Melanie Hunter, CNSNews.com
Tuesday, May 21, 2002

"I think we will see that in the future, I think it's inevitable," FBI Director Robert Mueller said Monday during a speech to the National Association of District Attorneys meeting in Alexandria, Va.

During his opening remarks, Mueller predicted "there will be another terrorist attack. We will not be able to stop it. It's something we all live with."

Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge Sunday called on U.S. citizens to be on the alert after an FBI warning that terrorists might rent apartments in high-rise apartment buildings and plant explosives in the apartments to destroy the buildings.

That same day, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said there was an increase in "chatter" being picked up by the intelligence community, suggesting another major terrorist attack could be under way.

Cheney: 'Not if, but When'

Also Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney said the possibility of another terrorist attack on the U.S. was "very, very real."

Speaking on NBC, Cheney said, "In my opinion, the prospects of a future attack against the United States are almost certain ... not a matter of if, but when."

"We don't know if it's going to be tomorrow or next week or next year, partly because I think we're having some success at disrupting the [al-Qaeda] organization, making it more difficult for them to carry out their operations."

Over the weekend, the New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence agencies have detected signs that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network is planning to launch an attack as big or bigger than the one on Sept. 11. According to the newspaper, no specific information is available. The warnings are said to be vague but disturbing.

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Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Al-Qaeda

Bush Administration

Homeland/Civil Defense

War on Terrorism

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