FBI director says Awlaki’s death weakens al-Qaeda but group remains a threat

The killing of U.S.-born Islamic cleric Anwar al-Awlaki has weakened al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, but the group remains a “significant threat” to the United States, the head of the FBI said Thursday.

Awlaki − the leader of external operations for AQAP − and Samir Khan, a Pakistani-American who was the editor of Qaeda’s English-language magazine, were killed last week in a suspected U.S. drone strike in Yemen.

“Despite this blow to their leadership, AQAP remains a significant threat to the homeland, and we must maintain our vigilance in responding to this threat,” FBI Director Robert Mueller told the House intelligence committee.

“AQAP has proven its capability to direct attacks into the United States, and a strike against its leadership, even a significant one, does not eliminate the potential for retaliation or other action by AQAP.”

Matthew Olsen, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, agreed.

“We remain concerned about the group’s intent to attack Western targets, as well as its propaganda efforts designed to inspire like-minded Western extremists,” Olsen said in his testimony before the committee.

“And we are monitoring how the loss of Awlaki and Khan will affect AQAP’s propaganda machine.”

AQAP and Somalia connection

Olsen also expressed concerns about ongoing links between AQAP and Somalia’s Shabaab rebels, who claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack this week on a government compound in Mogadishu that left more than 70 people dead.

“I would say that that remains a significant concern − the potential alliance between Shabaab and AQAP,” Olsen said, adding that Awlaki’s death would have little effect on the connections between the two.

Mueller, asked whether nation states were engaged in cyber espionage against the United States, responded: "Absolutely."

Russia, China, Iran and others "have the capabilities that we are alert to," he said.

The FBI since 2006 has had several dozen cases, investigations, and prosecutions of people related to China that were involved in economic espionage, Mueller said.

Al-Qaeda issued its first public encouragement of cyber attacks in a video released on June 3 titled “Thou Art Held Responsible Only for Thyself,” Olsen said.

Al-Qaeda allies in Pakistan and Afghanistan, such as the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, have recently demonstrated the intent and capability to conduct attacks against Americans and targets in Afghanistan, Olsen said.

I would say that that remains a significant concern − the potential alliance between Shebab and AQAP

Matthew Olsen, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center

Republican congratulation

U.S. President Barack Obama has done a good job in battling Islamist extremism, accomplishing more than predecessor George W. Bush in Pakistan’s tribal areas, Republican House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday.

“I think so far the president’s done just fine,” Boehner, one of Obama’s most fierce critics, said one day before Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney was expected to attack current U.S. foreign policy in a speech.

“I think that when you look at the prosecution of the war effort against the enemy in the tribal areas, there’s clearly more been done under President Obama than it was under President Bush, in terms of a more aggressive effort focused at them,” Boehner said at a Washington conference.

Meanwhile, a top Republican senator on Thursday said a bill that would limit how terrorism suspects are detained and prosecuted gives the Obama administration flexibility it wants, but he was willing to make more changes.

Concerns raised by the White House over Congress setting the rules on how and where to prosecute terrorism suspects has held up Senate consideration of a massive bill authorizing defense programs for next year.

Handling the suspects, including those at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has become a thorny issue for the White House because it has blocked closing that facility and delayed the trials for the Sept. 11, 2001 suspects.

“I strongly believe that the language adopted by the Senate Armed Services Committee is reasonable, fair, and most importantly constitutional,” Senator John McCain, top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement.

But he added, “I will work with Chairman (Carl) Levin and the administration to remedy any deficiencies in the language.”

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid has said he would not bring the defense policy bill to the floor for a vote until changes were made to address the administration’s concerns on the terrorism suspects provisions.

I think that when you look at the prosecution of the war effort against the enemy in the tribal areas, there's clearly more been done under President Obama than it was under President Bush, in terms of a more aggressive effort focused at them

John Boehner, Republican House Speaker