Al-Qaeda 'still main US threat'

Al-Qaeda 'still main US threat'

US intelligence chief John Negroponte has warned that al-Qaeda continues to plot terror strikes against US targets.

He said the group remained the "top concern" for US security despite efforts to destroy its leadership since the 11 September 2001 attacks.

In testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mr Negroponte labelled Iran and North Korea as potential threats.

His comments come as the UN's nuclear watchdog considers a call to report Iran to the UN over its nuclear plans.

Mr Negroponte, a former US ambassador to the United Nations and to Iraq, was installed as the first overall US intelligence chief in 2005.

His testimony came in a rare public session of the Senate committee.

Continued threat

Senior al-Qaeda leaders closely involved with planning and executing the 11 September strikes had been hunted down and "eliminated" in the years since, Mr Negroponte told the committee.

Ayman al-Zawahri, shown on a video aired by al-Jazeera on 17 June 2005
Al-Qaeda figures like Ayman al-Zawahri issue video messages

However, he said that "core elements" were operating from within the region along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and continued to plan attacks against the US and other targets.

Al-Qaeda's most likely plan of attack remained a high-impact attack using conventional explosives, Mr Negroponte said.

But the group had retained an interest in acquiring chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear arms, he added.

Nuclear concerns

Questioned on efforts to combat nuclear proliferation, Mr Negroponte conceded that North Korea had "probably" developed nuclear weapons.

He said that the Pyongyang government sold conventional arms and ballistic missiles to a number of countries around the world, posing a "major challenge" to nuclear non-proliferation efforts and undermining regional security.

He was less pessimistic about Iran, which he said was unlikely to have either nuclear weapons or the fissile material needed to produce them.

"Nevertheless, the danger that it will acquire a nuclear weapon and the ability to integrate it with the ballistic missiles Iran already possesses is a reason for immediate concern," Mr Negroponte said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4674672.stm

[lhslancers]

Wrong. This is the main threat to the US. I did not have sex with this woman. can't blame ya Bill.