Hearing of the International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights Subcomm of the House International Relations Comm on Al Qaeda Threat

Federal News Service

HEADLINE: HEARING OF THE INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, NONPROLIFERATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

SUBJECT: AL QAEDA THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES

CHAIRED BY: REPRESENTATIVE ELTON GALLEGY (R-CA)

WITNESS: COFER BLACK, STATE DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR FOR COUNTERTERRORISM

LOCATION: 2172 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C.

BODY:

REP. GALLEGY: Call the hearing to order.

Today the Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights is focusing its oversight responsibility on al Qaeda, which by all accounts remains the number one terrorist threat in the United States and to its people. On March 9th, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, CIA Director George Tenet underlined this view by warning that al Qaeda terrorists were trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction and planning spectacular attacks against the United States and its allies.

I agree that al Qaeda continues to be a dangerous threat to all of our citizens and to our interests around the world. However, I also believe that al Qaeda has fundamentally reorganized since September the 11th, 2001, and that our counterterrorism strategy needs to reflect the new al Qaeda structure and new al Qaeda strategy. Since they have lost the sanctuary in Afghanistan, al Qaeda has evolved into a much more decentralized organization, relying on either semi-autonomous cells or affiliated groups to carry out its deadly plans. Recent attacks bear out this strategy.

The May 16th, '03 suicide attacks in Casablanca that killed 45 people were carried out by attackers belonging to a local terrorist group who were recruited and trained by al Qaeda. In the November '03 suicide bomb attack in Istanbul that killed 25 people and wounded more than 300, the group that claimed responsibility, Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, is linked to al Qaeda. A few days later, an attack against a bank and British consulate in Istanbul has been tied to another local terrorist group with ties to al Qaeda. Lastly, the preliminary results of the investigation of the Madrid bombings point to the involvement of Moroccan Islamic radicals who are members of the al Salafia-al-why can't we have, you know-Jihadia --

(To staff.) Is that correct? Close?

STAFF: Al Jihadia.

REP. GALLEGY: Al Jihadia-all organizations affiliated with al Qaeda.

These four attacks were executed by four different terrorist groups. However, each of these four organizations are connected either through recruitment training of Afghanistan or localist help, all tied to al Qaeda. They demonstrate that al Qaeda can inflict major casualties with smaller physical infrastructure and more decentralized operations.

Although we must still guard against a large-scale planned attack by Osama bin Laden or other senior al Qaeda leaders, the United States must respond to the threat posed by al Qaeda-affiliated organizations.

On a related matter, I would like to also explore the extent to which al Qaeda is not only an organization but has also become an ideology. Has it spawned completely independent groups or individuals who are bent on killing Americans or citizens with pro-American countries. And are we doing enough to isolate al Qaeda and discredit the radical ideology of bin Laden as part of a long-term strategy to defeat this terrorist organization?

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REP. BETTY MCCOLLUM (D-MN): Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ambassador Black, thank you for being here today.

We keep talking about al Qaeda and we're here today to talk about al Qaeda. But al Qaeda isn't a nation. It's ever-evolving, as we all know. There's reports that it could be in anywhere up to 50 different countries. And my concern is as we see the spread and the evolving of this, especially in light of what recently happened in Spain, we can start, you know, focusing on how to prevent attacks. We need to do that and our Homeland Security is working on it, as well as the international community together.

But we, in my opinion, have another challenge ahead of us, especially as al Qaeda continues to evolve and spread and move out into different countries. And that is understanding the language and culture. And as you so well put it, and as people say, and I'll paraphrase: long haul, long time, long term, decades. This is going to be for the next generation that we're going to have to keep working on destroying groups like al Qaeda as they continue to evolve, working internationally as well as keeping opportunities for al Qaeda to come in and find recruits, the next generation of youths that are victimized and becoming suicide bombers.

So could you tell me what you're working on, if there's plans to capture not only people our age to start working and learning more about cultural sensitivities-those of us who have the ability to travel or people who are in the State Department or involved in intelligence to expand their knowledge of culture and language, and what we are doing, or planning to do, as a nation so that we have individuals with the diplomatic language and cultural skills so that those people who can pick up the nuances of what's in an e-mail or what's happened in a phone call or what they're hearing.

MR. BLACK: Yes, ma'am. I would answer the question in two parts.

One is that it is interesting for me to note the new immigrants to the United States from these very areas that we're interested in sometimes have such unique insights into the turn of a phrase or what a particular word means that you might not learn in school. So we have a great advantage, this being a melting pot, in the people that naturally come in.

There is an across-the-board effort in the government, and I'd have to research this and get back to you in writing to see if there's established programs and the like. But, Congresswoman, I've been really impressed the amount of time the people in the government, from the secretary of State to Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage to all the assistant secretaries, myself, people in the intelligence community, the time they spend working with young people, going out and talking to high school students, college students, giving lectures and underscoring those skills and traits that are sought for and desired in essentially this type of work. And it is I guess sort of analogous to the days of the Cold War.

I guess in these days, when-you and I might remember, you know, learn Russian and learn Russian culture and go and see St. Petersburg and go through the Hermitage. We're trying to do this in areas now of interest to us that have great impact in counterterrorism. That's the good news. The bad news is there are a lot of countries that we're interesting in, but the learning of languages is very important. I think if you want to be successful in the field of counterterrorism, whether it's in the State Department or the intelligence community, you've got to learn-you have to know a good language. This will be a key part of your career, whether it's Arabic or Farsi or Chinese. That's a prerequisite these days. We encourage people to know cultures, to travel.

The big change, in my view, is we're starting at a very young age because, as you said-you underscored again, this is a long struggle. I know it will see me out, and perhaps it will also see you out. This isn't going to go over quick. We're going to have to stick with it. And we're trying to build this infrastructure to reach out to kids, show them the great contribution they can make. It's not easy doing counterterrorism, but you can save lives. And they do seem to be attracted to it, so I think we're making progress in that area.

REP. MCCOLLUM: Mr. Chair, if I may, other State Department issues besides counterterrorism that are more on the diplomatic, hand- to-hand areas, do you know if there's programs being evolved in there? And I serve on the Education Committee, and I haven't seen anything forthcoming from the Department of Education to really embrace and enhance and encourage --

MR. BLACK: Yes.

REP. MCCOLLUM: -- learning more languages, learning about more cultures because, with No Child Behind (sic), with the high-risk, high-stakes testing, actually schools are cutting those programs.

MR. BLACK: Yeah, I would just have to say what I am trying to report to you is the reality that I see from my position. But if I may-I'd have to go back and check-may I give you a written response? I'm sure these programs have names and we can give you the background to them.

REP. MCCOLLUM: Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I look forward to seeing that.

Thank you, sir.