CIA and FBI chiefs on terror threats

(11 Feb 2003) SHOTLIST 1. Senate Select Intelligence Committee 2. SOUNDBITE (English) CIA Director George Tenet: "As you know, last week, the United States raised the terrorist threat level. We did so because of reports from multiple sources with strong al-Qaida ties. The information we have points toward plots on two fronts, in the United States and on the Arabian Peninsula. It contains information timed to coincide with the end of the Hajj, which occurs later this week, and it points to the use of a radiological dispersal device, as well as poisons and chemicals. The intelligence is not idle chatter on the part of terrorists or their associates. It is the most specific we have seen." 3. Chairman Pat Roberts, Republican of Kansas 4. SOUNDBITE (English) CIA Director George Tenet: "We see disturbing signs that al-Qaida has established a presence in both Iran and Iraq. In addition, we are concerned that al-Qaida continues to find refuge in the hinterlands of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Al-Qaida is also establishing and refining new means of attack, including the use of surface-to-air missiles, poisons and air, surface and underwater methods to attack maritime targets." 5. SOUNDBITE (English) FBI Director Robert Mueller: "FBI investigation has revealed Islamic militants in the United States. We strongly suspect that several hundred of these extremists are linked to al-Qaida. The focus of their activities is primarily on fund raising and recruitment and training. Their support structure, however, is sufficiently well developed that one or two groups could be mobilised by al-Qaida to carry out operations in the United States homeland." 6. Pan of hearing STORYLINE The al-Qaida terrorist network remains a "resourceful, merciless" foe, dedicated to committing more attacks against the United States and its interests around the world, the head of the FBI told Congress on Tuesday. In a joint appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Robert Mueller and CIA Director George J. Tenet painted a chilling portrait of an enemy who seeks to use chemical, biological and radiological weapons against Americans and might target lightly guarded places such as shopping centres or universities. The testimony came 17 months to the day since the September 11 2001, attacks in Washington DC, New York and Pennsylvania that are blamed on al-Qaida, led by Osama bin Laden. The appearance by Mueller and Tenet also coincided with a recent upgrading of the national terrorist threat level from "elevated" to "high". Tenet said intelligence pointed to attacks that could occur this week to coincide with the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, possibly using a "dirty bomb" that spews out radiological material. Both Mueller and Tenet said their agencies were far better prepared to detect and prevent terrorists than they were prior to the 2001 attacks. The new Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman, Republican Pat Roberts of Kansas, said he also was seeing signs of improvement. Mueller and Tenet were to give the committee a classified briefing on terrorism later on Tuesday. Mueller was presenting the FBI's first-ever National Terrorist Threat Assessment, a version of which had been completed on September 10, 2001. It has now been rewritten, in part to reflect the FBI's new top priority of preventing terrorism rather than catching criminals. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...