How serious should we take future terrorist threats articles vs. war propoganda?
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Report says al-Qaida seeks to attack U.S. By KATHERINE SHRADER and ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writers
10 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The terrorist network Al-Qaida will likely leverage its contacts and capabilities in Iraq to mount an attack on U.S. soil, according to a new National Intelligence Estimate on threats to the American homeland.
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The declassified key findings, to be released publicly on Tuesday, were obtained in advance by The Associated Press.
The report lays out a range of dangers — from al-Qaida to Lebanese Hezbollah to non-Muslim radical groups — that pose a "persistent and evolving threat" to the country over the next three years. As expected, however, the findings focus most of their attention on the gravest terror problem: Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.
The report makes clear that al-Qaida in Iraq, which has not yet posed a direct threat to U.S. soil, could become a problem here.
"Of note," the analysts said, "we assess that al-Qaida will probably seek to leverage the contacts and capabilities of al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI), its most visible and capable affiliate and the only one known to have expressed a desire to attack the homeland."
The analysts also found that al-Qaida's association with its Iraqi affiliate helps the group to energize the broader Sunni Muslim extremist community, raise resources and recruit and indoctrinate operatives — "including for homeland attacks."
National Intelligence Estimates are the most authoritative written judgments of the 16 spy agencies across the breadth of the U.S. government. These agencies reflect the consensus, long-term thinking of top intelligence analysts. Portions of the documents are occasionally declassified for public release.
The new report echoed statements made by senior intelligence officials over the last year, but provided some new depth on their thinking and concerns.
For instance, the report says that worldwide counterterrorism efforts since 2001 have constrained al-Qaida's ability to attack the U.S. again and convinced terror groups that U.S. soil is a tougher target.
But, the report quickly adds, analysts are concerned "that this level of international cooperation may wane as 9/11 becomes a more distant memory and perceptions of the threat diverge."
Among the report's other findings:
_Al-Qaida is likely to continue to focus on high-profile political, economic and infrastructure targets to cause mass casualties, visually dramatic destruction, economic aftershocks and fear. "The group is proficient with conventional small arms and improvised explosive devices and is innovative in creating new capabilities and overcoming security obstacles."
_The group has been able to restore key elements it would need to launch an attack on U.S. soil: a safe haven in Pakistan's tribal areas, operational lieutenants and senior leaders.
_The group will continue to seek weapons of mass destruction — chemical, biological or nuclear material — and "would not hesitate to use them."
_Lebanese Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim extremist group that has conducted anti-American attacks overseas, may be more likely to consider attacking here, especially if it believes the United States is directly threatening the group or its main sponsor, Iran.
_Non-Muslim terrorist groups probably will attack here in the next several years, although on a smaller scale. The judgments don't name any specific groups, but the FBI often warns of violent environmental groups, such as Earth Liberation Front, and others
Answers:
The Senate starts debate on a $648 Billion Defense Appropriation with an Ammendment calling for U.S. Troop Withdrawal to begin from 120 days of signing and by COINCIDENCE ...an intelligence estimate reports the growing threat of al Qaeda appears this week...
it's almost like the old subliminal messages in movie theaters telling you to buy popcorn...
(fear...obedience...patriotism...
fear...obedience ...patriotism...stay the course... "support the troops"...more money for military occupation...)
There is not much we can do except remain vigilent. All that this report proves is that the iraq war is not preventing terrorism, only creating more terrorists.
Homeland security is perpetrating its own existence with imaginary threats.
Boy are you gullible to believe all that propaganda, if everything you just wrote were turned around the truth would shine like high noon, you watch too much Fox News!
We all can die at any minute from all sorts of things. Big deal. To destroy our civil liberties because of that, or to put ourselves in a constant state of stress, is insane.
i think we also have to ponder on the broad definitions of terrorism...even our governments can fall to it, you know, state terrorism...
I truly do believe that there will be terrorist attacks in the US and Europe soon. The situation in the Middle East is getting to be a bigger problem.
Just look at 9/11. We didn't think that there would be a terrorist attack, but they did attack us, nevertheless (even though we were alert), and look what happened to us. I pray to God that that doesn't happen again. 3000 people died, rest their souls.
I think the boy cried wolf so many times that now he is not believed!
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