The directors of the CIA and FBI say the al-Qaida terrorist organization remains a serious threat to the United States.

"The information we have points to plots, aimed at targets on two fronts, in the United States and on the Arabian peninsula. It points to plots timed to occur as early as the end of the Hajj, which occurs late this week, and it points to plots that could include the use of a radiological dispersion device, as well as poisons and chemicals," Mr. Tenet said.

The latest intelligence, Mr. Tenet said, "is not idle chatter." He said the United States and its allies have thwarted a number of al-Qaida plots, but al-Qaida may try to strike more vulnerable targets.

FBI Director Robert Mueller said the al-Qaida network will remain, for the foreseeable future, the most immediate and serious threat facing the United States. He is most concerned about Islamic extremists within the United States, potentially numbering several hundred, who have so far gone undetected.

"Our greatest threat is from al-Qaida cells in the United States that we have not yet been able to identify. Finding and rooting out al-Qaida members once they have entered the United States and have had time to establish themselves is our most serious intelligence and law enforcement challenge," Mr. Mueller said.

Mr. Mueller and Mr. Tenet say information sharing between the FBI and CIA has improved since the September 2001 terrorist attacks. However, some lawmakers are not convinced.

Senator John Edwards, a Democrat who is running for President in 2004, announced he is introducing legislation that would withdraw domestic intelligence gathering and analysis from the FBI, and create a new government agency for that purpose.

Mr. Mueller took exception to Mr. Edwards' proposal. He told the committee, "Senator, you have overlooked a great deal of the good work that the FBI has done in the last 17 months in analyzing information and putting it to use."

Referring to criticism of the intelligence community, the committee Chairman, Pat Roberts, said he will be watching the FBI and CIA closely.

"As chairman of this committee, I intend to conduct vigorous oversight of the intelligence community to ensure that it provides our leaders with the quality of intelligence they need to ensure the security of the American people, whether at home or abroad," Mr. Robert said.

The testimony on Capitol Hill coincided with a recent upgrading of the national terrorist threat level from "elevated" to "high."

Troops move in on Heathrow over terror threat

February 12 2003

A suspected Islamist plot to fire a missile at an airliner prompted the largest security operation at Heathrow for a decade Tuesday.

Prime Minister Tony Blair personally authorised the use of 450 troops, with armoured vehicles, to back up more than 1,300 police officers.

Soldiers from the 1st Bn Grenadier Guards and Household Cavalry, carrying semi-automatic weapons, patrolled the terminals and the 17-mile perimeter road.

Troops were last used to protect Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports, in 1994, when the Provisional IRA fired a mortar bomb at one of the runways.

There was a heavy police presence in areas west of the airport, including Windsor. About 70 per cent of aircraft take off towards the west and would be low enough in the sky over the Windsor area to be hit by a rocket.

Concern about the threat of an attack on London or the South East by al-Qa'eda or linked groups also led to tighter security, with armed police officers being drafted in, at a number of locations, including Whitehall and Westminster.

Police and security sources gave few details of the specific intelligence that led to the operations at a time when preparations for war in Iraq are at an advanced stage.

Scotland Yard said the security was "precautionary" and was related in part to the possibility that "the end of the religious festival of Eid may be used by al-Qa'eda and associated networks to mount attacks.

"The strengthened security, which is likely to be most visible to the public at Heathrow, relates to a potential threat to the capital."

Security sources said the operation was open-ended.

Eid al-Adha, the Muslim festival of sacrifice, ends haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. Allah is said to have urged believers not to sacrifice themselves but to sacrifice animals instead.

The September 11 attacks on New York in 2001 have brought about a major shift in thinking by British security forces and sources suggest that "fewer chances" are now being taken. Intelligence that might not have been thought to justify security operations in the past is now frequently acted upon.

For some time, the threat from Islamic groups such as al-Qa'eda, led by Osama bin Laden, has been classed as "high", the second most serious threat below "imminent".

Scotland Yard said: "From time to time it is necessary to raise levels of security activity. We think it is prudent to do so now."

Al-Qa'eda is believed to have a stock of shoulder-launched surface-to-air (SAM) missiles, some capable of reaching targets at a height of 10,000ft and up to five miles away.

The group has attacked airports in the past and is believed to have been involved in previous attempts to fire on airliners.

The 450 soldiers, using armoured Scimitar and Spartan reconnaissance vehicles, were deployed throughout the airport from dawn as the first of the day's 150,000 passengers began checking in. They mounted visible patrols at the terminals and discreetly patrolled the network of thoroughfares linking the various terminal building and car parks. They and the 350 police who normally work at Heathrow were reinforced by 1,000 other officers.

Two missiles narrowly missed an Israeli airliner with 271 people aboard shortly after it took off at Mombasa in Kenya last November. The group behind the attack has not been identified, although there are suspicions that al-Qa'eda or associates, who are known to operate in eastern Africa, played a part. The missile was launched from a vehicle more than a mile outside Mombasa airport - well beyond the outer reaches of airport security measures.

Confirming that Mr Blair had personally authorised the Heathrow deployment, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the decision to draft in troops and armoured vehicles was "an ongoing operation in relation to a specific threat".

Increased security had also been authorised in other parts of London and the South East to counter the threat of an imminent terrorist attack on transport and economic targets.

Mr Blair's spokesman would not disclose details of the threat at Heathrow, but did not deny reports that it involved a possible missile attack on an aircraft.

"There are good operational and security reasons why we are not commenting in detail on this," he said.

The Telegraph, London

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Psalm 31

In thee, O LORD, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me.
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore, for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Pull me out of the net which they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
Into thine hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy, for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
I was a reproach upon all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
But I trust in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee: which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before sons of men!
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Blessed be the LORD, for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city!
For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
O, love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

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George Tenet



Robert Mueller