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Report: Al Qaeda trying to sneak agents to U.S.
* Story Highlights
* NEW: Al Qaeda's presence in Iraq aiding its efforts to launch
attack on U.S.
* NEW: "Al Qaeda will intensify its efforts to put operatives
here," estimate says
* Report warns al Qaeda has safe haven along Pakistan-Afghanistan
border
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Al Qaeda will try to tap its resources and
capabilities in Iraq in its efforts to exact another terrorist attack
on U.S. soil, according to a top government intelligence report
released Tuesday.
"In addition, we assess that its association with [al Qaeda in Iraq]
helps al Qaeda to energize the broader Sunni extremist community,
raise resources and to recruit and indoctrinate operatives, including
for homeland attacks," states the declassified summary of the National
Intelligence Estimate.
Officials have expressed concern in the past that the Iraq war is
providing a theater for al Qaeda to train insurgents and test the
terror network's capabilities.
The report also warns that al Qaeda is beefing up efforts to sneak
operatives into the United States.
"Although we have discovered only a handful of individuals in the
United States with ties to al Qaeda senior leadership since 9/11, we
judge that al Qaeda will intensify its efforts to put operatives
here," states an NIE summary.
"As a result, we judge that the United States currently is in a
heightened threat environment," the summary states.
The draft of the intelligence report expresses concern about the
possibility of a growing number of extremists who may already be in
the United States, two officials said last week. The report also said
al Qaeda is still in pursuit of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
Declassified portions of the completed NIE -- which represents the
combined analyses of all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies -- was released
Tuesday after the classified version was presented to Congress.
Mike McConnell, director of national intelligence, gave President Bush
a special briefing on the report Tuesday morning, a senior
administration official said.
In addition to concerns about al Qaeda in Iraq and the threat of an
attack on the United States, the report also says that al Qaeda has
set up a safe haven along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border from where
the terror network's leaders can operate, several U.S. officials said.
The NIE analysis also addresses al Qaeda's resurgence in the tribal
areas of Pakistan, where President Pervez Musharraf last year gave
primary responsibility for controlling the border areas between
Pakistan and Afghanistan to tribal leaders.
The United States considers Musharraf an ally in the fight against al
Qaeda and has been reluctant to pressure him to do more to control the
border areas, where authorities believe both al Qaeda and the Taliban,
vanquished from Afghanistan, have regrouped.
Musharraf repeatedly has said his government is working hard to curb
terrorists and extremists in its territories.
CNN's Kelli Arena, Pam Benson and Ed Henry contributed to this report.
All AboutEspionage and Intelligence
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