The September 11, 2001, horrors represent a defining moment in history - a day after which life will never be the same. One year later, times are still turbulent and uncertain, but, by and large, in the diamond business we can count our blessings.

The public has neither lost faith nor confidence in the diamond product. What scares me, however, is that government officials seem to be so irresponsibly reckless in some of their statements.

The Swiss attorney general, for example, remarked that "Most of al Qaeda's wealth has been converted into gold and diamonds and is now beyond the reach of banks, leaving the group with enough funds to stage more attacks." Some $130 million of al Qaeda's money has already been blocked by banks.

"If you compare the number of millions blocked all over the world and the estimate of Osama bin Laden's worth and that of his group, you come to the conclusion that there is a lot of money not yet found," says Swiss top law enforcement officer Valentin Roschacher.

What does it mean when he says "most of the wealth is now in gold and diamonds" - a few million? Tens of million? Hundreds of million? Billions? And is there any evidence?

Those blanket statements suggesting that terrorists are sitting on heaps of diamonds are being made with increasing frequency. Occasionally, some arrests are reported involving small fry with at best, a spurious or questionable connection to diamonds.

To frighten the industry and its customers with these repeated and hardly supported claims cannot serve any purpose. We have said it in the past - and will say it again. Either show proof or exercise more verbal restraint - but don't recklessly impair the integrity of (and confidence in) an entire industry. Mr. Roschacher, please take note.