Surprise terrorist attacks remain top threat

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By

A surprise attack on the United States by terrorists is the most worrying threat facing the country, while a nuclear detonation by al Qaeda here remains a low probability, the admiral in charge of the U.S. Northern Command says.

"We're trying to think through the unknown unknowns," Adm. Timothy J. Keating, the Northcom leader, said in a telephone interview with reporters.

Adm. Keating made the remarks in commenting on a nationwide, multiple-incident exercise that yesterday included a simulated nuclear terrorist attack that destroyed the Pentagon.

The exercise was designed to test continuity of government and emergency response after a one-kiloton nuclear blast was set off, and Adm. Keating said preliminary indications showed that despite the attack, government continued "unabated."

Casualties from the simulated blast were in the "thousands" and a radioactive plume traveled south through Crystal City and Alexandria based on weather computer models.

Asked about government concerns that al Qaeda could strike the United States in the future with some type of nuclear device, Adm. Keating said on Friday it is something to think about but not a worry.

"On a scale of one to 10, this is around one or two for the likelihood of terrorists to a) get the material, b) assemble the weapon, c) learn how to operate it, d) transport it, and e) use it," Adm. Keating said yesterday in a second telephone press conference with reporters from Northern Command headquarters in Colorado Springs.

"We still have no more reason today than we did last week to think that it is more likely but that does not stop us from being required to work through the 'what ifs,' " he said.

Adm. Keating said the United States was not expecting the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon because the suicide airline hijackings were "not in our kit bag of threats."

What worries U.S. military planners in charge of protecting the United States are unconventional weapons strikes or unexpected forms of attack.