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Al-Qaeda down but not out: CIA director
Despite the reverses it has suffered following the US war on terrorism, Osama Bin Laden`s al-Qaeda network has yet to be destroyed and could target US installations and infrastructure nodes around the world, CIA Director George Tenet has said.
Despite the reverses it has suffered following the US war on terrorism, Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network has yet to be destroyed and could target US installations and infrastructure nodes around the world, CIA Director George Tenet has said.
"Al-Qaeda has not yet been destroyed. It and other like-minded groups remain willing and able to strike us," Tenet said on Tuesday in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The US has made enormous progress against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and had disrupted its global operations with the arrests of 1,300 peopleqr in 70 countries but the terror group and its associates would continue to plan attacks on US and its interests abroad, Tenet said.
"American diplomatic and military installations are at high risk, especially in East Africa, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan," he said.
The modus operandi of terrorists was to have multiple attack plans in the works simultaneously, and to have al-Qaeda cells in place to conduct them, he said. "Operations could be launched by al-Qaeda cells already in place in major European cities and Middle East."
Tenet also revealed that terrorists have considered attacks in the US against high profile government or private facilities, famous landmarks and infrastructure nodes such as airports, bridges, harbours, dams and financial centres.
"A convergence of threats to the US has created a world in which dangers exist not only in those places where it has most often focused its attention but also in other areas that demand it," he said. "Make no mistake. Despite the battles we have won in Afghanistan, we remain a nation at war."
US was also concerned that the terror outfit could launch unconventional attacks.
"Terrorist groups worldwide have ready access to information on chemical, biological and even nuclear weapons through open sources," he said.
Bureau Report
"American diplomatic and military installations are at high risk, especially in East Africa, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan," he said.
The modus operandi of terrorists was to have multiple attack plans in the works simultaneously, and to have al-Qaeda cells in place to conduct them, he said. "Operations could be launched by al-Qaeda cells already in place in major European cities and Middle East."
Tenet also revealed that terrorists have considered attacks in the US against high profile government or private facilities, famous landmarks and infrastructure nodes such as airports, bridges, harbours, dams and financial centres.
"A convergence of threats to the US has created a world in which dangers exist not only in those places where it has most often focused its attention but also in other areas that demand it," he said. "Make no mistake. Despite the battles we have won in Afghanistan, we remain a nation at war."
US was also concerned that the terror outfit could launch unconventional attacks.
"Terrorist groups worldwide have ready access to information on chemical, biological and even nuclear weapons through open sources," he said.
Bureau Report