Story number 1 for 11 Jan 2002

(Russia)–We begin today with a look at terrorism and its link to the drug trade. The Bridge International’s R.K. Ulrich says reports have indicated Osama bin Laden was using heroin to finance his operations. She adds that their outreach in Russia has seen increased evidence of bin Laden’s influence. “We have also seen that bin Laden, he had an agenda that is broader than just the financial system of the United States. He also went into a major fight against Russia. He flooded the streets of the major cities in Russia with heroin.” That, in turn, means The Bridge’s drug rehabilitation centers in Ekaterinburg have been busy. But, she says there’s an upside to this, as well. “The churches all throughout the old Soviet Union, are becoming more and more aware of their need to reach out to evangelize, to reach out to the poor, to reach out to those who are in desperate need.”