Intel chief: al-Qaeda likely to attempt attack

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — al-Qaeda can be expected to attempt an attack on the United States in the next three to six months, senior U.S. intelligence officials told Congress.

The terrorist organization is deploying operatives to the United States to carry out new attacks from inside the country, including "clean" recruits with a negligible trail of terrorist contacts, CIA Director Leon Panetta said. The chilling warning comes as Christmas airline attack suspect, Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutullab, is cooperating with federal investigators, a federal law enforcement official said Tuesday.

al-Qaeda is also inspiring homegrown extremists to trigger violence on their own, Panetta said.

The annual assessment of the nation's terror threats provided no startling new terror trends, but amplified growing concerns since the Christmas airline attack in Detroit that militants are growing harder to detect and moving more quickly in their plots.

"The biggest threat is not so much that we face an attack like 9/11. It is that al-Qaeda is adapting its methods in ways that oftentimes make it difficult to detect," Panetta told the Senate Intelligence Committee.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-02-03-terror-threats-cia_N.htm

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other headlines:
U.S. intelligence calls al-Qaeda group in Yemen 'foremost concern'
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation-world/bal-te.worldthreat03feb03,0,7462298.story
Al Qaeda poised to try major attack in United States within 3-6 months, intelligence chiefs warn
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/02/03/2010-02-03_intel_bigs_al_qaeda_poised_to_strike_soon.html

related headline:
US State Department Counterterrorism Coordinator Visited Yemen
http://www.eurasiareview.com/2010/02/31573-us-state-department.html

[Shining Jack]

1. K&R

Thanks maddezmom !

[hayu_lol]

2. Looks like our intelligence people have dragged out...

their hidden and secret crystal balls again.

Isn't it time for us to send them shiny new orange and red crayons?

These people don't seem to be very bright do they?

[OnyxCollie]

3. Has Michael Chertoff's gut been consulted yet? nt

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. Oh noes. Terra....terra....terra...n/t

[Mari333]

6. yeah I just duct taped my house for the thousandth time

:P

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. I just leave it up anymore

Actually, I've managed to kill two birds with one stone by using duct tape to put up my Christmas lights. The way I see it terror alerts are like Christmas, they're both going to be rolling around again so why bother taking down the preparations?

[ShortnFiery]

5. If the Intel people do their damn jobs, they'll prevent an attack undetected by the public.

There's NO useful purpose to be gleaned by FEAR-MONGERING the populace save for the "propaganda value" of pushing through some unpopular agenda/legislation. Perhaps more goodies for the MIC or Homeland Security is on the horizon?

[The_Commonist]

7. It's the Annual Threat Assessment.

They kinda have to say this, so that there IS an attack, they've said "we told you so."

[tiny elvis]

9. murderers parachuting from the skies

getting that old sinking feeling

[ConcernedCanuk]

10. SOMEONE is gonna attack the West SOMEWHERE sooner or later

.
.
.

We been slaughtering innocents(as well as some insurgents, mind you) in the Middle East for almost a decade now . .

we're overdue for some retaliation methinks

[bemildred]

11. Definitely a "No shit, Sherlock" nomination.

Did 9/11 give it all away?