CIA claims Al Qaeda recruiting 'Western' fighters.

CIA Director Michael Hayden claimed that Al Qaeda is training fighters that 'look western' who could easily cross U.S. borders without attracting attention, Pakistan's remote tribal areas are providing the group with a new safe haven he also said.

Hayden also confirmed that Osama Bin Laden was still believed by the United States to be alive and hiding in the rugged Afghan border area. Strikes on the tribal area of Pakistan have been upped in tempo but it is expected that Pakistan's new government will attempt to rein them in; and the Bush administrations key ally, President, Pervez Musharraf, has been severely weakened by the recent elections. In remarks quoted on Reuters he described the region as being 'dangerous';

The situation along that Afghanistan/Pakistan border presents a clear and present danger to Afghanistan, to Pakistan, to the West in general and the United States in particular.

Commenting on Al Qaeda's recruitment policy, Hayden said:

They are bringing operatives into that region for training -- operatives that wouldn't attract your attention if they were going through the customs line at Dulles (airport outside Washington) with you when you were coming back from overseas,"