Al-Qaida Regains Strength
Updated: A classified report concludes that al-Qaida has regrouped along the Afghan-Pakistan border, with operating capabilities unmatched since the Sept. 11 attacks.
The Washington Post and the Associated Press learned of the report, entitled ”Al-Qaida Better Positioned to Strike the West.” Its release coincides with statements by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff that he has a “gut feeling” the United States faces an increased risk of attack this summer.
Officials have tracked suspicious activity and intercepted communications about a possible attack here, but the threats were not deemed credible, the Post says.
Chertoff told the Post in an interview that his gut feeling was based on publicly available information rather than secret intelligence.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said there was no specific threat. “There continues to be no credible, specific intelligence to suggest that there is an imminent threat to the homeland,” he said.
A counterterrorism official who told AP about the report said it concludes al-Qaida has ”regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001,” with a robust training program. ”They are showing greater and greater ability to plan attacks in Europe and the United States,” he told the wire service.
Originally posted 07-12-2007 7:04 AM.
