Al-Qaeda rising from the ashes, warns the CIA (Terrorism Regrouped planning attacks on U.S. )

The Straits Times ^ | 10/18.02 | The Straits Times

[USA21]

Al-Qaeda rising from the ashes, warns the CIA

Regrouped network planning attacks on U.S.

WASHINGTON - The Al-Qaeda terrorist network has reorganised, is in an 'execution phase', and intends to attack Americans overseas and on United States soil, amid a threat situation as serious as in the months leading up to last year's Sept 11 attacks.

'The threat environment we find ourselves in today is as bad as it was last summer, the summer before Sept 11,' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director George Tenet said in testimony before the Joint House-Senate panel examining the performance of US intelligence agencies before the attacks on New York and Washington.

'It is serious, they've reconstituted, they are coming after us, they want to execute attacks.'

He also issued this dire assessment during his testimony on Thursday.

'When you see the multiple attacks that you've seen occur around the world, from Bali to Kuwait, the number of failed attacks that have been attempted, the various messages that have been issued by senior Al-Qaeda leaders, you must make the assumption that Al-Qaeda is in an execution phase and intends to strike us both here and overseas, that's unambiguous as far as I am concerned,' he said.

'They plan in multiple theatres of operation. They intend to strike again.'

The warning was not the first such assessment from the US intelligence chief but it was his starkest warning yet of another attack.

The CIA director said he met Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge on Thursday and would be meeting him again, adding that administration officials had 'taken action in sectors we're most concerned about'.

Other intelligence officials said analysts who have followed the string of terror attacks over the last two weeks in Yemen, Kuwait and Indonesia were particularly concerned about strikes on oil shipments from the Middle East and on targets in the US described only as 'economic'.

The threat information has often proved real, even when details such as time or location are not known.

Earlier this month, a French oil tanker was attacked off the coast of Yemen by terrorists believed to be part of Al-Qaeda.

US officials learnt from interviews with Muhammad al-Darbi, an Al-Qaeda member captured in Yemen in August, that a Yemen cell was planning an attack on a Western oil tanker, sources said.

Similarly, in late September, US intelligence officials learnt of a communication from leaders of the South-east Asian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah directing followers to attack Western targets, including tourist sites such as Bali, government sources said.

As was the case in the months before the Sept 11 attacks, when Mr Tenet tried urgently to alert administration officials to an imminent, if unspecified threat, he said on Thursday that he did not know the dates, times or places likely to be struck in the future.

The CIA chief's assessment came during the last public session of the joint panel, a 6 1/2-hour hearing that also included Federal Bureau of Investigation director Robert Mueller and Lt-General Michael Hayden, director of the National Security Agency.

All three, responding to what has been a barrage of criticism over missed clues and poor communication among their agencies prior to Sept 11, conceded that mistakes had been made, but praised their employees as hardworking heroes. --New York Times, WashingtonPost, Reuters

[exnavy]

Not surprised, these loonies are not going to stop until the last infidel is bleeding to death.

[USA21]

House OKs Visa For Border Students (The legislation, passed by Voice Vote!!!!!)

[jwalsh07]

Al-Qaeda rising from the ashes

No problem, we're retooled.

[MHGinTN]

There is another thread running with the premise that these murderers are planning major strikes in Europe. Frankly, I don't see the al Qaeda demons as that stooopid because it is the appeasement mentality of the Europeans, especially the Frogs, that works against U.S. efforts against terrorism world-wide. The only thing these freaks might be hoping for is a world-wide war between Islamism and civilization ... and that has been one of their dreams all along.

[Cicero]

It must have occurred to the Muslims that they will have a pretty good shot at taking over Europe. While most European countries are aborting themselves into oblivion, with birth rates far below replacement levels, they have been welcoming in more and more Muslim guest workers. These workers have lots of kids. Within a century, Muslim minorities are likely to become majorities, if these trends continue.

So it would seem that the smart thing would be for them to stay quiet and multiply. But people don't always do the smart thing. Especially, fanatical Muslim terrorists don't have a lot of time for logic.

[Dialup Llama]

>So it would seem that the smart thing would be for them to stay quiet and multiply.

But the Koran says to start jihad at the first moment even if it is only vain, suicide attacks.

[truth_seeker]

"It must have occurred to the Muslims that they will have a pretty good shot at taking over Europe."

If you check the CIA Factbook website, you'll observe that Muslims comprise LESS than 5% in all major european countries. The citizenry of those countries do NOT want more muslims, in their midst.

They will pressure governments to curtail immigration. This pressure will INCREASE as further terror incidents take place. And incidents will continue.