WORLD> America
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WORLD> America
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CIA watching for al-Qaida 'succession crisis'
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-05-28 12:02 Hayden said he authorizes only intelligence activities that meet several tests, including whether the activity can withstand political shifts. "We can't stand an American counterterrorism program with an on/off switch every other November," he said, referring to the American election cycle. On other topics, Hayden said: -- He believes Iran's intention is to produce its own nuclear fuel, using Iranian technology. "That gives them the potential at any moment to break out and create a weapon and that's what of course is most troubling." -- Even without Israeli intelligence, the CIA would have known by last July that a building in Syria's western desert was meant to be a secret nuclear reactor when a pipe system from the Euphrates River to the building was constructed. "That was a powerful cooling system going to a building with no visible heat source," Hayden said. Israeli jets destroyed the building in August 2007, although Syria has denied it was a nuclear facility. -- North Korea's arms trade -- helping Syria build a nuclear reactor, or selling missile technology to Iran -- is motivated by cash. "It's a starved economy, with very, very few sources of foreign exchange," he said. "This is one of the ones where they can actually turn a profit." |
