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U.S. sees trend linking terrorists and organized crime

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM

Friday, January 7, 2000

WASHINGTON -- The United States believes an Algerian network suspected of trying to launch millennium attacks could have been the result of an alliance between terrorism and organized crime.

U.S. officials said they believe that organized crime helped Ahmed Ressam and other Algerian insurgents enter the United States with explosives. At least four people have been arrested by U.S. authorities.

They said the network reflects a trend whereby organized crime helps terrorism obtain its goals. The terrorists employ criminals to provide explosives and other materials needed for attacks.

"There have been significant increases in connections between organized crime and terrorist groups," Robert Stevens, a State Department official who deals in cyberterrorism. "That is cause for extreme concern."

Stevens told a seminar by the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies that criminals and terrorists could be cooperating in cyberattacks. He pointed to thousands of attempts by hackers to break into Defense Department computers and suggested that these could be the same people who enter computer networks of banks and credit card companies.

"The combination of cyber and physical attacks is what is cause for significant concern, because the combination of the two is so effective and, quite frankly, that's what caused DOD to get going on cyberterrorism and has effectively addressed the issue internally to DOD," Stevens said.

U.S. officials said over the last year authorities have agreed to cooperate with the intelligence community to help prevent cybercrime and terrorism. "As you know, in the past the intelligence community has had their own sensitive information, law enforcement has its own sensitive information, and it's been parochial," Stevens said. "Well we've begun to break down those barriers and its been working wonderfully."

Former State Department counterterrorism coordinator Philip Wilcox said terrorism has declined significantly in the Middle East. He said Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have lost support of the Palestinian public.

"More and more terrorists are being arrested, extradited and convicted, so that's the good news," he said.

Friday, January 7, 2000


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