Anti-U.S. Terror Threat Still Potent, Negroponte Warns; Al Qaeda Likely to Use Explosives in Next Attack

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Byline: Bill Gertz, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Al Qaeda terrorism remains the most serious threat to U.S. national security, and the insurgency in Iraq shows no sign of abating, the nation's top intelligence official told the Senate yesterday.

Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte also said that Iran's nuclear development program is "an immediate concern," although Tehran probably does not yet have a nuclear device.

Mr. Negroponte and other senior U.S. intelligence officials appeared before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence as part of the annual threat briefing on dangers to U.S. security.

"Attacking the United States homeland, United States interests overseas and United States allies - in that order - are al Qaeda's top operational priorities," he said.

"The …