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Al Qaeda Cell in the U.S. Or On Its Way, According to New Intel

July 10, 2007 6:30 PM

Alqaedacellin_mn Senior U.S. intelligence officials tell ABC News new intelligence suggests a small al Qaeda cell is on its way to the United States, or may already be here.

The White House has convened an urgent multi-agency meeting for Thursday afternoon to deal with the new threat.

Top intelligence and law enforcement officials have been told to assemble in the Situation Room to report on:

--what steps can be taken to minimize or counter the threat,

--and what steps are being taken to harden security for government buildings and personnel.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the Chicago Tribune editorial board on Tuesday he had "a gut feeling" that an attack was coming.

"We do worry about whether they are rebuilding their capabilities," Chertoff said. "We strike at them; we degrade them; but they rebuild."

"It suggests they have information that the cell or cells coming this direction want to attack a government facility," Brad Garrett, a former FBI agent and ABC News consultant, said. 

Law enforcement officials say the recent failed attacks in London have provided important new clues about possible tactics.

Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.

And officials say the London attackers' use of the Internet left important clues that are being used to decode other e-mails that had initially been deemed unimportant but are now taking on new significance.

A senior administration official said the level of concern of a new terror attack is now higher than it has been in some time, and the meeting this week in the situation room is one of a number that have been convened in light of the new intelligence and what happened in London.

_______________________________________

"World News" closer between Charles Gibson and Brian Ross:

Charles Gibson: The obvious question, Brian, is how hard and how specific is the intelligence?

Brian Ross:
Not hard, but good. It's being taken very seriously, in connection with increased chatter, e-mail traffic back and forth, the attacks in London, and a general concern, as Secretary Chertoff said today, that summer seems to be a time that al Qaeda likes to attack.

Charles Gibson:
And there's been a bunch of tapes that have been coming from al Qaeda lately.

Brian Ross:
In fact, Zawahri put out his eighth tape today and says he had easy access to the Internet, and he threatened new attacks against London.

Charles Gibson:
Once was the day when this intelligence came in, they would raise the level of concern going to a different color.

Brian Ross:
The concern, now, by doing that and not telling Americans what they can do, where the attack is coming, serves no useful purpose.

_______________________________________

White House response:

After the attempted terrorist attacks in the U.K., the U.S. government convened meetings to discuss the situation -- that is what citizens should expect. There is no credible evidence of an imminent threat, however, and counter-terrorism officials regularly meet -- that is not unusual. We are taking all threats seriously and working to ensure we can keep the terrorists from striking at innocent people.

_______________________________________

Listen to Secretary Chertoff's remarks to the Chicago Tribune.

This post has been updated.

July 10, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (529)

User Comments

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Who let Al Quaida out of Iraq,I thought Al Quaida couldnt find their way here unless we left Iraq and they followed the troops home?Geesh we just cant win.

Posted by: Steve Wilson | Jul 10, 2007 7:12:58 PM

It is always interesting to me, whenever Bush is up against the wall, there is a new threat level, or leaked information. When is the Americans going to wise up?

Posted by: Don | Jul 10, 2007 7:13:51 PM

Let's name some sources and get to the bottom of this.

Posted by: DXO | Jul 10, 2007 7:14:12 PM

leprkin and jurist have said it all. I never saw a President so hell-bent on this war. He was in my neck of the woods today (Cleveland) and I couldn't believe some of his comments. When are people going to wake up to the fact that he is and has been pushing his own personal agenda since he took office. Sick of this administration and can't believe he was voted in for the second term. Canada is looking better and better!

Posted by: Carole D'Amico | Jul 10, 2007 7:14:36 PM

Remember that little bill that Mr. Bush signed in May that states he can take over the government in a national emergency? Of course not, the MSM didn't cover it. Bet he puts that into effect. Puts the elections on hold perhaps. I knew this was coming as soon as I heard that he signed that bill. Maybe Brian can find the bill. Why else would Bush sign something like that in to law unless he intended to use it?

Posted by: fubarw | Jul 10, 2007 7:16:25 PM

and so now the bush administration and its head - the back end of a donkey who calls himself the decider - will decide that it is too dangerous to hold elections and will declare himself president(?) for life and if you think that's a farfetched theory, think again.

Posted by: Louise Hyson | Jul 10, 2007 7:16:50 PM

It is sad that they pushed this to the media, and Brian accepted the story without considering that, regardless of the veracity, it was a timed release to deflect the current cycle of very bad Iraq/GOP defections news.

