STATEMENT BY
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
GEORGE J. TENET
BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
HEARING ON
CURRENT AND PROJECTED NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS
2 February 1999
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
In this last annual threat assessment of the 20th century, I must tell
you that US citizens and interests are threatened in many arenas and
across a wide spectrum of issues. What is noteworthy is the manner in
which so many issues are now intertwined and so many dangers mutually
reinforcing.
Why is this so? To some degree it involves historic legacies fueled by
the continued crumbling of Cold War constraints. We see this in the
ongoing turmoil of the Balkans, the increasing violence in Africa, and
the renewed volatility of the Subcontinent. But in today's world,
these problems fester amidst new danger -- dangers that flow from new
factors, such as the increasing availability of sophisticated
technology and the ease and speed with which it can be applied by
those hostile to the United States. In a very real sense, we live at a
moment when the past and the future are colliding. In other words,
today we must still deal with terrorists, insurgents, and others who
have hundreds of years of history fueling their causes -- but chances
are they will be using laptop computers, sophisticated encryption, and
weaponry their predecessors could not even have imagined.
Transnational Issues: WMD Proliferation
No issue is more emblematic of these new challenges than the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. As you know, 1998 saw
the nuclear tests in South Asia, continued concerns about Iraq's WMD
programs, accelerated missile development in Iran, North Korea,
Pakistan and India, and broader availability of BW and CW relevant
technologies. Particularly worrisome to the Intelligence Community is
the security of Russian WMD materials, increased cooperation among
rogue states, and more effective efforts by proliferants to conceal
illicit activities. US intelligence is increasing its emphasis and
resources on many of these issues, but I must tell you that there is a
continued and growing risk of surprise.
Looking at the supply-side first: Russian and Chinese assistance to
proliferant countries has merited particular attention for several
years. This year, unfortunately, is no exception. I mentioned in my
statement last year that Russia had just announced new controls on
transfers of missile-related technology. There were some positive
signs in Russia's performance early last year but, unfortunately,
there has not been a sustained improvement. Especially during the last
six months, expertise and materiel from Russia has continued to assist
the Iranian missile effort in areas ranging from training, to testing,
to components. This assistance is continuing as we speak, and there is
no doubt that it will play a crucial role in Iran's abilility to
develop more sophisticated and longer range missiles.
Making matters worse, societal and economic stress in Russia seems
likely to grow, raising even more concerns about the security of
nuclear weapons and fissile material. Although we have not had recent
reports of weapons usable nuclear material missing in Russia, what we
have noticed are reports of strikes, lax discipline, and poor morale,
and criminal activity at nuclear facilities. For me, Mr. Chairman,
these are alarm bells that warrant our closest attention and concern.
The China story is a mixed picture, Mr. Chairman. China's senior
leaders are actively studying membership in the Missile Technology
Control Regime and have pledged to prevent the export of materials or
technology that could assist missile and nuclear programs in South
Asia. Beijing has promulgated controls on dual-use nuclear technology
and tightened chemical export controls.
We cannot yet assure you, however, that the new export control
mechanisms will be effective. Both the Chinese Government and Chinese
firms have long-standing and deep relationships with proliferant
countries, and we are not convinced that China's companies fully share
the commitments undertaken by senior Chinese leaders. While all
aspects of China's proliferation behavior bear continued watching, we
see more signs of progress on nuclear matters than on missile
assistance. Moreover, the restructuring of China's defense industrial
bureaucracy -- including entities charged with export oversight --
holds the potential to create confusion and incentives that would
impede the effectiveness of this system. In short, Mr. Chairman, our
guard remains up on this question.
There is little positive I can say, Mr. Chairman, about North Korea,
the third major global proliferator, whose incentive to engage in such
behavior increases as its economy continues to decline. Missiles and
WMD know-how are North Korean products for which there is a real
market. North Korea's sales of such products over the years have
dramatically heightened the WMD threat in countries of key concern,
such as Iran and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, countries, such as India, Pakistan, and Iran that
traditionally have been seen as technology customers, have now
developed capabilities that they could export to others.
Looking at the demand side, Mr. Chairman, let's focus first on nuclear
programs. Last spring dramatically made clear that both India and
Pakistan are well positioned to build significant nuclear arsenals.
Meanwhile, Iran, too, seems to be pushing its program forward. With
regard to North Korea, the Agreed Framework has frozen P'yongyang's
ability to produce additional plutonium at Yongbyon, but we are deeply
concerned that North Korea has a covert program. The key target for us
to watch is the underground construction project at Kumchang-ni, which
is large enough to house a plutonium production facility and perhaps a
reprocessing plant as well.
The missile story is no more encouraging. Indeed, we expect the high
level of launch activity in 1998 to continue in 1999. Last year's
activity included the first launches of the North Korean Taepo Dong 1,
the Pakistani Ghauri and the Iranian Shahab-3, the latter two based on
North Korea's No Dong. With a range of 1,300 km, the No Dong,
Shahab-3, and Ghauri significantly alter the military equations in
their respective regions; each is probably capable of delivering
weapons of mass destruction.
In short, theater-range missiles with increasing range pose an
immediate and growing threat to US interests, military forces, and
allies -- and the threat is increasing. This threat is here and now.
More disturbing, is that foreign missiles of increased range and
military potential are under development. North Korea's three-stage
Taepo-Dong 1, launched last August, demonstrated technology that, with
the resolution of some important technical issues, would give North
Korea the ability to deliver a very small payload to intercontinental
ranges -- including parts of the United States -- although not very
accurately.
P'yongyang is also working on another missile -- the Taepo Dong-2.
With two stages, the Taepo Dong-2, which has not yet been
flight-tested, would be able to deliver significantly larger payloads
to mainland Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands and smaller payloads to
other parts of the United States. In other words, the lighter the
payload, the greater the range. With a third stage like the one
demonstrated last August on the Taepo Dong-1, this missile would be
able to deliver large payloads to the rest of the US. The
proliferation implications of these missiles are obviously
significant.
Foreign assistance is a fundamental factor behind the growth in the
missile threat. For example, foreign assistance helped Iran save years
in its development of the Shahab-3 missile, which is based on the
North Korean No Dong and, as I noted earlier, includes Russian
assistance. Moreover, Iran will continue to seek longer range missiles
and to seek foreign assistance in their development.
If Iran follows a development time line similar to that demonstrated
with the Shahab-3, which included significant foreign assistance, it
would take Iran many years to develop a 9,000 to 10,000 km range ICBM
capable of reaching the United States. But Iran could significantly
shorten the acquisition time -- and warning time -- by purchasing key
components or entire systems from potential sellers such as North
Korea.
Iraqi capabilities to develop missiles also continues to be a concern.
Iraq was ahead of Iran before the Gulf war, and if sanctions were
lifted, we would have to assume that Iraq would seek longer-range
capabilities.
Against the backdrop of an increasing missile threat, Mr. Chairman,
the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons takes on more
alarming dimensions. At least sixteen states, including those with the
missile programs mentioned earlier, currently have active CW programs,
and perhaps a dozen are pursuing offensive BW programs. And a number
of these programs are run by countries with a history of sponsoring
terrorism.
The Threat of Terrorism
On terrorism, I must be frank in saying that Americans increasingly
are the favored targets. US citizens and facilities suffered more than
35 percent of the total number of international terrorist attacks in
1998. This is up from 30 percent in 1997, and 25 percent in 1996.
Looking out over the next year, 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.
One of my greatest concerns is the serious prospect that Bin Ladin or
another terrorist might use chemical or biological weapons. Bin
Ladin's organization is just one of about a dozen terrorist groups
that have expressed an interest in or have sought chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents. Bin Ladin, for
example, has called the acquisition of these weapons a "religious
duty" and noted that "how we use them is up to us."
Earlier I referred to state sponsorship of terrorism, so let me take
this opportunity to say, with respect to Iran, that we have yet to see
any significant reduction in Iran's support for terrorism. President
Khatami took office in August 1997, but hard-liners, such as Supreme
leader Khamenei, continue to view terrorism as a legitimate tool of
Iranian policy and they still control the institutions that can
implement it.
The Threat of International Narcotics and Organized Crime
Turning now to the problem of international narcotrafficking and
organized crime -- I must tell you that the threat remains
significant, despite many successes, particularly in the fight against
cocaine trafficking. The illicit narcotics trade adapts quickly to law
enforcement pressures, new markets, and shifting supply patterns.
Three developments particularly concern me.
First, there is good news and bad news on coca cultivation. In Peru --
which historically has accounted for more than half of the Andean
total -- cultivation has declined by more than half over the past
three years. Cultivation in Bolivia, historically the second largest
coca producer, has also dropped substantially. The bad news, however,
is that these declines are largely offset by significant increases in
coca cultivation and production in Colombia -- much of which is in
high-risk insurgent-controlled territory making Colombia's eradication
efforts more problematic.
-- To President Pastrana's credit, he is trying to engage the
insurgents in talks intended partly to seek their help in eradication
efforts -- the first time a Colombian President has taken such a bold
and risky step.
Second, drug shipments are increasing overland through Central America
to Mexico, and from there across the southwest border into the United
States.
Finally, opium production -- the source of all refined heroin -- has
ballooned in Afghanistan. This country now accounts for almost 40
percent of potential worldwide opium production and may be approaching
Burma as the top heroin exporter in the world.
Now, harder to track than drugs -- but every bit as insidious -- is
international organized crime. In Russia, crime groups have permeated
the financial sector, and bad bank loans, some made at the behest of
criminal groups, have weakened individual banks and the Russian
banking system.
Here's my principal concern, the potential profitability of smuggling
items related to weapons of mass destruction may lead to organized
criminal involvement in brokering deals, financing transactions, or
facilitating the transport of WMD materials to rogue states and
terrorist groups.
The Threat of Information Warfare and the Year 2000 Problem
In another arena, 1998 made clear to me that the increasing digital
domination of our lives in the Information Age is creating a
vulnerability of a different kind -- the potential threat to our
national security posed by information warfare.
Several countries have or are developing the capability to attack an
adversary's computer systems. Developing a computer attack capability
can be quite inexpensive and easily concealable: it requires little
infrastructure, and the technology required is dual-use.
For our part, providing timely warning of an attack against US
computer systems is a tough technical challenge. It will require close
coordination with law enforcement and the private sector to succeed,
and that is what we are working hard to achieve.
And as we close the 20th Mr. Chairman, there is one more
computer-based threat on my mind -- the inability of some foreign
countries to deal adequately with the Year 2000 problem.
In our judgment, foreign countries trail the United States in
addressing the Y2K problems by at least several months, and in many
cases by much longer. The lowest level of Y2K preparedness is evident
in Eastern Europe, Russia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and
several Asian countries, including China. Y2K remediation is
underfunded in most countries.
These uneven efforts account for several potential threats to our
interests. Global linkages in telecommunications, financial systems,
air transportation, the manufacturing supply chain, oil supplies, and
trade mean that Y2K problems will not be isolated to individual
countries, and no country will be immune from failures in these
sectors. There is potential for civil unrest in some countries,
particularly if critical service sectors are disrupted for extended
periods. Energy flows could be interrupted in some countries. Europe,
for example, gets more than one-third of its natural gas from Russia
and could be affected if Gazprom has Y2K problems. Some military
activities, including those of our allies, depend on the secure and
uninterrupted flow of digital information, making overall readiness a
potential casualty of Y2K.
CHALLENGE: RUSSIA AND CHINA
Daunting as these challenges are, we cannot, in focusing on them,
overlook some more traditional concerns in two nations of critical
importance to the United States: Russia and China.
Russia
Let me start with Russia. Last year I reported to you my view that
Russia's future direction -- whether it develops as a stable
democracy, reverts to the autocratic and expansionist impulses of its
past, or degenerates into instability -- remained an open question. My
concerns about Russia's direction are greater today than they were a
year ago -- largely because Russia's deteriorating economy elevates
the "uncertainty quotient" in a number of key areas.
Just one year ago, Russia had its problems, but it had a basic sense
of direction and seemed to be moving forward, however fitfully. Now,
however, Prime Minister Primakov is struggling with mammoth problems.
To his credit, he has built a good relationship with the legislature
and gained passage of some long overdue legislation. But the nation is
heading into a political transition, facing difficult economic
choices, and possibly entering a period in which it debates its future
political direction. This is playing out against continuing instances
of lawlessness and growing public sentiment for a stronger hand at the
helm. This could be a dangerous path for a country with Russia's
authoritarian history, even though Russia has now held successful
elections and adopted a constitution.
