CIA and FBI chiefs testify to Senate committee regarding terror threats

• published: 30 Jul 2015
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SHOTLIST 1. Wide of members of the US intelligence community seated at witness table 2. Wide view of hearing 3. US senators calling hearing to order 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Clapper, US Director of National Intelligence: "Among nation states, Iran's tactical advances - particularly in uranium enrichment - strengthen our assessment that Iran is well capable of producing enough highly-enriched uranium for a weapon, if its political leaders, specifically the Supreme leader himself chooses to do so." 5. Senators reading Clapper's testimony 6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Clapper, US Director of National Intelligence: "Obviously this is a very sensitive issue right now. We are doing a lot with the Israelis, working together with them and of course for them this is what they have characterised as an existential threat, but this is an area that we are very, very concerned about." 7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chairwoman, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: "When you have a situation where one country views it as an existential threat, they believe it's their survival, they are determined not to let it happen, to really get the correct picture on what is happening, I think is important." 8. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Petraeus, Central Intelligence Director: "Iran is supposedly, reportedly, trying to be more open this particular time. Perhaps trying to reassure countries as it feels the increased bite of the new sanctions, of the Central Bank of Iran sanction and the reduction of the purchase of oil from some of its key customers. And so I look forward, as do others, obviously, to seeing what that public (International Atomic Energy Agency) report will provide this time." 9. Cutaway Senator Dan Coats listening 10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Clapper, US Director of National Intelligence: "North Korea's export of ballistic missiles and associated materials to several countries, including Iran and Syria, illustrate the reach of the North's proliferation activities. We don't expect Kim Jung Un, North Korea's new young leader, to change Pyongyang's policy of attempting to export most of its weapon systems." 11. Pan of hearing 12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Clapper, US Director of National Intelligence: "The Intelligence community sees the next two or three years as a critical transition phase for the terrorist threat, particularly from al-Qaida and like-minded groups. With Osama bin Laden's death, the global jihadist movement lost it's most iconic and inspirational leader. The new al-Qaida commander is less charismatic and the death or capture of prominent al-Qaida figures has shrunk the group's leadership layer. However, even with its degraded capabilities and its focus on smaller, simpler plots, al-Qaida remains a threat. As long as we sustain the pressure on it, we judge that core al-Qaida will be a largely symbolic importance to the global jihadist movement, but regional affiliates, as the ones you mentioned, and to a lesser extent small cells and individuals will drive the global jihad agenda." 13. Wide of hearing STORYLINE: Al-Qaida is in decline around the world but remains a leading threat to the United States, joined by others like Iran, the top US intelligence official said Tuesday in an annual report to Congress on threats facing America. Iran's leaders seem prepared to attack US interests overseas, particularly if they feel threatened by possible US action, Director of National Intelligence Jim Clapper told the Senate Intelligence Committee. But Clapper, CIA chief David Petraeus and others reasserted their position that Iran is not building nuclear weapons, in contrast to Israeli officials' statements that Iran could have nuclear capability within a year. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/75251f48f32cee5f66cc55e390454af8 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork