[Shocking, I know.
'Concerns about civil liberties and privacy violations "are overblown." '
Boy, don't I know it. I have the utmost faith that my government will protect
my civil rights.
'Emerging terror hotspots include Indonesia, southeast Asia, the Philippines,
North Africa, the Horn of Africa and Europe.'
Let's see. We gave money,arms, and training to Colombia, and their army and
paramilitary groups kill and maim countless citizens. We gave money, arms,
and training to Indonesia, and their army and paramilitary groups kill and
maim countless citizens. We're giving money, arms and training to African
countries...does anyone see a pattern here?
hmph.
-x
This is a new kind of, a new kind of evil... And the American people are
beginning to understand. This crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take
a while. And American people must be patient.
-George W. Bush, simultaneously placating American anxieties, and stoking
those of Muslims worldwide, who don't exactly associate good things with the
word 'crusade', Washington, D.C., Sept. 16, 2001 ]
FBI's Mueller Warns of Terrorist Plots
Mar 26, 3:28 AM (ET)
By CURT ANDERSON
WASHINGTON (AP) - The deadly train bombings in Spain and the impact they had
on Spanish elections are increasing concern that terrorists might target the
U.S. presidential nominating conventions and the Olympics to make an even
bolder statement, FBI Director Robert Mueller says.
"We understand that between now and the election, there is a window of time in
which terrorists may well wish to influence events, whether it's in the United
States or overseas," Mueller said in an interview with The Associated Press.
He also said Islamic extremists are changing tactics to focus on recruitment
of local sympathizers less likely to arouse suspicion than outsiders. And
terrorist groups may well move away from fortified targets, such as airports
and government buildings, he said Thursday.
"I do believe that when we enhance our security, harden targets, terrorists
look for other targets that are soft targets," Mueller said. When new security
measures are taken, he said, "the terrorists are thinking about ways to
circumvent them."
The March 11 train bombings in Madrid that killed 190 people were a factor in
the ouster of Spain's government. That has added to uneasiness about the U.S.
political conventions in New York and Boston this summer.
"In the wake of what happened in Madrid, we have to be concerned about the
possibility of terrorists attempting to influence elections in the United
States by committing a terrorist act," Mueller said. "Quite clearly, there
will be substantial preparations for each of the conventions."
U.S. officials also are very worried about security for the Athens Olympics in
August. Mueller said he was awaiting a review of a recent anti-terrorism
exercise to "see again what we could do if there are areas that need to be
shored up."
Asked if security would be adequate by the time the Olympics begin, Mueller
said: "It's premature to make any definitive judgment as to where we are in
the stages of preparations."
Regarding new al-Qaida recruiting tactics, Mueller pointed to the May 16
suicide bombings in Casablanca, Morocco, as evidence of change. In those
attacks, local Islamic extremists were recruited by outsiders probably linked
to al-Qaida to carry out the mission.
"We, along with our counterparts, have to be alert to that type of combination
of local persons as well as others who may have expertise in timing devices
and constructing (bombs), coming together with those who are willing to
sacrifice themselves," Mueller said.
He said there is no good explanation as to why no suicide bombings have been
attempted in the United States - "knock on wood," he said - other than the
FBI's effort to make state and local law enforcement officials aware
that "this is a threat" and "the need to be alert to it."
Mueller praised the efforts of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in assisting U.S.
counterterrorism efforts. Saudi Arabia in particular has moved aggressively to
root out al-Qaida cells since last May's bombings in Riyadh, discovering tons
of explosives and large caches of weapons.
"Saudi Arabia has become a very inhospitable place for al-Qaida," Mueller
said. "That was not always the case."
He said about 70 FBI agents, analysts and other personnel helped the Saudis
investigate the bombings.
In the interview, Mueller also said:
_The FBI supports full reauthorization by Congress of the Patriot Act, which
provides the FBI with updated surveillance capabilities. Concerns about civil
liberties and privacy violations "are overblown."
_Emerging terror hotspots include Indonesia, southeast Asia, the Philippines,
North Africa, the Horn of Africa and Europe. In America, Mueller said, "we are
more knowledgeable of those who are supporters of terrorism" than before the
attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
_Terrorist groups undoubtedly include computer-savvy operatives who may attack
U.S. computer systems, even though there is little evidence such attacks have
occurred so far. Mueller added that the biggest concern now is from homegrown
hackers who do it largely for the thrill.
_The FBI, CIA and other U.S. and foreign agencies are compiling a database of
explosives and tactics used in terrorist bombings worldwide. The database, at
the FBI academy in Quantico, Va., compiles knowledge about how to identify
signatures of various explosives and where they might have been manufactured.
_The investigation into the 2001 anthrax attacks is focused on scientific work
in an effort to learn how the anthrax was made and who might have been capable
of it.
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