Threat report paints grim picture
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AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 27, 2008 00:00
WASHINGTON - The terrorism threat to the United States over the next five years will be driven by instability in the Middle East and Africa, persistent challenges to border security and increasing Internet savvy, said a new intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press.
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks are considered the most dangerous threats that could be carried out against the U.S. But those threats are also the most unlikely because it is so difficult for al-Qaeda and similar groups to acquire the materials needed to carry out such plots, according to the internal Homeland Security Threat Assessment for the years 2008-2013.
Earlier this month, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction remains "the highest priority at the federal level." Officials also predict that in the next five years, terrorists will try to conduct a destructive biological attack. The pool of radical Islamists within the U.S. will increase over the next five years due partly to the ease of online recruiting means, they added. Officials foresee "a wave of young, self-identified Muslim 'terrorist wannabes' who aspire to carry out violent acts."
The cyber terror threat is expected to increase over the next five years, as hacking tools become more sophisticated. "Internet-savvy extremists might apply their online acumen to conduct cyber attacks rather than offer themselves up as operatives to conduct physical attacks," said the assessment.
Earlier this month, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction remains "the highest priority at the federal level." Officials also predict that in the next five years, terrorists will try to conduct a destructive biological attack. The pool of radical Islamists within the U.S. will increase over the next five years due partly to the ease of online recruiting means, they added. Officials foresee "a wave of young, self-identified Muslim 'terrorist wannabes' who aspire to carry out violent acts."
The cyber terror threat is expected to increase over the next five years, as hacking tools become more sophisticated. "Internet-savvy extremists might apply their online acumen to conduct cyber attacks rather than offer themselves up as operatives to conduct physical attacks," said the assessment.