FBI Claims 'High Tempo of Terrorist Activity' in U.S.
By James Gordon Meek
I write in today's New York Daily News about how the FBI explains the record-high number of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants agents sought and received from a secret court last year (2,176). A top bureau official says the FISA warrants were necessary because of a "very high tempo of terrorist activity."
FBI Assistant Director John Miller didn't offer many details after dropping that ominous remark in an interview taped yesterday for C-SPAN's "Newsmakers." But he quipped, "If somebody wants to accuse us of collecting more intelligence against terrorists and spies, I'd like to plead guilty."
Asked if the FBI has identified any Al Qaeda cells operating within U.S. shores, the bureau's chief spokesman said cryptically, "I can't tell you that -- and that doesn't mean the answer is no." In past years, counterterrorism officials have said they were unaware of any cells controlled by Al Qaeda's central leadership.
I quizzed Miller -- an ex-TV journalist who interviewed Osama Bin Laden in 1998 for ABC News -- with Lara Jakes Jordan of the Associated Press. The C-SPAN program airs Sunday at 10 a.m. Eastern.
As reported yesterday, Miller discussed the importance of American-born propagandist Adam Yahiye Gadahn to Al Qaeda. He also assessed the significance of the high rate of videos released over the past year by Gadahn's boss, Al Qaeda No. 2 Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri.
"Al Qaeda is on a bell curve here, and they're getting more effective" at issuing propaganda to inspire unaffiliated terror groups, while planning their own spectacular attacks, Miller said. You can read more about the Miller interview at the Daily News' Mouth of the Potomac Blog.