The sense of drift is accentuated by the focus most political leaders
already have on the December 1999 Duma elections and the June 2000
Presidential election. Very few are disposed to take bold steps or new
initiatives that might risk additional public "pain" right now.
-- Meanwhile, President Yeltsin's health problems limit his
involvement in decisionmaking and place on Prime Minister Primakov
much of the responsibility for the day-to-day management of the
country.
As the government ponders how to proceed, the economic indicators grow
more worrisome. Russian consumers have been hit hard by inflation --
prices have shot up 90 percent since late July -- imports of consumer
goods have now fallen sharply, unemployment has inched up to nearly 12
percent and is spreading to the emerging middle class, and the economy
will probably contract by 6 to 8 percent this year.
This changed political dynamic and the economic slide highlights the
foundation of my increased concern: Politically, Russia is
increasingly unpredictable, and the worsening economic situation
affects all aspects of the Russian scene, as the desperate search for
revenue streams is exacerbating a number of serious problems:
-- For example, it has magnified the proliferation threat across the
board, as growing financial pressures raise incentives to transfer
sensitive technologies -- especially to Iran.
-- It has also highlighted the patchwork, inconsistent nature of
Moscow's relations with Russia's 89 regions -- particularly in the
delineation of fiscal powers and responsibilities. Alarm bells rang in
Moscow as dozens of regions initially responded to the economic crisis
by imposing price controls and limiting the flow of foodstuffs and
other goods outside their regions.
China
Turning now to China, my concerns bear some resemblance to those about
Russia, but in China's case, the trajectory is clearly different.
China is a great power on the rise -- diplomatically, militarily, and
economically. There is no doubt that China has the potential to affect
our security posture in Asia, but the extent to which its ambitions
and growing capabilities represent a challenge or threat to US
interests is still an open question.
The Chinese have signaled in summit meetings and elsewhere that they
want constructive bilateral relations. But at the same time, they
remain fundamentally suspicious of US intentions toward China, and --
like Russia -- seek to constrain any increase in US global influence.
Meanwhile, China's military modernization program continues apace,
despite slowing economic growth. The Chinese program is assisted by
sustained levels of defense spending and the availability of weapons
and technologies from the former Soviet bloc. Its focus is on air,
naval, and strategic nuclear modernization.
-- China is increasing the size and survivability of its retaliatory
nuclear missile force, even though it is unlikely to make the resource
commitment needed to approach the force levels of either the United
States or Russia.
-- China is also developing and acquiring air and naval systems
intended to deter the United States from involvement in a Taiwan
Strait crisis and to extend China's fighting capability beyond its
coastline.
Although China does not want a conflict over Taiwan, it refuses to
renounce the use of force as an option and continues to place its best
new military equipment opposite the island.
China's future is also uncertain because of its pressing domestic
challenges. On the economic side, China's major concern this year will
be sustaining economic growth, which officially reached almost 8
percent last year. China has not been immune from the global financial
crisis, and much slower growth this year would threaten labor peace
and increase pressure to devalue the currency -- a step that would
fuel a new round of financial turmoil in Asia.
These economic uncertainties have heightened China's fear of civil
strife, and the recent arrests of several pro-democracy dissidents
leave no doubt that China's leaders are determined to sustain the
Communist Party's monopoly on political power.
CHALLENGE: REGIONAL TROUBLEMAKERS
I'd like now to draw your attention to a group of hostile countries
that remain determined to challenge our interests at every turn. The
Threat from Iraq Needless to say, Iraq is high on this list. For eight
years, Saddam has been scarred by military defeat, diplomatic
setbacks, and UN sanctions. But he remains in power, and therefore,
remains a threat.
-- A fresh reminder of the threat has been Baghdad's return to
anti-Kuwait themes not heard since 1994. Tariq Aziz in January, for
example, called the Kuwaiti border issue "a mine that may explode in
the future."
-- In early January Saddam called on the Arab people to overthrow
governments that support US policy.
Such threats to Kuwait and moderate Arab regimes are signs of Saddam's
frustration with containment. Such threats also are classic examples
of Saddam's heavy-handed approach to the world -- one that exasperates
Arab regimes.
