Goss fears WMD attack in U.S. 'a matter of time' - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - February 17, 2005:
FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III testified that he is 'very concerned' about the lack of data on a network of al Qaeda 'sleeper' cells in the United States.
'Finding them is a top priority for the FBI, but it is also one of the most difficult challenges,' he said.
'Because of al Qaeda's directed efforts this year to infiltrate covert operatives into the U.S., I am also very concerned with the growing body of sensitive reporting that continues to show al Qaeda's clear intention to obtain and ultimately use some form of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear or high-energy explosives material in its attacks against America,' Mr. Mueller added.
In a related development, a National Intelligence Council (NIC) report made public yesterday stated that terrorists have targeted Russian nuclear weapons storage sites.
In 2002, Russian authorities twice thwarted terrorist efforts to monitor nuclear-weapons storage sites, the report said. Chechen terrorists also have conducted surveillance of Russian rail stations and a train used to move nuclear bombs, said the report from NIC, an analysis group under Mr. Goss.
The report noted that Russian authorities could not have recovered "all the [nuclear] material reportedly stolen."
"We assess that undetected smuggling has occurred, and we are concerned about the total amount of material that could have been diverted or stolen in the last 13 years," the report said.
FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III testified that he is 'very concerned' about the lack of data on a network of al Qaeda 'sleeper' cells in the United States.
'Finding them is a top priority for the FBI, but it is also one of the most difficult challenges,' he said.
'Because of al Qaeda's directed efforts this year to infiltrate covert operatives into the U.S., I am also very concerned with the growing body of sensitive reporting that continues to show al Qaeda's clear intention to obtain and ultimately use some form of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear or high-energy explosives material in its attacks against America,' Mr. Mueller added.
In a related development, a National Intelligence Council (NIC) report made public yesterday stated that terrorists have targeted Russian nuclear weapons storage sites.
In 2002, Russian authorities twice thwarted terrorist efforts to monitor nuclear-weapons storage sites, the report said. Chechen terrorists also have conducted surveillance of Russian rail stations and a train used to move nuclear bombs, said the report from NIC, an analysis group under Mr. Goss.
The report noted that Russian authorities could not have recovered "all the [nuclear] material reportedly stolen."
"We assess that undetected smuggling has occurred, and we are concerned about the total amount of material that could have been diverted or stolen in the last 13 years," the report said.
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