While he was being driven through the Afghan mountains in 1997, journalist Peter Bergen had no idea that the man he was about to interview would later be held responsible for the most devastating terrorist attacks in U.S. history. Bergen, one of the few journalists in the world who has interviewed al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, shared his experience with an audience on April 18 in Roussel Hall.

Bergen said he thinks bin Laden is alive. “Whatever you may think of him, he is a bright guy. I believe he’s in Afghanistan.”

Bergen is author of the book Holy War Inc: Inside the Secret World of Osama Bin Laden. He also has worked as a news producer for ABC News and CNN and has covered stories that include the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.

“He was very important even then,” Bergen said of bin Laden. “He had already declared war on the U.S.,” Bergen said. Bergen said that he was “blindfolded and guarded by three heavily armed men” while being driven to his 1997 interview with bin Laden. “We had absolutely no idea where we were going,” Bergen said. “I didn’t have any idea how this was going to end up.”

Bergen’s interview with bin Laden took place in Afghanistan’s mountains. “He (bin Laden) was quite soft-spoken. His words were full of anger, and he didn’t raise his voice.

The interview consisted of bin Laden’s and his followers’ views on the United States. “His followers treat him with a lot of deference. You’ve got to take him seriously,” Bergen said. “It was clear that the guy and his followers declared war on the United States.”

During the lecture, Bergen also spoke of future terrorist attacks and the possibility of weapons of mass destruction. “The short-term prognosis is not good. We are going to have anti-American attacks, not necessarily in this country, but around the world,” Bergen said. “When he (bin Laden) says he has them (nuclear weapons), we have to pay attention,” said Bergen. His speech was the seventh annual talk given as part of the Father Carter Lecture Series.

The committee that picks speakers for the series is made up of alumni, faculty and students. “It was a different kind of lecture than what we’ve had before. I believe that in the past the speakers have had more Jesuit ideals. But he was more broadening,” said Jennifer Dinsmore, assistant director of Student Activities. “We usually go with somebody we think has made contributions.”

The purpose of the series is to honor the Rev. James C. Carter, S.J., who was the president of Loyola University for twenty years. He served as chancellor from 1995 to 2001.

Past speakers in the lecture series include Erin Brockovich, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Susan Sarandon. More than one hundred people attended this lecture.

“It was an excellent turnout. One of the Monroes [donors of the J. Edgar and Louise S. Monroe library] was here. A professor brought his class, which I think was great,” Dinsmore said.

Susaye Lawson, communications junior, said she enjoyed listening to Bergen’s speech. “I thought it was very simple and straightforward in a good way,” she said. “I thought he was cool.”

During his speech, Bergen spoke of why bin Laden declared war on the United States.

“It’s all about American policy in the Middle East. I think the whole thing in Israel and Palestine has become more important for bin Laden and his followers.”

Bergen also commented on when he thinks the war on terrorism will end.”We can declare victory on the war (against terrorism) when terrorism reverts to what it was before 9/11,” Bergen said.