-- While noting their sympathy for the Iraqi people, Arab regimes have
reiterated that Saddam is responsible for the consequences of his
defiance.
-- The Arab League Ministerial meeting in January and the November
Damascus Declaration -- from GCC states plus Syria and Egypt -- showed
that Saddam's defiance and bluster are backfiring.
We fully expect that he will continue his confrontational approach
this year. It stems from Saddam's frustration that Allied airstrikes
have not triggered a decisive backlash against UN sanctions from
Security Council members and Arab governments.
-- His challenge to the no-fly zones, for example, is an effort to
deepen divisions within the Security Council and to inspire greater
opposition to American and British policy.
With his diplomacy and his challenges to the No-Fly zone failing to
deliver the breakthrough he seeks, Saddam will try other tactics to
end sanctions.
-- Over the years, I have talked about the capabilities of his
military and his hidden weapons of mass destruction, as well as
Saddam's ability to launch terrorism.
-- Many of these capabilities remain available to him as he grows more
frustrated and desperate to break out of containment.
-- They remind us how dangerous Saddam is and why only his fall from
power will free the region from this abiding threat.
-- In this context, one important result of Operation Desert Fox was
to damage the missile infrastructure that would support future Iraqi
WMD development.
-- But more importantly from my perspective, Baghdad learned from
Desert Fox that Washington's will to address the Iraqi threat has not
faded and that we know how to reach the things Saddam cares about most
-- the instruments of his power.
How secure is Saddam's rule? There is good news and bad news on that
score. Over the last eight years UN sanctions, and other pressures
have complicated Saddam's efforts to maintain firm control over the
country. Economic difficulties and the Shia insurgency in southern
Iraq have helped undermine morale in the regular Army, and perhaps in
the Republican Guard. And as you have heard, Operation Desert Fox at
least briefly had some disruptive impact on the Republican Guard and
Security Services.
Balancing such pressures on Saddam's regime, however, is a still --
formidable security apparatus. The overlapping security services are
pervasive and ruthless, leaving few vulnerabilities that can be
exploited by those opposed to his rule. The security services are not
infallible and Saddam has made many enemies inside Iraq, but his
regime is not, as some have claimed, a house of cards.
The Threat from North Korea
Dangerous as Saddam is, Mr. Chairman, I can hardly overstate my
concern about North Korea. In nearly all respects, the situation there
has become more volatile and unpredictable. The regime is still
struggling with serious food shortages, last year's grain harvest
having been more than 1 million tons short of minimum grain needs.
Very few heavy industrial plants are in operation. Living conditions
for most North Koreans are miserable. Incredibly, this misery coexists
with the robust WMD program I mentioned a few minutes ago.
Fresh signs of social decay have increased our concern about stability
in North Korea. Crime and indiscipline are commonplace even in the
military and security services. Citizens from all walks of life,
including members of elite groups, are more apt to blame Kim Chong-il
for systemic problems, including poor living conditions.
All of this will encourage the North to rely still more heavily on
risky brinkmanship in its dealings with the United States. P'yongyang
has a history of precipitating crises that it thought it could control
to increase US engagement in bilateral relations.
A key area where this will play out in the coming year is US efforts
to inspect the underground construction project at Kumchang-ni, which
may be intended to house a nuclear facility.
The key point, is that North Korea remains a serious military threat,
despite dire economic conditions. In addition to the WMD capabilities
I mentioned earlier, P'yongyang continues to devote considerable
resources to its mainline military, which can still initiate a
full-scale war on the Peninsula and inflict massive damage on South
Korea and the 37,000 American troops deployed there. We see no
indication that Kim Chong-il has abandoned the goal of ultimately
bringing the entire Peninsula under his control.
The Threat from Iran
Turning now to Iran: last year I described Iran as a still dangerous
state in which some positive changes were taking place -- changes that
could -- and I stressed could -- lead to a less confrontational stance
toward the United States.
But Iran has had a tumultuous year, and my sense is that it is more
likely to face serious unrest in 1999 that at any time since the
revolution 20 years ago. The situation is very fluid, and the more
moderate elements represented by Iran's President Khatami are on the
defensive to a greater degree than ever before in their struggle with
the country's conservatives. Some of President Khatami's domestic
reforms have come under intense attack by conservatives. And the
current jump in political violence, including the recent murders of
several dissidents, suggests that some conservative elements have
decided to revert to force to impose their will.
