02 February 2000
(Tenet tells Senate committee of probable perpetrators) (500) By Susan Ellis Washington File Staff Writer The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, George Tenet, says threats are growing from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) aimed at the United States from many parts of the world, and that "over the next 15 years...our cities will face ballistic missile threats from...North Korea, probably Iran, and possibly Iraq." In testimony February 2 before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Tenet said Usama Bin Ladin "is still foremost" among terrorists planning attacks against the United States and that more than half of 24 terrorists brought to justice since July 1998 "were associates" of Bin Ladin's Al-Qa'ida organization. He said that despite some disruptions, U.S. intelligence officials believe Bin Ladin could strike without warning, and that the terrorist -- along with others -- is "placing increased emphasis on developing surrogates to carry out attacks in an effort to avoid detection." Intelligence officials are "familiar with Russian and Chinese capabilities to strike at military and civilian targets throughout the United States," Tenet said, adding that in the post-Yeltsin Russia, Russian polls indicate that Acting President Vladimir Putin "is the odds-on favorite" to win the next election in two months, and he will face many challenges. The way he decides to meet them, Tenet said, will determine whether Russia continues to move "further along the path toward economic recovery and democratic stability." The CIA official also testified on the security situation vis a vis the Caucasus and Central Asia, saying that Chechnya "has significance" because it "has the potential to become more volatile as it becomes more important to the United States." Tenet covered other regions of the world "where vital US interests are at stake" including the Middle East, Iran, Iraq, the Balkans, Kosovo, China, North Korea, East Asia, Indonesia, Africa, and India-Pakistan. Citing "the deep-seated rivalry" between India and Pakistan, he noted that "India enjoys advantages over Pakistan in most areas of conventional defense preparedness. He said that recent changes in government in both countries "add tensions," and that General Musharraf's rule in Pakistan "has reinforced New Delhi's inclination not to reopen the bilateral dialogue" soon. Tenet said the new year brings "continuing deep concerns about the antagonisms that persist in South Asia and their potential to fuel a wider and more dangerous conflict on the subcontinent." Speaking of sub-Saharan Africa's "marginalization" because of its "infinitesimal share of world trade in goods and services," he said as the continent's small role in the international economy has faded, "instability has intensified." Instability fosters conditions "potentially leading to genocide and other massive human rights abuses," Tenet said, adding that "endemic violence and instability increase the danger that criminal and insurgent groups will zero in on individual U.S. citizens as soft targets." (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.)