Intel report: Al-Qaida aiming at US

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/12/07 | Katherine Shrader - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - Al-Qaida is stepping up its efforts to sneak terror operatives into the United States and has acquired most of the capabilities it needs to strike here, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment, The Associated Press has learned.

The draft National Intelligence Estimate is expected to paint an ever-more-worrisome portrait of al-Qaida's ability to use its base along the Pakistan-Afghan border to launch and inspire attacks, even as Bush administration officials say the U.S. is safer nearly six years into the war on terror.

Among the key findings of the classified estimate, which is still in draft form and must be approved by all 16 U.S. spy agencies:

• Al-Qaida is probably still pursuing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons and would use them if its operatives developed sufficient capability.

• The terror group has been able to restore three of the four key tools it would need to launch an attack on U.S. soil: a safe haven in Pakistan's tribal areas, operational lieutenants and senior leaders. It could not immediately be learned what the missing fourth element is.

• The group will bolster its efforts to position operatives inside U.S. borders. In public statements, U.S. officials have expressed concern about the ease with which people can enter the United States through Europe because of a program that allows most Europeans to enter without visas.

The document also discusses increasing concern about individuals already inside the United States who are adopting an extremist brand of Islam.

National Intelligence Estimates are the most authoritative written judgments that reflect the consensus long-term thinking of senior intelligence analysts.

Government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the report has not been finalized, described it as an expansive look at potential threats within the United States and said it required the cooperation of a number of national security agencies, including the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security Department and National Counterterrorism Center.

National security officials met at the White House on Thursday about the intelligence estimate and related counterterrorism issues. The tentative plan is to release a declassified version of the report and brief Congress on Tuesday, one government official said.

Ross Feinstein, spokesman for National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell, declined to discuss the document's specific contents. But he said it would be consistent with statements made by senior government officials at congressional hearings and elsewhere.

The estimate echoes the findings of another analysis prepared by the National Counterterrorism Center earlier this year and disclosed publicly on Wednesday. That report — titled "Al-Qaida better positioned to strike the West" — found the terrorist group is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," a counterterrorism official familiar with the reports findings told The Associated Press.

On Thursday, news of the counterterrorism center's threat assessment renewed the political debate about the nature of the al-Qaida threat and whether U.S. actions — in Iraq in particular — have made the U.S. safer from terrorism.

At a news conference Thursday, President Bush acknowledged al-Qaida's continuing threat to the United States and used the new report as evidence his administration's policies are on the right course.

"The same folks that are bombing innocent people in Iraq were the ones who attacked us in America on Sept. 11," he said. "That's why what happens in Iraq matters to security here at home."

Yet Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said Iraq has distracted the United States. He said the U.S. should have finished off al-Qaida in 2002 and 2003 along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

Instead, "President Bush chose to invade Iraq, thereby diverting our military and intelligence resources away from the real war on terrorism," Rockefeller said. "Threats to the United States homeland are not emanating from Iraq. They are coming from al-Qaida leadership."

He called for the U.S. to end its involvement in what he called the Iraqi civil war.

In recent weeks, senior national security officials have been increasingly worried about an al-Qaida attack in the United States.

Appearing on a half-dozen morning TV shows Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff laid out a list of factors contributing to his "gut feeling" that the nation faces a higher risk of attack this summer: al-Qaida's increased freedom to train in South Asia, a flurry of public statements from the network's leadership, a history of summertime attacks, a broader range of attacks in North Africa and Europe, and homegrown terrorism increasing in Europe.

"Europe could become a platform for an attack against this country," Chertoff told CNN, although he and others continue to say they know of no specific, credible information pointing to an attack here.

National security officials are frustrated by an agreement last year between Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and tribal leaders in western Pakistan, which gave tribes near the Afghan border greater autonomy and has led to increased al-Qaida activity in the region.

Nevertheless, Bush administration officials still view Musharraf as a partner.

Speaking to a congressional hearing, Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said that Pakistan under Musharraf has captured more al-Qaida operatives than any other country and that several major Taliban leaders were captured or killed this year.

"There is a considerable al-Qaida presence at the border, but they are under pressure," Boucher told a House national security subcommittee.

Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., was skeptical, saying Osama bin-Laden and other terrorist leaders apparently feel safe there. "Is this a Motel 6 for terrorists?" he asked.

___

Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Lara Jakes Jordan, Barry Schweid and Deb Riechmann contributed to this report.

[Stultis]

THEYPLAYEDONOURFEARSWITHBUMPERSTICKERS
WHATCOLORCODEISA"GUTFEELING"CHICKENSCO
MINGHOMETOLITTLEEICHMANSBUSHCHIMPYHITL
ERBURTON911INSIDEJOBWEBROUGHTALQAEDA2I
RAQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</BIDS MODE>

[do the dhue]

Say Czar,

I hear you and I understand what you are saying. I don’t know for sure if you respect Ws position on the war or not. I feel like this:

We debated the war before we went. We will debate it when it is over, but during it my support will not waver, tire, falter, or fail. I will support the CnC, our Generals, and the boots on the ground until the end. I don’t want politicians in Congress running the war.

Sure, I stood my post and did not waver on border security too. My position was different from the President and we did battle. It was rather fun too. Now, my position is to show resolve to my enemy and my friends until the bitter end. Or until the Iraqi Government asks us to leave and our Generals and President concurs. The President happens to be on my side with this issue.

