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FBI chief: U.S. 'under attack' by terrorists
August 1, 1996Web posted at: 6:05 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States may face "a very difficult time" coping with terrorists, and new counter-terrorism weapons are needed, FBI Director Louis Freeh said Thursday.
On expanded wiretap powers being sought by the FBI as part of that defense, he said: "We're simply trying to catch up with technology. And that is critical."
In testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Freeh pointed to a series of arrests and convictions since four Islamic fundamentalists were found guilty in the February 1993 bombing that killed six people and injured more than 1,000 at New York's World Trade Center.
He referred to the two fatal bombings in Saudi Arabia that killed 24 servicemen; the bombing that killed one woman at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta; and the still-unexplained crash of TWA Flight 800.
Although the combined incidents have "completely consumed" law enforcement personnel, Freeh said the wiretap proposals would not give the government "expansive powers" and would not lead to "an avalanche of new electronic surveillance." (350K AIFF or WAV sound)
"The United States and its interests both here and around the world are clearly under attack. And we may be in for a very difficult time with respect to continuation of these types of things," Freeh said. (263K AIFF or WAV sound)
Anti-terrorism negotiations
Freeh spoke a day after the White House, after wrangling with key Republican lawmakers, won tentative agreement on a package of anti-terrorism measures that would expand wiretapping authority.
Another proposal, aimed at tracing explosives, appeared to have been revived Thursday. After a meeting between a bipartisan lawmakers' task force and administration officials, participants said they support studying the placement of tiny chemical markers or taggants in explosives that would help investigators trace bombs.
That idea, favored by President Clinton, was rejected by negotiators on Wednesday. So was a provision to allow the FBI to get information on suspected terrorists from hotels, telephone companies and storage facilities.
Barr: New laws not needed
A leading GOP opponent of an earlier, more sweeping anti-terrorism bill said Thursday he didn't believe Congress could enact a new package before it recesses this weekend.
"I think it would be very difficult to do in light of the logistics and the opposition," Rep. Bob Barr, R-Georgia, said. "The (anti-terrorism) funding is there. No new laws are needed."
Asked about Barr's comments, Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, head of the bipartisan group said, "That's part of the obstacle. It's what we have to deal with. What we do has to reach the level of consensus."
The negotiators, led by Craig and White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, hoped to have a package ready for a vote by the end of the week.
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and other GOP leaders summoned Attorney General Janet Reno, Panetta and Freeh to a private meeting Thursday to explain why some of the FBI's anti-terrorism funds haven't been spent.
"We have been somewhat behind in the hiring of people" for anti-terrorism programs, because of the time needed to screen applicants for such sensitive work, Freeh explained during his Senate testimony Thursday.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Bomb still leading theory in TWA crash - August 1, 1996
- White House, lawmakers agree on anti-terrorism proposals - August 1, 1996
- Clinton to press for anti-terrorism tools - July 29, 1996
- Clinton to terrorists: U.S. won't be intimidated - July 28, 1996
- TWA engines remain underwater until more bodies recovered - July 26, 1996
- Source: FBI finds possible bomb residue on TWA wreckage - July 20, 1996
- U.S. senator convinced TWA crash caused by sabotage - July 19, 1996
Related sites:
- The Counter-Terrorism page
- Counter-Terrorist Rewards Program (U.S. State Dept.)
- FBI
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