Chertoff: Terror Threat Remains 'Real'

Sept. 5, 2007 — -- Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff testified at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing Wednesday about the recent terrorism arrests in Europe and speculation about his possible appointment to replace departing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Speaking to the Monday arrest of eight terror suspects in Denmark, and the Tuesday arrest of three suspects in Germany, Chertoff said the threat to Americans remains strong.

"Even in the last 36 hours, I think we've seen how real the threat remains," Chertoff said. "Arrests in Denmark and Germany indicate that al Qaeda continues to carry out acts of war against the West."

"American interests overseas remain very much at risk," Chertoff warned.

Chertoff confirmed that government counterparts in Germany and Denmark say they have verified terror ties.

"The Danish have confirmed that they saw al Qaeda connections with the people that they arrested, and I think the Germans have indicated that the people they arrested … were connected with Islamic Jihad Union, which is an affiliated group," Chertoff said.

The secretary also indicated that both countries claim they have found evidence that the suspects had trained in South Asia.

Chertoff has expressed concern over training camps in tribal regions of Pakistan, areas the U.S. government sees as a safe haven for such activity.

In reaction to this week's European terrorism arrests, Chertoff reiterated his stance that the current visa waiver program leaves gaps in U.S. security from potential threats coming from Europe.

Currently, the U.S. State Department allows 27 countries, mainly in Europe, to participate in the program.

While acknowledging the program is "wonderful" for tourists and other travelers with legitimate purposes for travel to the United States, Chertoff said this week's arrests, in addition to the foiled bombing plots in the United Kingdom earlier in the summer, illustrate a flaw.

The visa waiver program "does open a vulnerability because by eliminating the visa process we lose one of the barriers to terrorists or criminals that we would otherwise have," Chertoff said.