Russia, China Major Threats? Intel Director Clapper's Comments Perplex Senators

March 10, 2011 — -- The nation's top intelligence officer has created another stir with comments today that Russia and China pose the greatest mortal threat to the United States.

Controversy is nothing new to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, who has drawn past criticism for the lack of awareness of terror arrests in Britain and his characterization of the Muslim Brotherhood as a secular organization.

During an appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on worldwide threats, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., asked Clapper which country posed the greatest threat to the United States.

"Certainly, the Russians still have a very formidable nuclear arsenal, which does pose potentially a mortal threat to us," Clapper said. "I don't think they have the intent to do that."

He added that China "is growing in its military capabilities. It has a full array of, whether conventional or strategic forces, that they are building. So they too do pose, potentially from a capabilities standpoint, a threat to us as a mortal threat."

He said the issue for the intelligence community is gauging intent versus capability, but, "having said all that, my greatest concern does not lie with a nation-state posing a threat to the United States as in the area of terrorism."

Committee chairman Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., told Clapper he was surprised by his answer that Russia and China posed the greatest mortal threat and gave him an opportunity to clarify whether Iran or North Korea might be more of a threat.

Clapper said he based his assessment strictly on the strategic nuclear capabilities of nation-states that have the potential to be mortal dangers to the U.S. and, "the two that come to mind because of their capabilities are Russia and China."

Though Iran and North Korea were "of great concern," he said, they do not pose a threat to the continental United States.

Manchin rephrased his question to ask which country had the intent to be our greatest adversary.

Clapper replied, "Probably China."