrorists and US fugitives
last year. A number of Basque ETA terrorists who gained sanctuary in Cuba some years ago
continued to live on the island, as did several US terrorist fugitives.
Havana also maintained ties to other state sponsors of terrorism and Latin American
insurgents. Colombia’s two largest terrorist organizations, the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia and the National Liberation Army, both maintained a permanent presence
on the island.
Iran
Iran remained the most active state sponsor of terrorism in 2000. Its
Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of Intelligence and Security continued to be
involved in the planning and the execution of terrorist acts and continued to support a
variety of groups that use terrorism to pursue their goals.
Iraq
Several expatriate terrorist groups continued to maintain offices in Baghdad,
Iraq’s captial, including the Arab Liberation Front, the inactive 15 May
Organization, the Palestine Liberation Front, and the Abu Nidal organization. PLF leader
Abu ‘Abbas appeared on state-controlled television in the fall to praise Iraq’s
leadership in rallying Arab opposition to Israeli violence against Palestinians. The ANO
threatened to attack Austrian interests unless several million dollars in a frozen ANO
account in a Vienna bank were turned over to the group.
Libya
In 2000, Libya continued efforts to mend its international image in the wake of its
surrender in 1999 of two Libyans accused of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over
Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.
Libya, however, remains a suspect in several other past terrorist operations, including
the Labelle discotheque bombing in Berlin in 1986 that killed two US servicemen, one
Turkish man and wounded more than 200 persons. Although Libya expelled the Abu Nidal
organization and distanced itself from the Palestinian rejectionists in 1999, it continued
to have contact with groups that use violence to oppose the Middle East Peace Process,
including the Palestine Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine-General Command.
North Korea
In 2000 the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea engaged in three rounds of
terrorism talks that culminated in a joint DPRK-US statement wherein the DPRK reiterated
its opposition to terrorism and agreed to support international actions against such
activity.
Sudan
The United States and Sudan in mid-2000 entered talks to discuss US
counterterrorism concerns. The talks, which were ongoing at the end of the year, were
constructive and obtained some positive results. By the end of the year Sudan had signed
all 12 international conventions for combating terrorism and had taken several other
positive counterterrorism steps, including closing down the Popular Arab and Islamic
Conference, which served as a forum for terrorists.
Sudan, however, continued to be used as a safehaven by members of various groups,
including associates of Osama Bin Laden’s al-Qaida organization and others.
Syria
Syria continued to provide a safe haven and support to several terrorist
groups, some of which maintained training camps or other facilities on Syrian territory.
— From staff reports
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