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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.

Advertisement '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

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2002

Answers

I wonder how much of the reconstituted AQ is due to all those prisoners let go in Afghanistan? And did we really want them released so that we could attempt to mop up any sleeper cells they might contact?

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2002

Maybe we should install a prisoner camp in Antartica. Not to worry about the cold, I'm sure there are folks willing to donate articles of clothing.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2002

Old Git,

I don't think the .gov wanted those prisioners released, and I think it caused a bit of tension between us and the Paks.

As much trouble as we are having hunting down those which may/may not remain there, the .mil knows that they won't be able to keep track of the 100's that were released.

I'm sure they have scattered.

There are reports that OBL surfaced in Saudi about 3 weeks ago, and has been caught on film. (Still shots I suppose...) I wouldn't doubt it. There are also reports that some of his gang are working with some of the Kurds that don't like the US. Wonder if they are planning on working with us, all the while working against us. What better way to take advantage of any of our troops that may be stationed right beside them?

Things aren't looking to good right about now. :(

I will SO love the day that hubby gets to hand in that blasted beeper to never have to carry that particular one anymore.

Stay alert, and stay safe.

apoc

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2002