U.S. Response:  State and Local Governments Still Lack Funds

Many state and local governments have yet to receive funding from the $3.5 billion package U.S. President George W. Bush proposed more than a year ago to help them bolster their ability to respond to a terrorist attack, the New York Times reported today (see GSN, Jan. 24).

While much of that funding is included in the fiscal 2003 budget approved yesterday by Congressional negotiators, it will take several months before state and local agencies receive any of it, according to the Times.  Because of the delay, many of them have had to put off purchasing equipment that would help personnel respond to a terrorist attack involving weapons of mass destruction, such as protective suits and detection equipment.

“The bottom line for us is that we are no better off than we were on Sept. 11, that we’re not ready for a terrorist strike,” said Mayor John DeStefano of New Haven, Conn., referring to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington.

Emergency responders, such as firefighters and law enforcement officials, have also complained about the lack of promised funding, especially now that the United States is under a heightened sense of alert, the Times reported (see GSN, Feb. 7).

“I find it ironic that my members are being asked this week to respond to a heightened threat to terrorism, and yet we haven’t received a meaningful dollar in the last 16 months of promises,” said Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Senior White House officials agreed that the lack of funding has made it more difficult for state and local governments to prepare for future terrorist attacks.

“They still haven’t seen dime one,” Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said after being sworn in last month.  “They’re frustrated, they’re disappointed, they aren’t happy,” he added (Philip Shenon, New York Times, Feb. 13).

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Threat Assessment:  U.S. Officials Push Link Between Iraq, Al-Qaeda

U.S. officials continued their efforts to link the terrorist organization al-Qaeda with Iraq, the New York Times reported today (see GSN, Feb. 6).

“This nexus between terrorists and states that are developing weapons of mass destruction can no longer be looked away from and ignored,” said U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday during testimony to the Senate Budget Committee.

An audiotape that reportedly features al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden exhorting Muslims to resist a U.S. attack on Iraq shows “that bin Laden and [Iraqi President] Saddam Hussein seem to find common ground,” according to State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.  Powell said the tape demonstrates links between Iraq and al-Qaeda (David Johnston, New York Times, Feb. 12).

The tape said, in part, “The fighting should be in the name of God only, not in the name of national ideologies, nor to seek victory for the ignorant governments that rule all Arab states, including Iraq. … Our mujahedeen brothers in Iraq, do not be horrified about what America is propagating about their force, smart bombs, laser-directed bombs.”

The tape, which Powell said is believed to be authentic, encouraged urban resistance to an invading force (Neil MacFarquhar, New York Times, Feb. 12).

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the tape “underscores what the president and Secretary Powell have said about al-Qaeda linking up with Iraq.”

“Secretary Powell already demonstrated proof of the link at the operative level.  This adds further proof that the leader of the operatives, if this is indeed Osama bin Laden, is exhorting them to link up with ‘our mujahedeen brothers in Iraq,’” Fleischer said.

CIA chief George Tenet also pushed the connection.

“Iraq has in the past provided training in document forgery and bomb making to al-Qaeda,” Tenet said.  “It has also provided training in poisons and gases to two al-Qaeda associates.  One of these associates characterized the relationship he forged with Iraqi officials as successful,” he told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence yesterday.

“This information is based on a solid foundation of intelligence,” Tenet added.  “It comes to us from credible and reliable sources.  Much of it is corroborated by multiple sources, and it is consistent with the pattern of denial and deception exhibited by Saddam Hussein over the past 12 years,” he said (Johnston, New York Times).

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Threat Assessment:  Terrorists Present ‘Clear and Present Danger,” CIA Director Says

By David Ruppe
Global Security Newswire

WASHINGTON ð– The United States faces a “clear and present danger posed by terrorists,” CIA Director George Tenet told Congress this morning, citing suspected al-Qaeda plots to attack with chemical and radiological weapons (see GSN, Feb. 10).

He also said the national security environment is “significantly more complex than that of a year ago,” pointing to Iraq’s suspected weapons of mass destruction, its possible links to terrorism and North Korea’s reported efforts to produce highly enriched uranium (see GSN, Feb. 3).

Tenet and another official said some of the intelligence community’s resources were being stretched thin.

Tenet identified two other national security challenges that he said add to the complexity of the U.S. security situation.  They are, he said, vast areas of the world such as the Afghan-Pakistani border “where extremist movements find shelter and can win the breathing space to grow” and issues of hunger, disease and displacement, “that produce large populations of disaffected youth who are prime recruits for our extremist foes.”

While “not occupying space on the front pages,” those challenges “demand a constant level of scrutiny,” he said.

Tenet indicated, however, that a suspected al-Qaeda plot to attack the United States was the most pressing security concern, saying the United States last week raised its terrorist threat level “because of threat reporting from multiple sources with strong al-Qaeda ties” (see GSN, Feb. 7).

“I can tell you that the threat from al-Qaeda remains, even though we have made important strides in the war against terrorism,” he said.

Tenet appeared along with FBI Director Robert Mueller, Defense Intelligence Agency Director Vice Admiral Lowell Jacoby, and a Assistant Secretary of State Carl Fordat an annual hearing on worldwide threats before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (see GSN, Feb. 7, 2002).

FBI Director Mueller also said potential al-Qaeda terrorism was the most pressing threat to the United States and said hundreds of Muslim extremists linked to al-Qaeda were in the United States and that identifying cells of those extremists is the bureau’s greatest concern.

Questions of Limited Resources

Critics have raised concern that a possible war against Iraq, for which the Bush administration is preparing forces, could divert resources from efforts to address the international terrorist threat.

Asked whether U.S. intelligence capabilities are being stretched thin in light of the many national security concerns facing the United States, Tenet said the intelligence community was having some difficulty covering areas where terrorists might find safe haven.

“It’s worth thinking about that very, very hard, and what the resource implications are,” he said.

Jacoby said the DIA’s resources were overextended, citing the need to provide information on the U.S. “global war on terrorism,” Iraq, North Korea, as well as emerging crises.

“Our sustained level of crisis and operational commitment is straining personnel, equipment, and resources, and reducing time for ‘sustaining’ activities such as training, education, data base maintenance, and longer-term research and analysis,” he said.

Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) said suspected al-Qaeda threats, suspected Iraqi WMD development and support for terrorism, and suspected North Korean nuclear weapons development, “are all interrelated.”

“I think we make a dangerous assumption of trying to grade one over the other, they are all equally extremely important as regards to our vital national security,” he said.

Suspected Chemical, Radiological Plots

Tenet said the CIA suspects there are plots to attack the United States using chemical and radiological weapons and said al-Qaeda was developing and refining various new means of attack.

“The information we have points to plots aimed at targets on two fronts, in the United States and on the Arabian Peninsula.  It points to plots timed to occur as early as the end of the Hajj, which occurs late this week.  And it points to plots that could include the use of a radiological dispersion device as well as poisons and chemicals,” he said.

The intelligence on the suspected plots “is not idle chatter” on the part of terrorists and their associates, he said. 

“It is the most specific we have seen, and it is consistent with both our knowledge of al-Qaeda doctrine and our knowledge of plots this network, and particularly its senior leadership, has been working on for years,” he said.

“If given the choice, al Qaeda terrorists will choose attacks that achieve multiple objectives — striking prominent landmarks, inflicting mass casualties, causing economic disruption, rallying support through shows of strength,” he said.

For further information, see:

Tenet’s prepared testimony

Mueller’s prepared testimony

Jacoby’s prepared testimony

Ford’s prepared testimony

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U.S. Response:  Residents Should Stockpile Supplies, Officials Say

U.S. families should prepare a three-day stockpile of food and water, along with other supplies, to have on hand in the event of a terrorist attack involving weapons of mass destruction, U.S. officials said yesterday (see GSN, Feb. 10).

In addition to having quantities of food set aside, families should also choose a room in their house where they will gather in the event of a WMD attack, and have available duct tape and plastic sheeting needed to seal it, officials said.  They also recommended that families have a stockpile of emergency items, including scissors, blankets, radios and spare batteries.

“We see information on citizen preparedness as prudent planning,” said Homeland Security Department spokesman Gordon Johndroe.  “It’s appropriate for citizens to be informed about how to respond to a terrorist attack, much as people have prepared for years to be ready for tornadoes, hurricanes or floods,” he said.

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, U.S. officials have often been criticized for issuing vague terrorism threat alerts without providing the public with information on what steps to take to protect themselves, according to Washington Post.  The new intelligence information indicating that U.S. residents could be targeted with weapons of mass destruction has made it more difficult to balance the need to alert people to the threat without causing undue panic, terrorism experts said.

“While police departments and local governments have a menu of steps they take in reaction to the higher threat alerts, private citizens don’t, and there’s not a hell of a lot an ordinary citizen can do,” said Brian Jenkins, a Rand Corp. counterterrorism specialist.  “That creates consternation, maybe even an atmosphere of terror that terrorists want to create.  And so that leads the government now to try to offer advice to people,” he added.