Does anyone in public life have the ability to speak to the truth about the way these terror threat stories are timed?

Sad, Sad, Sad, but your gonna be fine....

Posted by: blogofacowboy | Jul 10, 2007 7:21:55 PM

I am so sick of the anti-american jerks that frequent and post comments on this web site.

If the media/gov't reports potential terror then it is a grand conspiracy/scare tactic. On the other hand, if the media/gov't does not warn about an attack and something happens then it is used to show unprepared we are and how the gov't/media is incompetent.

Grow up morons! Future attacks are inevitable. It is not a scare tactic!

I find it sickening for those Americans who live in their small and quiet towns and cities (e.g., on the left coast) who have not been touched by terror to any degree to constantly preach about how the war on terror is a joke. Easy to say when you don't live in or near a city with a giant bullseye on it (i.e., NYC or DC).

Posted by: jim jones | Jul 10, 2007 7:22:55 PM

Bush is an idiot.....

Posted by: Brenda | Jul 10, 2007 7:23:21 PM

We need an administration to end this fraudulent war, and declare peace. Then, start fixing what's broken at home while putting together a Department of Peace.
--------
"Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding."

~Einstein

Posted by: EuroRock | Jul 10, 2007 7:24:28 PM

"Al Qaeda Cell in the U.S. Or On Its Way, According to New Intel"

Boy, on it's way from where? If we had our borders secure this would not be an issue, however; this damn administration cant get it's head out of its butt to see that the threat, if any, is not in Iraq, it's here and we need to start securing our borders, putting more cops on the street and start funding our efforts here, not in Iraq.

If anything were to happen here, our police agencies can't afford the equipment or staff to do anything about it. Basically we are screwed! Thanks Bush, you're the best.

Posted by: Mark | Jul 10, 2007 7:24:37 PM

I hope it's not another 9/11

Posted by: kefa461 | Jul 10, 2007 7:25:56 PM

TERROR PIMPS

Posted by: x | Jul 10, 2007 7:26:08 PM

Well, I guess TWH doesn't feel this is such a crisis after all if this is "breaking" news on Tuesday and they've scheduled a meeting on this matter for THURSDAY AFTERNOON! (I guess they all had pre-paid tee-times on Wed. that they couldn't get out of.)

This government is a joke. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this country as much as the next patriot, but we as Americans deserve better. It's really sad. Where is Jack Bauer when you need him?!?

01-20-09 could not come fast enough.

Posted by: 01-20-09 | Jul 10, 2007 7:26:38 PM

Is this intelligence as good as the intelligence that said Saddam had WMDs or is this intelligence as good as the "Al-quida determined to strike within the US" intelligence that Bush ignorned before 9/11?

Posted by: AppeaseThis | Jul 10, 2007 7:26:53 PM

Am I the only one wondering why they are meeting on Thursday and NOT TODAY?

Posted by: JJK | Jul 10, 2007 7:27:21 PM

We need to fire everyone in our government and start over with people who are HONEST, Loyal, Respectful, With MORALS and really know how to run a country without disgracing our Fore Fathers!
I swear most of these people we are getting in office are coming from the pond scum underneath the deepest pit of dirt.
and when people say Bush is the worst Prez we have had.. You would think he would listen to America when they say that.
Goes to show.
The love of power and money is the root of EVIL.

Posted by: quilts4m2nv | Jul 10, 2007 7:27:23 PM

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Take it how you will, but war is war and politics are politics we are chin-deep in each.

We could close the borders, but that won't change the focus on terrorist activities only immigration. We could just pull out of Iraq immediately or drop a nuke on them, but then what? Perhaps if those who make the decisions and rules could answer that....

Posted by: Tina | Jul 10, 2007 7:27:39 PM

Close the borders? Yeah right. Yes we can do what we can, but it's impossible to "close the borders". Are we going to patrol and watch all 12,000 miles of border? Above and below ground? Can't be done. And sooner or later there will be another terrorist attack - the Bush administration has done nothing to prevent it. Not only have they made the threat worse, but they blew hundreds of billions doing it. Money that could have been spent or realistic security - e.g., port security.

Posted by: johno | Jul 10, 2007 7:28:42 PM

This is news? It would be naive to think a cell isn't already here. Several have already struck here so this should be no surprise. We even have American citizens (Timothy McVeigh, Eric Rudolph, Unibomber - presumably) who are terrorists.

Posted by: Shaun Witten | Jul 10, 2007 7:29:35 PM

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