Military

DATE=12-18-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS AL QAEDA (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-284424

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Officials from the U-S Federal Bureau of Investigation say it is too soon to assess whether the U-S-led military campaign in Afghanistan has sufficiently weakened the al-Qaeda terrorist organization to keep it from posing a threat in the future. The officials testified before a Senate panel Tuesday. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: J-T Caruso, acting assistant F-B-I director in the counterterrorism division, was reluctant to evaluate the U-S led military effort in Afghanistan during his appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee.

/// CARUSO ACTUALITY ///

It is too early to tell from a law enforcement perspective how the current military campaign in Afghanistan will affect al-Qaeda and its ability to operate in the future.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Caruso said determination and vigilance are key to the success of the mission.

/// CARUSO ACTUALITY ///

It is one thing to disrupt an organization such as al-Qaeda, it is another to dismantle and destroy it. This must truly remain an international effort. All agencies within the U-S government must remain vigilant, and must continue to work together in order to eradicate the scourge to all mankind everywhere known as al-Qaeda.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Caruso argued that while al-Qaeda's training camps and havens are being destroyed in the bombing campaign, al-Qaeda cells elsewhere in the world could threaten the United States.

It is a point another F-B-I official says should not be lost on the United States as it tries to hunt down al-Qaeda's leader, Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind of the September 11th attacks on New York and Washington. Thomas Wilshere is with the F-B-I's International Terrorism division.

/// WILSHERE ACTUALITY ///

The capabilities and reach of the organization has reached critical mass. They had a long head start, so the campaign against safe-haven in Afghanistan is as important if not more important in my mind than the search for bin Laden and his top two leaders.

/// END ACT ///

U-S military officials have acknowledged the possibility that some al-Qaeda members could have crossed the border into Pakistan. Pakistani troops have been deployed to try to apprehend fleeing members of the terrorist network. (signed)

Neb/dat/PT