U.S. officials have begun to study the public preparedness campaign Israel launched before the Gulf War, when families there were given supplies to protect themselves from possible Iraqi chemical weapons attacks, said Randall Larsen, director of the Anser Institute for Homeland Security.

“The Israelis learned one main task is psychologically preparing the population,” Larsen said.  “Americans need to be prepared the way the Israelis are.  The most important message we could send to terrorists after the next attack is get up and go to work the next morning,” he added.

U.S. officials have taken a number of actions to help increase homeland security since elevating the terrorism alert level Friday to “orange,” indicating a high risk of attack, according to the Post.  Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge held a conference call with 66 corporate executives in charge of U.S. energy facilities urging them to increase security.  Owners of large buildings have also been advised to secure air-intake equipment to prevent possible chemical attacks, the Post reported. 

“The announcement on Friday was a signal to private industry and to state and local officials that more actions need to be taken,” Johndroe said (John Mintz, Washington Post, Feb. 11).

New York Police on the Lookout

Meanwhile, New York police are investigating a possible terrorist plot involving individuals armed with “conventional or improvised weapons,” according to the New York Post.

An alert issued by the New York Police Department’s counterterrorism unit warns law enforcement officials to be aware of “unusual conditions and activities” that might occur before an attack.  Police should be prepared for the “release of toxic substances in populated and contained environments,” the alert said.

New York subway riders are concerned about a possible underground attack, the Post reported.

“Just keep your eyes open and your fingers crossed,” said Andrew Washington, a 28-year-old bank teller from Manhattan.  “That’s all we can do,” he added (Celona/Lisi, New York Post, Feb. 11).

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International Response:  Annan Reappoints Al-Qaeda Monitoring Panel

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan last week renewed for one year a U.N. panel responsible for monitoring sanctions imposed on al-Qaeda and the Taliban (see GSN, Jan. 22).  In a letter to the U.N. Security Council, Annan said he had reappointed the five-member panel, headed by British delegate Michael Chandler, through Jan. 17, 2004, according to a U.N. press release.  The panel was reappointed without any changes to its membership (U.N. release, Feb. 6).

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Threat Assessment:  U.S. Threat Level Raised to “Orange”

The White House today raised the U.S. terrorism alert level to “orange,” indicating a high risk of attack, according to CNN.com (see GSN, Sept. 10, 2002).  The United States had previously been on “yellow” alert, which indicated an elevated risk of attack.

U.S. officials recommended that Bush increase the threat level after several days of debate within the administration, according to sources.  Today’s action will be only the second time the terrorism alert level has been increased (Kelli Arena, CNN.com, Feb. 7).

The U.S. State Department also issued a worldwide terrorist alert yesterday, warning U.S. citizens of a heightened threat of attacks, including suicide attacks and kidnappings, according to the Associated Press (see GSN, Feb. 5). 

“The Department of State reminds Americans that U.S. citizens and interests are at a heightened risk of terrorist attacks by groups with links to al-Qaeda,” the alert said.

While terrorist attacks using conventional weapons pose a more immediate danger, “terrorist use of nonconventional weapons, including chemical or biological agents, must be considered a growing threat,” the alert said (Associated Press/Foxnews.com, Feb. 7).

CIA, FBI Warn of Threats

The new terrorist warnings come as the CIA and the FBI have both warned of possible terrorist attacks against U.S. targets both here and abroad, according to reports.

The CIA believes that al-Qaeda operatives are planning at least two attacks against U.S. interests by the middle of this month, according to the New York Daily News.  The attacks, which would coincide with the end of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca known as the hajj, could involve the use of radiological weapons, the Daily News reported (see GSN, Jan. 31).

Al-Qaeda operatives might attempt attacks that “potentially could involve a radiological dispersal device,” and could combine large-scale efforts with  “smaller attacks at multiple places around the world,” a CIA warning said.

U.S. officials have learned of planned attacks against targets both within the United States and in Saudi Arabia, according to the CIA warning.  Al-Qaeda operatives are also planning a possible attack against the U.S. consulate in Lahore, Pakistan, as soon as next week, the warning said (James Gordon Meek, New York Daily News, Feb. 7).

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft warned of an increased risk of a terrorist attack against “lightly secured targets,” such as apartment buildings and hotels (Curt Anderson, Associated Press/Washington Post, Feb. 6).

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