Khatami now has an opportunity to use the investigation of these
murders, in which hardline elements appear implicated, to put his
opponents on the defensive. He needs to regain the momentum he
demonstrated in his first few months to make concrete gains against
the conservatives. He could do so by using the investigation to push
for change in the MOIS and, combined with large turnout in nationwide
elections later this month, could reaffirm his popular mandate to push
for reform.
But his efforts to do this will play out against a background of
severe economic stress in Iran, largely the result of the slump in
global oil prices. This is making it harder for Khatami to deliver on
his reform promises -- with high unemployment also contributing to the
potential for civil unrest in the country.
Several troublesome developments involving Iran could unfold this
year. First, Mr. Chairman, we need to bear soberly in mind that
reformists and conservatives agree on at least one thing: weapons of
mass destruction are a necessary component of defense and a high
priority. Thus, as I stated earlier, we need to be vigilant against
the possibility of proliferation surprise.
India and Pakistan
Moving further East, I must tell you that India and Pakistan continue
to have fragile governments committed to potentially destabilizing
nuclear and missile programs.
In India, the Hindu-nationalist led coalition is struggling with
internal strains, a resurgence of extremism, and rising expectations
that contrast sharply with a slowing economy and weak policies.
In Pakistan, the Sharif government is hampered by enormous economic
problems and is contending with rising Islamic sentiment that includes
an extremist fringe inspired by the Taliban example in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, both India and Pakistan continue to resist curbing WMD
programs to escape economic sanctions. Neither side has established a
clear nuclear-use doctrine, which makes deterrence unstable. And the
bilateral dialogue between the two rivals does not appear promising.
Further nuclear tests are a distinct possibility and testing of
advanced new missiles seems a certainty. Kashmir remains a dangerous
flashpoint. While neither side appears to want war, and our diplomats
are working hard to ease tensions, the two sides could easily stumble
into conflict by misinterpreting intentions or military posture.
The Balkans
Similarly, I must report a guarded outlook for the Balkans in 1999.
Kosovo remains a tinderbox, and a constitutional struggle between
Serbia and Montenegro could lead to a violent confrontation. In
Bosnia, the Dayton process has brought stability and ended violence,
but sharpening ethnic divisions may mean harder going for Dayton this
year. Throughout the region political, economic, and social progress
is unsustainable without direct international involvement in virtually
every aspect of policy formation and resource allocation.
Kosovo is the most acute problem. The Kosovo Liberation Army will
emerge from the winter better trained, better equipped, and better led
than last year. With neither Belgrade nor the Kosovar Albanians
willing to compromise at this point, spring will bring harder fighting
and heavier casualties, unless the International Community succeeds in
imposing a political settlement.
The fragility of any political solution is likely to generate pressure
for the International Community to deploy ground forces to enforce
implementation and deter new fighting.
Kosovo -- province of Serbia -- has long been a flashpoint between the
Serbian and Albanian communities in what is now the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia. For Serbs, Kosovo is the birthplace of the Serbian
nation and the location of many of the countries most famous and
revered religious and historical sites. The source of tension is that
over time Serb migration from the economically depressed province
combined with a high birth rate among the ethnic Albanian community
has resulted in the Serbs becoming a minority -- they now account for
less than 10 percent of the population of about 2 million.
Despite these demographic pressures, tensions between the two
communities were contained through the seventies and eighties. During
this period, Kosovo's Albanian majority enjoyed substantial autonomy
and had representation in the main Federal Yugoslav bodies. Kosovo
also had its own constitution, provincial assembly, interior ministry
and wide administrative authority. This all changed in 1989 when
Slobodon Milosevic -- looking for an emotional and patriotic issue to
rally public support behind his bid for power -- posed as the defender
of Serb interests in Kosovo. He abrogated Kosovo's autonomy on the
wildly exaggerated grounds that the shrinking Serb population was
being discriminated against by the Albanian majority.
In place of autonomy, Milosevic imposed his version of apartheid --
shutting down ethnic Albanian schools and local administrative bodies
and forcing ethnic Albanians out of government jobs and state-run
businesses. Ethnic Albanian leaders initially responded to this
repression by organizing non-violent resistance and seeking to reach a
compromise with Belgrade. These efforts, however, only resulted in
more repression.