I must say too, a lot of issue I side with the President and some I don’t. I said it on another post on this thread: I think he is better to deal with then Ali Gore or Kohn Kerry.

[Czar]

"...but I stnd behind him 100% on Iraq."

I regret that I can now only partially agree. The initial idea and action I think was right, and I agree we need to stay there until the job is finished provided we unleash our military and let them do their job. I do believe the war has not been managed properly, with too many political decisions giving rise to too many entangling rules of engagement that have restrained our magnificent military. Bush will have to accept responsibility for that. Also very disappointing is the lack of real followup on that speech regarding going after any nation that houses, supports or assists the terrorists--what punishment has been levied on Syria, Egypt, or Iran? We're still waiting for that. Unless the "axis of evil" (remember that one?) starts feeling the pain, and soon, I'm not in favor of forcing our military to continue the mission with one hand tied behind their backs.

Sorry if I disappointed you here, but that's the way I feel about it.

[Czar]

Ping to #103—I hope that will answer your questions.

[pissant]

I read different material than you. We are kicking ass over there and have been for a long time. My cousin is flying copters there now and he’s pretty upbeat.

[Taffini]

Well, what does his gut say?

Where?

When?

How?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Czar]

"We are kicking ass over there and have been for a long time."

Hope you're right. Nothing would please me more.

However, Bush's "preliminary report" speech this morning would seem to fall appreciably short of where we could and should be by now.

[pissant]

There’s little doubt that starting Gen. Patreus’ plan two years ago would have been ideal. Unfortunately, neither the Iraqi Gov’t nor their military was strong enough to help us sustain it.

[Borax Queen]

BTTT

[nicmarlo]

I stand 100% behind everything you said, Czar, as I see things exactly the same. Well said!

[do the dhue]

It does answer my question. You surely have a right to say what you are saying and I understand too.

I feel that I would abandon my post, if I sided up with the House. I am on SandRat’s ping list and I see a lot of good news. I think we have a chance, if we show resolve.

I think I read a Free Republic post that said something like, just because we quit does not mean that our enemy will quit.

I understand that. We are not doing this just for the Iraqi people. I think it is for everybody.

Here is something that makes me feel good. I read where we are killing al qeada in Iraq. I like that. Some folks say that we are creating a breeding ground for al qeada in Iraq. OK, good. I have seen a lot of film showing people burning my flag and hatin’ my guts from over there for a long time. Well, those who would burn my flag and hate my guts would join al qeada. They would join an organization where they just may find themselves placed on a 747 somewhere. At least we are whacking the vermon over there.

I think that the Iraqi people will get sick of bombs going off before we should. Once the Iraqi people see that their kids can play in the street when the Coalition Forces are around and not when al qeada is a around, things might change.

The surge has had its total number fulfilled in the last three weeks. A lot of good things have been happening since the surge began. Hopefully, it will start to turn to good things in the Congress. But remember this, our Congress can’t get along. Don’t expect the Iraqi Congress to jump tall buildings in a single bound.

But I really think that this is the biggest problem:

[popdonnelly]

“Without journalists to tell me things like this, where would I be?”

The journalists only bring it up so they can blame Bush.

[popdonnelly]

“are you certain that no Al-Qaeda memebers have breached the wide-open border to enter this country?”

I’m certain that some Al-Qaida members have.

[jveritas]

I found out about this by reading and listening to terrorists websites! I hope that they work on catching the terrorists rather than leak a non finished intelligence draft for the defeatists and traitors to abuse it, misinterpret it, and use it against President Bush.

[jveritas]

Instead, "President Bush chose to invade Iraq, thereby diverting our military and intelligence resources away from the real war on terrorism," Rockefeller said. "Threats to the United States homeland are not emanating from Iraq. They are coming from al-Qaida leadership."

Hey idiot Rockefeller, Al Qaeda also came to Iraq not only from Afganistan but from all over the world to fight us and it is in Iraq where we are annihilating them. Iraq is a much more reason to attract Al Qaeda than Afghanistan and that is why Iraq is the center front of the war on terror and that why we cannot leave before we crush the terrorists there. Whether we meant or not Iraq end up being the ultimatr front to destroy Al Qaeda and other islamic terrorists, it was a stroke of genious whether it was intended or not.

[jveritas]

genious =genius

[hinckley buzzard]

National Intelligence Estimates are the most authoritative written judgments that reflect the consensus long-term thinking of senior intelligence analysts.

Boy are we in trouble.

[hinckley buzzard]

Better yet: zip-lock. The biggest darn ziplock baggie you ever seen.

Nah. Not Zip-Lok. Tupperware. That's the ticket. Just don't forget to burp Juarez.

[b4its2late]

Sure glad the democrats are on board with this whole war on terror thing..... /sarcasm

[DilJective]

What? Are you saying that we need to be worried about such "Non-Global Warming" threats? /sarc

If the media showed pictures of illegals crossing over in incandescent-light powered SUVs there would be NO outrage from the leftists/eco-fruitcakes. But, if we could somehow tie in illegals' anti-abortion agenda, the border would be lined with Birkenstocks and tie-dye! (I'm surprised any news gets out there with all this Live Earth stuff).