John Negroponte

     US national intelligence Director,John Negroponte highlighted the increasing danger posed by Iranian-Syrian-backed Hizballah since its 2006 war with Israel. Negroponte said that Hizballah’s self-confidence and hostility towards the US as a supporter of Israel could cause the group to increase its contingency planning against US interests. Also, Negroponte, who has been appointed Dep. Secretary of state, said Osama bin Laden’s network maintains active connections “that radiate outward from their leaders’ secure hideout in Pakistan to affiliates through the Middle East, northern Africa and Europe. Conventional explosives are the most probable means of attack but al Qaeda is reported trying to obtain chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons.(17,06)