FBI Director Robert Mueller. ominously assessed the terrorist threat at the annual Global Intelligence Briefing by stating he is very concerned "with the growing body of sensitive reporting that continues to show alQaidas clear intention to obtain and ultimately use some form of chemical. biological. radiological. nuclear or highenergy explosives in its attacks against America." Many terrorism experts believe that maritime container shipping may serve as an ideal platform to deliver these weapons to the United States. In fact. we recently saw that containers may also serve as ideal platforms to transport potential terrorists into the United States. This was demonstrated on January 15 and again on April 2 of this year when upwards of 30 Chinese immigrants were found emerging from containers arriving at the Port of Los Angeles. The Subcommittees concern is that smuggled immigrants could include members of terrorist organizationsand/orthat the container could have contained a weapon of mass destruction. As the 9/11 Commission put it so succinctly. "opportunities to do harm are as great. or greater. in maritime or surface transportation." Since 90 percent of global trade moves in maritime containers. we can not allow these containers to be utilized to transport weapons of mass destruction. The consequences of such an event would be devastating to our way of life and our economy.
Identified stereotypes
Smuggled immigrants could include members of terrorist organizations.