Investigation: Terror threats remain

SUMMARY:

Citing a "clear and present danger" to Americans, Attorney General John Ashcroft said terrorist activity against the United States may increase once the country responds to the September 11 attacks in New York and suburban Washington.

While the investigation is being driven by probes in many parts of the world, Sen. Robert Torricelli, a New Jersey Democrat, is calling for a board of inquiry at home. He wants a panel to look into what he describes as intelligence failures prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

The Bush White House, however, is displeased with the go-slow approach Congress is taking with its counter-terrorism package and will increase pressure to move the legislation in the coming week, a senior administration official told CNN.

UPDATE:

Repeating a point he has made for weeks, Ashcroft said investigators believe there could still be terrorists at large. And he again called on Congress to pass an anti-terrorism package sought by the White House.(Full story)

•  Summary   •  Update   •  Key questions   •  Who's who   •  Impact

"It's very unlikely that all of those associated with the attacks of September 11 are now detained or have been detected," Ashcroft said. "And that's why we need the kind of robust surveillance capacity that's provided for in the legislation. It's time for Congress to act."

Ashcroft said lawmakers should pass the legislation -- which would broaden the government's wiretapping abilities, grant the Immigration and Naturalization Service more latitude in holding aliens suspected of terrorism and make it a crime to harbor suspected terrorists -- by October 5.

The White House official referring to expediting counter-terrorism measures specifically pointed to the authority the government seeks to monitor multiple cellular telephone conversations of suspected terrorists. The official said some terrorists change cellular phones as frequently as weekly and the government needs the authority to track calls throughout a suspected terrorist's chain of communication.

Meanwhile, Sen. Torricelli, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told CNN that the inquiry board is to be made up of "distinguished Americans who understand law enforcement, understand national security but are independent." He said President Bush and the congressional leadership would make appointments to the panel. (Full story)

KEY QUESTIONS:

How viable are fears about more terrorist attacks? Click here for more.

How will the expansion of law enforcement powers affect Americans' civil liberties? Click here for more.

How are people identified as terrorists communicating with each other? Click here for more.

How are law enforcement authorities using technology such as encryption tools to hunt terrorists? Click here for more.

What groups are U.S. investigators focusing on, and what are their aims? Click here for more.

How would law enforcement authorities go after financial assets of people identified as terrorists? Click here for more.

How did the September 11 attackers evade U.S. intelligence? Click here for more.

WHO'S WHO:

George W. Bush: U.S. president

Colin Powell: U.S. secretary of state Click here for more

Condoleezza Rice: National security adviser Click here for more

John Ashcroft: U.S. attorney general

Robert Mueller: FBI director Click here for more

George Tenet: CIA director. Click here for more

Osama bin Laden: U.S. authorities have named bin Laden, a wealthy Saudi exile living in Afghanistan, as the prime suspect in masterminding the September 11 attacks. Click here for more

IMPACT:

Information gained from the investigation could lead to fundamental changes in U.S. security and intelligence systems, as well as surveillance laws.