WASHINGTON, July 17, 2008
U.S. Wary Of European Terror Threat
Homeland Security Chief Says No Guarantee Catching Terrorists With EU Passports
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Play CBS Video Video U.S. Warns Of New Terror Cell Pentagon officials are raising alarm over the threat of a North Africa-based terror cell that they say is could be preparing to launch attacks in Europe and North America. Bob Orr reports.
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Video Fear Of Domestic Terrorists U.S. officials are concerned that al Qaeda is training Americans to carry out the next attack on the domestic front. Bob Orr reports.
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(CBS/AP)
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Interactive America On Guard The Homeland Security Department, the terror alert system, preparedness quiz and more.
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Special Report War On Terror Complete coverage of the military's battle against terrorism.
Chertoff's comments on Capitol Hill comes as the country is entering a potentially vulnerable period with the presidential nominating conventions coming up next month; the presidential election in November; and the transition to a new administration in January - all of which may be attractive targets for terrorists.
In his last scheduled appearance before the House Homeland Security Committee, Chertoff said that the more time and space al Qaeda and its allies have to recruit, train, experiment and plan, the more problems the U.S. and Europe will face down the road.
"The terrorists are deliberately focusing on people who have legitimate Western European passports, who don't appear to have records as terrorists," Chertoff told lawmakers. "I have a good degree of confidence we can catch people coming in. But I have to tell you ... there's no guarantee. And they are working very hard to slip by us."
Chertoff and other intelligence officials have delivered similar warnings before, and he offered no new information about specific threats or an imminent attack.
Chertoff reiterated his concern that terrorists could sneak radiological material into the country on small boats or private aircraft. This material could be used to create an explosive device known as a "dirty bomb."
The Homeland Security Department has a strategy to protect against this small boat vulnerability and is testing radiation detection equipment in Seattle and San Diego ports.
Chertoff said that getting out a regulation to prescreen and enhance security of general aviation aircraft coming to the U.S. from overseas is one of his top priorities.
He also said he expects to approve new radiation detection technology this fall.
Responding to a question from Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, Chertoff dismissed any rumor that he is on a list of potential running mates for Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Chertoff quipped that the only list he has for next year is a list of vacations.
Chertoff's term as the country's second Homeland Security Secretary ends when a new administration takes over the White House in January.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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See all 100 CommentsHey we need to scare the hell out of those dam Americans the 911 thing didn''t do what we wanted can we get some professionals this time.
what this said liberal NEVER realized that liberals these days HAD LOST THAT SENSE OF PATRIOTISM..now they want the govt to wipe thier arses, tell them what to eat..what to do..what to think..what to say..and IF ITS DOES NOT COME FAST ENOUGH..its a facist state..
THIS COUNTRY IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT MORONS LIKE YOU
Posted by libsluv2spit at 02:28 PM : Jul 20, 2008
You really can''t think, can you! and you call ''me'' a moron?
Posted by ToolMangler at 10:03 PM : Jul 19, 2008
+ report abuse
******
a liberal once said."dont ask what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country"
what this said liberal NEVER realized that liberals these days HAD LOST THAT SENSE OF PATRIOTISM..now they want the govt to wipe thier arses, tell them what to eat..what to do..what to think..what to say..and IF ITS DOES NOT COME FAST ENOUGH..its a facist state..
THIS COUNTRY IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT MORONS LIKE YOU
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Maybe you can meet your life partner there.
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Posted by notblue at 05:24 PM : Jul 18, 2008
-dotblue, Hamas, Hezbollah have been created in response to the Israeli continuous violation of all laws and non observation of 1500 UN condemnation and resolutions (documented), since its inception, if that could be a simple answer.
Posted by cdfoxtrot1
God I hope you are just being sarcastic.
Posted by Displeased
There are many reasons Displeased... But to better educate yourself please do yourself a favor and try not to take to much stock in what some of these posters peck out on their keyboards. Instead read, listen and research. Thats the best I can suggest to you. The post on here for the most part are opinions of others and hold no merit as to the causes of these terrorist. Or as bush puts it "turist"
Posted by CBS_Oliver
Europe isn''''t spoon feeding Israel. Israel is the biggest cause of our terrorist attacks.
Posted by Displeased
Also, maybe, just maybe, there aren''t any "terrorists" of note, and this is all an election ploy to scare people into voting for McCain, since he''s got such great judgment on everything and fully understands all complex issues.
Posted by Displeased
Didn''t you hear Bush? It''s because they hate us for our freedom. No other countries on earth are "free". Not the Europeans, or the Australians, or the Japanese. We''re the only ones. Therefore, they hate us. Nothing to do with support for Israel''s treatment of the Palestinians. Nothing to do with us interfering in the internal affairs of many countries around the globe.
Yeah, and "World Wary of US Terror Threat".
Posted by jerr111
You don''t think our support of Israel and our presence in Saudi Arabia were the reasons 9/11 happened? Osama said so himself. Why would you want to deny this?
We have 800,000 names on the FBI terror watch list---how many names from the illegal wiretapping----And these guys have "nothing"???
Chertoff has a good degree of confidence he''ll catch people coming in??? How safe are our boarders?
This government has spent 7 years *** around Iraq and Afganistan to get oil and are just figuring out our boarders aren''t safe---the FBI terror watch list is no good and all the illegal wiretapping has done nothing?
Holy crappers---what a shock!!!!!!!
Get these guys out of our government and put people in there who know how to do their jobs!!!
Posted by Displeased
.. .. ..
Is that like Blacks are the biggest reason for our racism?
Posted by CBS_Oliver
Europe isn''t spoon feeding Israel. Israel is the biggest cause of our terrorist attacks.
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