17 November 2002

Homeland Security Director Says Latest Threats Are Nothing New, November 17, 2002

(Tom Ridge interviewed on ABC, CNN, Fox TV shows November 17)

By David Anthony Denny Washington File Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- White House Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge says the United States knows it's at war with al-Qaeda terrorists, and that it considers recent threats credible, but that the threats are nothing new.

Appearing on November 17 on ABC's "This Week," Ridge said the U.S. government considers recent threats -- an audiotape purportedly by Osama bin Laden, a six-page letter allegedly from an al-Qaeda member to an al Jazeera correspondent, and the FBI's alert warning of possible "spectacular attacks" -- to be credible.

"I think we have to take all of them as credible.... Clearly, the past couple of weeks, we've seen increased direct communication from bin Laden and allegedly the al-Qaeda leadership," Ridge said.

However, he said, the threats constitute no new information. "[W]hen we hear the threats, we could say to ourselves, 'we've heard them before.' When we hear the conditions associated with the threats, we've heard them before," Ridge said.

"We know we're at war," he continued. "[Bin Laden] brought the war on terrorism to our shores. ... And we know that in spite of the fact that it is a global organization and our allies and friends around the world are at risk, the United States has been and will remain the No. 1 target," Ridge said.

On Fox News Sunday Ridge said "We have heard the increased 'chatter' about potential [terrorist] activity in the United States and around the world. We've taken additional precautions and added protective measures, both within government and the private sector."

On ABC, Ridge said the United States is safer now than it was a year ago. "[E]very single day, both within government and within the private sector, additional protective measures are taken. ... [W]e've got a much broader coalition that is feeding us intelligence from around the world," he said. He added that information from 2,000-plus al-Qaeda detainees, and the disruption of the terrorist group's communications and training facilities in Afghanistan "lead me to conclude that we are safer. But that is not saying that we have designed a fail-safe system," he said.

Responding to recent criticism from South Dakota Democratic Senator Tom Daschle that the anti-terrorism effort has not been successful, Ridge said "I'm kind of disappointed that he ... has a different frame of reference ... than most Americans."

Asked whether al-Qaeda is now weaker than before, Ridge answered, "I think they are generally weaker, because of the disorganization. But it's all relative. ... They are decentralized. ... [T]hey're still able to hit us."

Asked whether al-Qaeda has operatives within the United States, Ridge said "I think it's safe to say that al-Qaeda has supporters and those who would prepare to operate against us in the United States. ... We're pretty sure they exist, and it's our job to identify them and disrupt their activity," he said.

"We need to do everything we can in this country, within the rule of law, within the Constitution of the United States, to identify and apprehend those who would do us harm," Ridge said. "[I]n this country ... everything we will do must be consistent with our Constitution, and that's precisely how we proceed," he said.

Asked about recent comments by Florida Democratic Senator Bob Graham that the United States could not pursue military action against Iraq successfully while fighting terrorism globally, Ridge said "I think, clearly, the president said ... and everyone is confident, that we can deal with the terrorist threat, and if we have to, deal with Iraq as well."