By 1996, a loosely organized insurgency -- the Kosovo Liberation Army
or KLA -- had emerged -- dedicated to overthrowing Belgrade's rule by
force. The KLA grew quickly and was able last spring to mount
low-level attacks against Serb police forces and expand its presence
throughout the province, even exercising effective control over some
areas in central Kosovo.
Alarmed by the growing threat posed by the KLA, Belgrade launched a
major counter-insurgency operation that lasted until late October.
Serb security forces succeeded in pushing the KLA out of many areas,
but they were unable to inflict a mortal wound. The KLA suffered
relatively light casualties and its command structure remained largely
intact. The Albanian civilian population was not so fortunate, bearing
the brunt of the Serbs scorched earth campaign.
The agreements Belgrade signed last October stemmed the fighting only
temporarily. The KLA used the cease-fire and the presence of
international verifiers to reoccupy all the territory it lost last
year, and it has kept up a continuous series of small-scale attacks
against Serb security forces. Belgrade, for its part, has failed to
comply with many of the provisions of the October agreements,
including those pertaining to troop withdrawals u maintaining
considerably more police in Kosovo than permitted under the agreements
reached with NATO. The large presence of so-called special police --
the most brutal of the Serb forces in Kosovo -- has served as a
lightening rod for KLA attacks.
We are on the verge of a dramatic deterioration of the Kosovo crisis
as the limitations of winter weather pass. The cease-fire negotiated
last October is near collapse. The number of attacks by both sides is
increasing as are the casualties.
Both sides are now preparing for much heavier fighting in the spring.
The KLA has used the cease-fire to improve its training and command
and control, as well as well as to acquire more and better weapons. As
a result the KLA is a more formidable force than the Serbs faced last
summer. We estimate that there are several thousand KLA regulars
augmented by thousands more irregulars, or home guards. Moreover,
funds pouring into KLA coffers from the Albanian Diaspora have
increased sharply following the massacre at Racak.
We assess that if fighting escalates in the spring -- as we expect --
it will be bloodier than last year's. Belgrade will seek to crush the
KLA once and for all, while the insurgents will have the capability to
inflict heavier casualties on Serb forces. Both sides likely will step
up attacks on civilians. There is already evidence that the KLA may be
retaliating for the slaying of Albanian civilians at the hands of Serb
security forces by attacking Serb civilians. The recent attacks
against Serb bars and restaurants in Pristina and Pec could be the
beginning of a pattern of tit-for-tat retaliation that will grow more
severe as fighting intensifies. Heavier fighting also will result in
another humanitarian crisis, possibly greater in scale than last
year's, which created 250,000 refugees and internally displaced
persons along with hundreds of destroyed buildings and homes.
The Aegean, Haiti, and Africa
The outlook is better in the Aegean, Mr. Chairman, where tensions
remain but the chances of an immediate armed confrontation between
Greece and Turkey have receded, now that Cypriot President Clerides
has agreed to divert Russian SA-10 missiles to Crete.
In Haiti, progress toward strengthening democratic rule suffered a
series of setbacks last year and we could see an up-tick in unrest,
violence, and crime as Haitians struggle to meet basic needs.
And Africa continues to present huge challenges as it struggles to
build stronger political and economic institutions, but erupts
increasingly into violence.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
So, the world seen from my window is far from placid. It is becoming a
vastly more challenging place for those of us whose job it is to warn
our nation's leaders and to protect American lives.
The questions are growing in number, the problems are more complex,
and the issues are increasingly tangled together in intricate
patterns. Many of our targets are paying closer attention to
information security, and many are adding emphasis and resources to
deny and deceive our intelligence gathering capabilities. Moreover,
media leaks give our adversaries a roadmap to find and defeat our
sources and methods.
With all of this in mind, we are working hard to improve our
operational reach and analytic depth; to reinvigorate our ability to
get the best human and technical intelligence possible; to ensure that
our analytic corps has the sophistication to grapple with the growing
intricacy of the threats;
As we do this Mr. Chairman, rest assured that we will give you the
good news and the bad news with equal dedication. Our overarching aim
is to ensure that our nation has the intelligence it needs to
anticipate and counter the threats I've discussed here this morning.