Public Statements
on Terrorism
and Usama bin Laden since July 1997
- "And in order to make sure that we're able to conduct a winning victory, we've got to have the best intelligence we can possibly have. And my report to the nation is, we've got the best intelligence we can possibly have thanks to the men and women of the CIA." President George W. Bush to the CIA Employees (27 September 2001)
Statement by DCI Tenet
before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) on the "Worldwide
Threat 2001: National Security in a Changing World" (Feb. 7, 2001)
The threat from terrorism
is real, it is immediate, and it is evolving. State sponsored terrorism
appears to have declined over the past five years, but transnational groups—with
decentralized leadership that makes them harder to identify and disrupt—are
emerging. We are seeing fewer centrally controlled operations, and more
acts initiated and executed at lower levels.
Terrorists are also
becoming more operationally adept and more technically sophisticated in
order to defeat counterterrorism measures. For example, as we have increased
security around government and military facilities, terrorists are
seeking out "softer" targets that provide opportunities for
mass casualties.
Employing increasingly
advanced devices and using strategies such as simultaneous attacks,
the number of people killed or injured in international terrorist attacks
rose dramatically in the 1990s, despite a general decline in the number
of incidents. Approximately one-third of these incidents involved US interests.
Usama bin Ladin
and his global network of lieutenants and associates remain the most immediate
and serious threat. Since 1998, Bin Ladin has declared all US citizens
legitimate targets of attack. As shown by the bombing of our Embassies
in Africa in 1998 and his Millennium plots last year, he is capable
of planning multiple attacks with little or no warning.
His organization
is continuing to place emphasis on developing surrogates to carry out
attacks in an effort to avoid detection, blame, and retaliation.
As a result it is often difficult to attribute terrorist incidents to
his group, Al Qa’ida.
Nevertheless, we
and our Allies have scored some important successes against terrorist
groups and their plans, which I would like to discuss with you in closed
session later today. Here, in an open session, let me assure you
that the Intelligence Community has designed a robust counterterrorism
program that has preempted, disrupted, and defeated international terrorists
and their activities. In most instances, we have kept terrorists
off-balance, forcing them to worry about their own security and degrading
their ability to plan and conduct operations.
The Taliban
shows no sign of relinquishing terrorist Usama Bin Ladin, despite strengthened
UN sanctions and prospects that Bin Ladin's terrorist operations could
lead to retaliatory strikes against Afghanistan. The Taliban and
Bin Ladin have a symbiotic relationship—Bin Ladin gets safe haven
and in return, he gives the Taliban help in fighting its civil war.
[full
text]
Remarks as Prepared for
Delivery by the DCI George J. Tenet at the Town Hall of Los Angeles (Dec. 7, 2000)
What US Intelligence
Does for You
We have, since
July 1998—in partnership with governments around the world—helped
deliver to justice more than two dozen terrorists—more than half
of whom were linked to Usama bin Laden. These actions have shattered terrorist
cells and networks, disrupted terrorist plans, and—in some cases—prevented
terrorist attacks from taking place.
[full
text]
Statement DCI George J.
Tenet before the SSCI on "The Worldwide Threat in 2000: Global Realities
of Our National Security" (Feb. 2, 2000)
Since
July 1998, working with foreign governments worldwide, we have helped
to render more than two dozen terrorists to justice. More than half were
associates of Usama Bin Ladin's Al-Qa'ida organization. These renditions
have shattered terrorist cells and networks, thwarted terrorist plans,
and in some cases even prevented attacks from occurring.
Usama Bin Ladin
is still foremost among these terrorists, because of the immediacy and
seriousness of the threat he poses. Everything we have learned
recently confirms our conviction that he wants to strike further blows
against America. Despite some well-publicized disruptions, we believe
he could still strike without additional warning. Indeed, Usama
Bin Ladin's organization and other terrorist groups are placing increased
emphasis on developing surrogates to carry out attacks in an effort to
avoid detection
Some of these terrorists
are actively sponsored by national governments that harbor great antipathy
toward the United States.
Mr. Chairman, to
sum up this part of my briefing, we have had our share of successes, but
I must be frank in saying that this has only succeeded in buying time
against an increasingly dangerous threat. The difficulty in destroying
this threat lies in the fact that our efforts will not be enough to overcome
the fundamental causes of the phenomenon—poverty, alienation, disaffection,
and ethnic hatreds deeply rooted in history. In the meantime, constant
vigilance and timely intelligence are our best weapons.
[full
text]
Remarks of DCI George J.
Tenet at the Oscar Iden Lecture, Georgetown University
(Oct. 18, 1999)
International terrorism,
both on its own and in conjunction with narcotics traffickers, international
criminals and those seeking weapons of mass destruction. You need
go no further than Usama Bin Ladin –the perpetrator of the East Africa
bombings. He has declared the acquisition of weapons of a mass destruction
a religious duty and identified every American as a legitimate target.
[full
text]
Statement of DCI George
J. Tenet as Prepared for Delivery Before the Senate Armed Services Committee
hearing on Current and Projected National Security Threats (Feb. 2, 1999)
Looking out over
the next year, Mr. Chairman, let me mention two specific concerns. First,
there is not the slightest doubt that Usama Bin Ladin, his worldwide allies,
and his sympathizers are planning further attacks against us. Despite
progress against his networks, Bin Ladin's organization has contacts virtually
worldwide, including in the United States — and he has stated unequivocally,
Mr. Chairman, that all Americans are targets.
Bin Ladin's overarching
aim is to get the United States out of the Persian Gulf, but he
will strike wherever in the world he thinks we are vulnerable.
We are anticipating bombing attempts with conventional explosives, but
his operatives are also capable of kidnappings and assassinations.
We have noted recent
activity similar to what occurred prior to the African embassy bombings,
Mr. Chairman, and I must tell you we are concerned that one or more
of Bin Ladin's attacks could occur at any time.
[full
text]
DCI George J. Tenet, Before
the SSCI Hearing on Current and Projected National Security Threats
(Jan. 28, 1998)
There
has been a trend toward increasing lethality of attacks, especially against
civilian targets.
A confluence
of recent developments increases the risk that individuals or groups will
attack US interests. Terrorist passions have probably been inflamed
by events ranging from the US Government's designation of 30 terrorist
groups to the conviction and sentencing of Mir Aimal Kasi and Ramzi Ahmed
Yosuf as well as the ongoing US standoff with Iraq and frustration with
the Middle East peace process.
[full
text]
[Top of page]