New Al Qaeda Cell A Growing Threat To U.S.

Officials Warn N. African-Based Militants Can Blend In Without Raising Suspicions In Europe, U.S.

(CBS)  The new faces of terror are militants inside an emerging al Qaeda cell, which U.S. officials warn presents a clear and growing threat to America.

Based in North Africa, the group calling itself "Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb" specializes in kidnappings and suicide attacks, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

A car bombing last September of an Algerian military barracks killed 28 people. But, follow-up bombings of a United Nations building and a diplomatic office signaled that Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, has bigger plans.

"They have devoted an enormous amount of their energy and their resources to try to build this up as a base to try to carry out attacks, not just in North Africa, but ultimately into West Europe and someday against North America," says Bruce Riedel of the Brookings Institute.

Riedel, a former CIA official, says a propaganda video - just posted on a jihad website - shows a sophisticated attack capability.

But, the most lethal aspect of AQIM - and its real value for Osama bin Laden's terror network - goes beyond firepower.

Says Ambassador Dell Dailey, a U.S. Department of State Counterterrorism official: "Leaders of al Qaeda and its affiliates are extremely interested in recruiting terrorists from and deploying terrorists to Europe, people familiar with our Western cultures that can travel freely."

And that's exactly who's being drawn to the AQIM training camps - people who can easily blend in without raising suspicions in Europe or the U.S.

"Some of those people are second, third generation and they now have French, Belgian or Spanish passports and a French, Belgian or Spanish passport is exactly what al Qaeda is looking for because that's their mechanism to get into the United States," Riedel says.

U.S. officials have long worried about British radicals using U.K. passports to bring terror to America. But, now the North African branch of al Qaeda presents a second pipeline - a doubled threat to the homeland.

[feelfree4u]

Damned for all time!

[jerr11]

The neocons sold us the Iraq war with 935 lies!

This is just more of the same!

As Harry Powell said, "A liar is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord!"

George W Bush is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord, 935 times!

George W Bush - Son of Satan

Damned for all time!

[jerr11]

Whatever happened to the Miami Liberty 7?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13491653/

7 losers used as pawns by Attorney General "Lying" Alberto Gonzalez to sell the Iraq war!

More of the same, more of the same!

Shame on you Bush, Liar-in-Chief!

[liberalme]

that somebudy or group of peoples is Lieing
either CBS News, Barrack Obama or both.
I guess its just who ever you want to believe,
this 19 yearold Soldier or Barrack Obama.
so I guess George Bush has been vindicated.

sincerely Fuzzy Bear

Posted by FuzzyBear9 at 12:

George Bush? Is that the same George Bush that sort of "went AOL" because he didn''t want to pee in a cup?

Doesn''t he have a friend named 5 Deferrment Cheney?

Well I guess someone has to "vindicate" the cowards--you''re a good Anerican!!! LOL

[quetzalcrist]

Next Stop, Algerian Oilfields....
ooops.i mean terrorists......

[labrat9999]

The strange thing about all these videos is that normally Al Qaeda doesn''t use any of these tactics to fight us so what is the purpose of repelling from trees...are they going to attack our national parks or grabbing a weapon away from someone...is that to practice stealing a weapon from a gang member in NY? Frankly I''m more fearful of the gangs in LA and NY than I am of these amateurs! This is more fear-mungering by those that make a living selling us this nonsense! Ever notice how many "ex-CIA" officers there are and the high paid civilian jobs they now have? Ever wonder why they are "ex" CIA officers? Think about it.

[ubikvalis2]

Get ready ...
Get scared ...
Vote for McCain!

[tawpdawg11]

The security threat level is yellow. If you are yellow, get under your bed and wait for the all-clear.

If you are not yellow, get a gun (loaded) and be prepared (Boyscout motto) to shoot any terrrrrrorrrists that you encounter, thus making America safe again and lowering the threat level to green (good to go on picnics).

[dinkydog1]

Yes the Al-Quada boogie man is alive and well. But it dosen''t really matter he has already won. He''s scared most of us senseless to the point we will support a buffon like Bush rather than accept the reality that he has done more damage than the terrorist can hope to do.

[impeach_w]

Since we dont have time or money to invade Morroco, Can''t we just build a wall around them?

Also, keep an eye on all the rest of you North Africans too.

You muslims really need to police yourselves if you want this *** our country will do to your country to stop.

[impeach_w]

Boo! You scared Sheep. Fight the real enemy to your freedom and liberty. They are right here governing you and your lives.

[fuzzybear9]

Hello Vets and America

whats the topic today Fuzzy Bear ?

why memorial day.

what about it ?

picnic, a family picnic is the topic of the day, actually a Sunday picnic, now you recall I mentioned that I had a nephew going back to Afghanistan, in fact he leaves next week, but as he was tussling around the back lawn manhandling all his cousins ( no place for an old man), I noticed a clean cut young fellow, and I asked someone who is that? they said that he was one of my nephews buddies, some how the military transport dropped him off at the wrong place, so he gets a little extra leave. anyway I got talkin to the young fellow John, and he said he was just in Iraq, 12 hours earlier, I asked him how it was? he said the press makes it sound worse than it is, he said they was making progress. and I wished him well he was heading back to Portland or somewhere,
well the whole point here is
that somebudy or group of peoples is Lieing
either CBS News, Barrack Obama or both.
I guess its just who ever you want to believe,
this 19 yearold Soldier or Barrack Obama.
so I guess George Bush has been vindicated.

sincerely Fuzzy Bear

[wardoglrs]

check the link and learn how the goverment robs the tax payer

http://wakeupfromyourslumber.blogspot.com/2006/02/mother-of-all-myths.html

[tawpdawg11]

Last line of the article:

"a doubled threat to the homeland."

What did we get for our:

-3 trillion dollar investment

-4,000 lives sacrificed

-50,000 Americans maimed

-1,000,000 dead Iraqis

-5,000,000 displaced Iraqis

-oil 6 times what it was

-gas tripled

- economy in SHAMBLES!

The list is nearly endless, veterans dumped on etc.

And for all this sacrifice they gonna tell us now the threat is TWICE what it was?

What wrong with the picture?

Who in charge?

[wardoglrs]

This is all BS Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb" specializes in kidnappings and suicide attacks, NOPE This would be your CIA.Created long ago to make war with any one that the goverment didnt like plain and simple..
When will America wake up to the truth. This country is so dumb downed.

[libh8er]

I have it on good authority from nosepicking libs that al-Crapola is no threat to the US. Stop the fear mongering, CBS!!!

[oscarez]

"could be preparing to launch attacks in Europe and North America"

Why do we, people that cannot do anything about this, need to know. What are we paying the CIA for?

[neoconrcrazy]

the only al-qaeda cell growing is the frontal lobe malignant type cheney''s probably got!

[minnick8-2009]

Is it me or are they all just butt ugly?

[minnick8-2009]

I hope that Obama will go over there soon and sit down and talk with them and reason with them. That would make me feel so much better.