Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., March 31, 2008 Adar2 25, 5768 | | Israel Time: 04:50 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

CIA chief Michael Hayden (AP) Last update - 21:20 30/03/2008 CIA chief: Al-Qaida recruiting 'Western'-looking fighters By Reuters Tags: Pakistan, CIA, U.S., Al-Qaida Al-Qaida is training fighters that "look western" and could easily cross U.S. borders without attracting attention, CIA Director Michael Hayden said on Sunday. The militant Islamist group has turned Pakistan's remote tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan into a safe haven, and is using it to plot further attacks against the United States, Hayden said. "They are bringing operatives into that region for training - operatives that wouldn't attract your attention if they were going through the customs line at Dulles (airport outside Washington) with you when you were coming back from overseas," Hayden said during an interview on NBC's television show Meet the Press. Advertisement "(They) look western (and) would be able to come into this country without attracting the kinds of attention that others might," Hayden said, without offering further details. The United States went to war in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks on U.S. cities in order to to crush al-Qaida and hunt down its chief, Osama bin Laden, who Hayden confirmed was still believed by the United States to be hiding in the rugged Afghan border area. The Washington Post reported on Thursday that the United States had stepped up unilateral attacks on al-Qaida targets in Pakistan because it fears the country's newly elected leaders will soon curb U.S. actions on their soil. Pakistan's pro-U.S. president, Pervez Musharraf, has been weakened by the defeat of his allies in the country's recent elections. Hayden declined to comment directly on the Post article, but he stressed that the tribal regions were very sensitive. "The situation along that Afghanistan/Pakistan border presents a clear and present danger to Afghanistan, to Pakistan, to the West in general and the United States in particular," Hayden said. "It is very clear to us that al-Qaida has been able over the last 18 months or so to establish a safe haven along the Afghan/Pakistan border that they have not enjoyed before." Asked directly whether he feared Musharraf might not be around as president for much longer to support the United States, Hayden said he did not know, but praised what the country had already delivered. "We have not had a better partner in the war against terrorism than the Pakistani government," he said. Related articles: Bin Laden tape: Iron and fire needed to liberate Palestine Islam will win Report: Officials fear Al-Qaida planning to attack Germany Bookmark to del.icio.us   My land, my country Israeli Arabs mark 32nd Land Day in demonstrations across the country. One voice on Israel It's hard to find differences in U.S. candidates' promises on peace process.   1.   I believe him 19:37  |  abitworried 30/03/08   2.   I Would Add To That... 20:11  |  Yosemite 30/03/08   3.   Plenty of weird western looking dudes out there.! 20:40  |  Stephen. 30/03/08   4.   Another reason why PROFILING does not work. 21:07  |  ManInTheMiddle 30/03/08   5.   The CIA`s contribution to the war on terror 21:59  |  Natallie Durson 30/03/08   6.   equality of the sexes in terror 22:33  |  zionist forever 30/03/08   7.   never trust anybody 22:40  |  zionist forever 30/03/08   8.   Close Down Madrassas, Primordial Soup of Terror 22:49  |  Simeon ben Jacob 30/03/08   9.   Look at this man`s intelligent face... 23:14  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/03/08   10.   If this is true... 01:51  |  I`m abitworried,too 31/03/08   11.   Geert Wilders....????? 03:17  |  Swiss (Dino) 31/03/08

Today Online 'PM passed 20 messages to Assad, but he disappointed us' Responses: 83 Bush: Peace deal by 2009 likely if road map fulfilled Responses: 190 Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive' Responses: 199 Editorial: Israel must help Bush, Rice's belated peace effort succeed Responses: 45 Rosner's Domain New Guest: Rabbis who don't officiate intermarriage should refer to rabbis who do Poll: what percentage Jews will vote McCain? Is McCain eligable for contribution from the new dovish lobby? 38% for pressuring Palestinians, 25% for pressuring Israel (WTR) Bush is still determined not to repeat Clinton's mistakes More Headlines 04:30 Hamas leader Meshal: Gilad Shalit is still alive 00:00 Bush 'optimistic' on 2009 Mideast peace deal 00:01 Study: 60% of Israel's poor are ultra-Orthodox and Arabs 02:42 U.S. Jewish donors conference to address Israeli philanthropy 21:55 Vatican: Islam surpasses Roman Catholicism as world's largest religion 03:36 UTJ joins Yesha Council, seeks expansion of Haredi settlement 03:53 Join the PA police, get NIS 1,400 a month 23:56 Barak to bereaved parents: Labor to quit gov't sooner than anticipated 01:29 Police: Bnei Brak has by far the highest rate of sexual offenses 21:42 Gaza protesters demand that Egypt release Hamas militants 04:08 Small parties likely to maintain strength in local elections 00:39 Motor racing body mum as president accused in Nazi role-playing sex scandal 23:17 Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive' Previous Editions Select Day 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved