U.S. Intel Chiefs Say Terrorism, WMD Top Threats

By Joe Fiorill
Global Security Newswire

WASHINGTON — The heads of U.S. civilian and military intelligence today told senators that terrorism is the greatest threat to the United States, with weapons of mass destruction right behind (see GSN, Feb. 7).

The two threats intersect in al-Qaeda's continued WMD quest, according to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte.

“Terrorism is the pre-eminent threat to our citizens, to our homeland, to our interests and to our friends,” Negroponte told the Senate Armed Services Committee during the public portion of a hearing that later went behind closed doors.

Poverty and strife continue to fuel a “global jihadist movement,” Negroponte said, and al-Qaeda will continue to pursue “high-impact attacks” as long as its central command exists and affiliated organizations continue to operate.

“Al-Qaeda remains interested in acquiring chemical, radiological, biological and nuclear materials or weapons,” Negroponte said. He acknowledged. Though, that conventional attacks by the terrorist group remain more likely.

Such concerns, combined with the controversial nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea, make weapons of mass destruction the second-greatest threat to U.S. security, Negroponte said.

Of the WMD threats, Negroponte said, “we are most concerned about the threatening and destabilizing effect of nuclear proliferation.”

Negroponte said the United States does not know what conditions would lead North Korea to renounce nuclear weapons. He and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Michael Maples in testimony expressed particular concern over Iran’s ballistic-missile programs.

“Iran is developing ballistic missiles capable of striking Tel Aviv, and reporting suggests that Iran is acquiring longer-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching central Europe,” Maples said.

Maples said that “terrorism remains the most serious threat to our nation.”  He said al-Qaeda and affiliated groups are especially dangerous.

”Several terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, remain interested in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons,” Maples said.

In addition to echoing Negroponte’s concerns about the nuclear programs of North Korea and Iran, Maples ventured that “the number of Chinese nuclear-armed theater and strategic systems will increase” and that Iran has biological- and chemical-weapon “capabilities in various stages of development.”

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.