 MAR
11:
The FBI has issued a new
secret report that concludes while there is no doubt Al Qaeda
wants to attack the United States, its ability to do so remains
unknown, FOX News has confirmed.
"Al-Qa'ida leadership's intention
to attack the United States is not in question," the report reads.
"However, their capability to do so is unclear, particularly in
regard to 'spectacular' operations. We believe al-Qa'ida's
capability to launch attacks within the United States is dependent
on its ability to infiltrate and maintain operatives in the United
States."
The assessment also concludes that it knows of no sleeper
cells or agents of Usama bin Laden in the United States. "US
Government efforts to date also have not revealed evidence of
concealed cells or networks acting in the homeland as sleepers."
The 32-page assessment says flatly, "To date, we have not
identified any true 'sleeper' agents in the US," seemingly
contradicting the "sleeper cell" description prosecutors assigned
to seven men in Lackawanna, N.Y., in 2002
"Limited reporting since March indicates al-Qa'ida has sought to
recruit and train individuals to conduct attacks in the United
States, but is inconclusive as to whether they have succeeded in
placing operatives in this country," the report reads. "US
Government efforts to date also have not revealed evidence of
concealed cells or networks acting in the homeland as sleepers."
It also differs from testimony given by FBI Director Robert
Mueller, who warned in the past that several sleeper cells were
probably in place.
FBI Director Robert Mueller had warned in the past that several
sleeper cells were probably in place.
When the secret report was issued last month, on Feb. 16, Mueller
testified at a hearing before the same committee that the lack of
evidence concerned him. "I am concerned about what we are not
seeing," he said.
The FBI says it takes no solace in the lack of evidence, or about
what it is not seeing.
"Individual operatives who possess a clean passport, have not come
to the attention of intelligence agencies overseas, and lack a
criminal record are unlikely to attract the attention of security
agencies in the United States, unless they are in contact with
known extremists," according to the report. "Al-Qa'ida has altered
its operative profile, making it more difficult to screen visa
applicants at embassies and individuals entering the United States
at airports and other border crossings."
And the report suggests that instead of actual sleeper agents,
lying in wait, al Qaeda may rely on disaffected Americans or other
sympathizers, who might pick easier, softer targets such as
shopping malls. |
