WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2002 – Despite the progress in
Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaeda terror
network remains the greatest danger confronting the United
States, CIA Director George Tenet told the Senate Select
Committee on Intelligence.

Tenet said his agency has evidence indicating that Al Qaeda
is actively trying to gain weapons of mass destruction –
including nuclear or radiological weapons.

The director said that in 1998 Bin Laden publicly declared
that acquiring unconventional weapons was "a religious
duty." He said U.S. officials know that al Qaeda was
working to acquire some of the most dangerous chemical
agents and toxins.

"Documents recovered from Al Qaeda facilities in
Afghanistan show that Bin Laden was pursuing a
sophisticated biological weapons research program," he
said.

"We also believe that Bin Laden was seeking to acquire or
develop a nuclear device," he continued. "Al Qaeda may be
pursuing a radioactive dispersal device—what some call a
'dirty bomb.'"

Failing this, he said, Al Qaeda or other terror groups
might also try to launch conventional attacks against U.S.
chemical or nuclear plants to cause widespread toxic or
radiological damage. He said that Al Qaeda cells already in
place could launch attacks against U.S. targets in Europe
and the Middle East.

"Al Qaeda can also exploit its presence or connections to
other groups in such countries as Somalia, Yemen, Indonesia
and the Philippines," Tenet said. U.S. officials estimate
that Al Qaeda may have cells or infrastructure in more than
60 nations.

Tenet said the war on terrorism has dealt severe blows to
Al Qaeda and its leadership. A number of senior Al Qaeda
have been killed. Others are on the run. Efforts of the
U.S. government or friendly governments have choked off
funds the terror cells need to operate. Countries have also
arrested nearly 1,000 Al Qaeda terrorists.

"The group has been denied its safe haven and strategic
command center in Afghanistan," Tenet said. "We are
uncovering terrorists' plans and breaking up their cells."
He said the U.S. effort has disrupted terrorist operations
and potential terrorist attacks worldwide.

"Bin Laden did not believe that we would invade his
sanctuary," Tenet told the senators. "He saw the United
States as soft, impatient, unprepared, and fearful of a
long, bloody war of attrition."

Tenet said Bin Laden underestimated the United States, and
now we should not underestimate him. "I must repeat that Al
Qaeda has not yet been destroyed," he said. "It and other
like-minded groups remain willing and able to strike us.

"Al Qaeda leaders still at large are working to
reconstitute the organization and to resume its terrorist
operations," Tenet continued. "We must be prepared for a
long war, and we must not falter."