Chertoff Fears Homegrown Terrorism Abroad

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Worries Europe Can Be A Staging Ground For Future Attacks

(CBS/AP)  The U.S. Homeland Security secretary said Wednesday that Washington fears Europe may be a staging ground for terrorist attacks on the United States.

Michael Chertoff said in an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. radio that his fears were based on how easy it is for Europeans travel to the United Sates. He said there was also evidence of homegrown terrorism in European countries.

"One of the things we've become concerned about lately is the possibility of Europe becoming a platform for a threat against the United States," Chertoff said.

Washington has no plans to start asking Europeans to apply for visas to travel to the United States but they could be required to register online before traveling, Chertoff said.

"We have the visa waiver program, which allows most Europeans who come to be tourists to come without visas - that means the first time we encounter them is when they arrive in the United States, and that creates a very small window of opportunity to check them out," he said.

The U.S. concerns are based on cases of homegrown terrorism in Europe - such as the March 2004 bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people, the deadly 2005 transport bombings in London and a failed attempt to blow up two commuter trains in Germany in 2006.

"We have watched the rise of homegrown terrorism," Chertoff said. "We are obviously mindful of the Madrid bombings, the attempted bombings in Germany, and that suggests to us that the terrorists are increasingly looking to Europe as both a target and a platform for terrorist attacks."

He said there was a "certain sense of complacency" about terrorism in the United States, suggesting the Bush administration had been a victim of its own success in thwarting any attacks since the Sept. 11 attacks.

"But when I lift my eyes and I look around the world, and I look at what happens in Britain, in Germany, in Spain, in Bali, in Pakistan, I don't see terrorism going away; I see an al Qaeda that's evolving," he said.

Still, as the fifth anniversary of the creation of his Homeland Security department approaches, Chertoff told the BBC, "Our ability to know who is coming across our borders, and to check them and to take their fingerprints now, is far better than it was five or six years ago. We have deployed almost twice as many border patrols as we had five or six years ago. We've put up literally hundreds of miles of fencing and barriers. All of these are very concrete steps forward that have made our security much better than it was."

[slpdisk]

"''''''Dan the SnakeMan " talk about uninformed.What rock have you been hiding under?// Bush and Cheney launch an illegal war with Iraq,no WMDs, no ties to al qaeda according to 9/11 commission , FBI and CIA.They even defied congress and the U.N.Obstructing justice closing investigation on 9/11 even though no one is held accountable, and this is where you come in saying Osama Bin Bigfoot the ghost.Look at FBI website Osama is not even wanted for 9/11.According to fbi there isn''t enough evidence to hold him accountable.So why the closed investigation you say? Good question.First responders from ground zero dying from disease from inhaling toxic dust where is the chief now that they need help. Got billions for war but not for heroes. Sanctions on Iraq killed over i million innocent iraqi''s mostly children before we ever invaded. This is where some ignoramus says "their the enemy," educate yourself before opening your mouth sounding silly. Not to mention Gitmo and torture. Destroying cia tapes. oh, I running out of breath. Peace brother!

[slpdisk]

Why is there an Israeli nationalist in charge of forcing a National I.D. card in the U.S. Looks like a conflict of interest.

[l8c6]

The neo cons have ruled by scaring the bejeezus out of the american people. Some people claim to feel safer having their peanut butter sandwiches and toothpaste confiscated. Returning from an international flight the contrast in treatment of this tax paying, law abiding, working american with no criminal record to obvious foreigners visiting was quite striking. The foreigners passed quickly, while this citizen was inspected. The regime must keep the citizens very aware of who the decider is. The regime doesn''t care if an individual is a law abiding citizen or not when the law as it''s been is not respected but rather manipulated to meet the regimes special interests. The bottom line is, you are with them or against. The rules can be changed to turn law abiding citizens into criminals over night. The Jews in Germany during the nazi area can vouch for that.

[l8c6]

All we have to fear is fear itself.

[cfin5]

Just heard Mr. Chertoff on Hannity Show give an explanation on why the border fence is not completed. Very good interview and explanation I might say. But as for our two border agents (or is there more?) in the slammer for doing their job,.......it''s a disgrace, and tenfold for letting this go on this long!

[DDouville]

Watcher269 who are you to accuse Bush and Cheney of crimes? You just go along with what you hear from other uninformed persons like yourself. And I am so sure you would make a better president, why don''t you run in the next election? So some mistakes were made, so what? Have a bit more respect for your commander in chief. He is not a criminal. He has an extremely difficult job. Do something for your country, instead of being critical of it. What have you done for the USA besides gossip about what a terrible job our commanders are doing? What do you propose to solve all our problems? I''m willing to hear you out... Ball is in your court. Peace Out from Dan the Snake Man

[prinzowhales]

The only people ''losing'' in this spurious war on terror are the people of the world. It is costing Americans thousands of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars.

We have 250,000 servicemen on disability from the first Gulf War....we have well over tens of thousands wounded from this war with no end in site.

Look at the flag-draped coffins coming home to Dover Delaware...the crosses spouting in cemetaries across the nation...the mistreated veterans...the price of oil...the enmity of the world...the police state and the solemn pronouncements by vacant eyed bureaucrats that is fine and dandy to rape children in front of their parents to get information.

Only the chuckle-headed say that "we" are winning... but they don''t tell us ''what'' we are winning...

[terrorislam6]

dont you just hate these stupid silly little fascist nazi terrorislamic muslims pretending to be liberal Americana,,, and begging for the usa to leave iraq,,, lol,,, they must be really getting their arses kicked,,, hahahahahaha,,,

and these fascist nazi terrorislamic muslim collaborators,,,

THEY ARE LOSING

Last letter from doomed Al Qaida chief: "We are so desperate for your help"
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2007/ss_iraq_09_30.asp

Iraq insurgency: People rise against al-Qa''eda
Damien McElroy spent a week in the heart of the insurgency in Anbar province in Iraq. In the second of seven exclusive reports he describes how peace and prosperity have returned to a town formerly riven by sectarian killings.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/08/wanbar308.xml

Al Qaeda Dealt Devastating Blow in Iraq
The U.S. military says it has dealt devastating and potentially irreversible blows to Al Qaeda in Iraq in recent months, leading some generals to advocate a declaration of victory over the group, which the Bush administration has long described as the most lethal U.S. adversary in Iraq, the Washington Post reported Monday.
Al-Qaeda In Iraq Reported Crippled
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/14/AR2007101401245_pf.html

[david1737]

"The former Republican congressman...was indicted Wednesday as part of a terrorist fundraising ring that allegedly sent more than $130,000 to an al Qaeda and Taliban supporter who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan."


And all the repubs want to talk about is Edwards $400 haircuts!

Shame, Shame, Shame

[david1737]

"The former Republican congressman...was indicted Wednesday as part of a terrorist fundraising ring that allegedly sent more than $130,000 to an al Qaeda and Taliban supporter who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan."


And all the repubs want to talk about is Edwards $400 haircuts!

Shame, Shame, Shame