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CIA, FBI Say Al Qaeda Still a Serious Threat
Aired February 11, 2003 - 14:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: New information today on the reasons behind the heightened terror alert. Top U.S. intelligence officials say al Qaeda may be planning to use chemical or radioactive materials against U.S. targets and it could happen in the next few days.
CNN's Kelli Arena joining us live from Washington with the details.
Kelli, what can you tell us?
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Kyra, today's briefing before Congress brought home three major points. The first, that al Qaeda remains a potent threat and is determined to strike the United States. The second, that the CIA believes that there is a link between al Qaeda operatives and Iraq. And third, that if there is a war with Iraq, intelligence officials believe Saddam Hussein would use weapons of mass destruction against the United States if he has them. Now, on the issue of the al Qaeda threat, the CIA director warned of a major attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE TENET, CIA DIRECTOR: The intelligence is not idle chatter on the part of terrorists or their associates. It is the most specific we have seen and it is consistent with both our knowledge of al Qaeda's doctrine and our knowledge of plots in this network and particularly its senior leadership has been working for years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: FBI Director Robert Mueller focused directly on the threat that could exist within U.S. borders. He said that there are hundreds of so-called al Qaeda sympathizers in the United States. And talked about his concern about possible terror cells.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: Our greatest threat is from al Qaeda cells in the United States that we have not yet been able to identify. Finding and rooting out al Qaeda members once they have entered the United States and have had time to establish themselves is our most serious intelligence and law enforcement challenge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: As for the connection between al Qaeda and Iraq, tenet referred Congress back to Abu Al Zarqawi, a close associate of Osama bin Laden.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TENET: In part of this Zarqawi network in Baghdad are two dozen Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which is indistinguishable from al Qaeda operatives, who are aiding the Zarqawi network and two senior planners who have been in Baghdad since last May. Now, whether there is a base or whether there is not a ways, they are operating freely, supporting the Zarqawi network that's supporting the poisons network in Europe and around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: As for Osama bin Laden and what information officials may have about him, the CIA director said that he would not discuss that in an open session. There is a closed session scheduled for this afternoon to discuss classified information. And one could assume that Osama bin Laden will come up then.
Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: Kelli Arena, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 11, 2003 - 14:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: New information today on the reasons behind the heightened terror alert. Top U.S. intelligence officials say al Qaeda may be planning to use chemical or radioactive materials against U.S. targets and it could happen in the next few days.
CNN's Kelli Arena joining us live from Washington with the details.
Kelli, what can you tell us?
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Kyra, today's briefing before Congress brought home three major points. The first, that al Qaeda remains a potent threat and is determined to strike the United States. The second, that the CIA believes that there is a link between al Qaeda operatives and Iraq. And third, that if there is a war with Iraq, intelligence officials believe Saddam Hussein would use weapons of mass destruction against the United States if he has them. Now, on the issue of the al Qaeda threat, the CIA director warned of a major attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE TENET, CIA DIRECTOR: The intelligence is not idle chatter on the part of terrorists or their associates. It is the most specific we have seen and it is consistent with both our knowledge of al Qaeda's doctrine and our knowledge of plots in this network and particularly its senior leadership has been working for years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: FBI Director Robert Mueller focused directly on the threat that could exist within U.S. borders. He said that there are hundreds of so-called al Qaeda sympathizers in the United States. And talked about his concern about possible terror cells.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: Our greatest threat is from al Qaeda cells in the United States that we have not yet been able to identify. Finding and rooting out al Qaeda members once they have entered the United States and have had time to establish themselves is our most serious intelligence and law enforcement challenge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: As for the connection between al Qaeda and Iraq, tenet referred Congress back to Abu Al Zarqawi, a close associate of Osama bin Laden.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TENET: In part of this Zarqawi network in Baghdad are two dozen Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which is indistinguishable from al Qaeda operatives, who are aiding the Zarqawi network and two senior planners who have been in Baghdad since last May. Now, whether there is a base or whether there is not a ways, they are operating freely, supporting the Zarqawi network that's supporting the poisons network in Europe and around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: As for Osama bin Laden and what information officials may have about him, the CIA director said that he would not discuss that in an open session. There is a closed session scheduled for this afternoon to discuss classified information. And one could assume that Osama bin Laden will come up then.
Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: Kelli Arena, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
