Washington, D.C. – Key U.S. intelligence officials have faced a series of probing questions from lawmakers this week, including Maine Sen. Susan Collins (R), concerning pressing national security threats related to foreign terrorism, the use of new and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Sen. Collins, a member of the Select Committee, has grilled top officials from the federal intelligence community, including Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines and FBI Director Christopher Wray, as part of the annual open hearings held by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
[RELATED: Collins Grills FBI Director Wray Over Rural Maine’s Triad Weed Epidemic…]
As reported Monday by the Maine Wire, Collins grilled Director Wray over the threats posed to Mainers by criminal drug-trafficking organizations, particularly the Asian Transnational Criminal Organizations (ATCO) that have been the center of our ongoing “Triad Weed” investigative series.
Wray said the FBI was supporting Maine law enforcement’s investigation into the ATCO-controlled marijuana trafficking, but appeared in his comments to be more focused on fentanyl trafficking — which is understandable with more than 100,000 Americans dying from opioid-related overdoses last year, predominantly due to illicit fentanyl.
“The vast majority of fentanyl is coming from Mexico, and the precursors are coming from China,” Wray said.
As part of her questioning related to terroristic threats, Collins leveled sharp barbs against the Biden Administration for its “disastrous” Afghanistan withdrawal and the ensuing fallout across the Middle East, blaming the foreign policy blunder for an increase in attacks conducted by Islamic extremists.
“Are their threats of terrorist attacks – from ISIS toward Americans – a problem still? And how are you balancing the great power competition, with the threats from ISIS? In addition, I would like you to comment on whether or not terrorist groups backed by Iran, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, pose a threat to our homeland,” Collins asked DNI Haines.
In response, Haines assured Collins that most ISIS attacks were not occurring within Afghanistan, and that ISIS was actually more of a problem for the Taliban, a separate Islamic fundamentalist group which seized power in the country after Biden ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
“Ironically, the Taliban is actually also concerned about it, because the ISIS group that is in Afghanistan is in fact, going after the Taliban,” Haines said. “In terms of the terrorist groups that are backed by Iran, absolutely, that is a major issue for us. We also see Iran’s support of Hezbollah, as you noted, and of Hamas over the years, not to mention the Houthis is another example of this,” said Haines.
Collins’ questioning of both Wray and Haines comes as the U.S. is facing unprecedented levels of illegal immigration across both the southern and northern borders, raising questions about how easily both foreign-controlled drug traffickers and terrorist agents may be slipping into the U.S.
At the same time, intense lobbying is ongoing across the western hemisphere for the U.S. to continue to escalate its support for Ukraine, in its defensive war against Russia, and for Israel, in its retaliatory military campaign against the Palestinian terror group Hamas in Gaza.
During the hearing, intelligence chiefs also touched upon emerging threats such as the potential misuse of TikTok by the Communist Party of China (CCP) to access American data and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for hostile purposes, including election interference.
Days later, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill aimed at forcing TikTok to divest itself from Chinese parent company ByteDance or else face censorship in the U.S.
[RELATED: Potential TikTok Ban Passes U.S. House of Reps with Strong Bipartisan Support…]
CIA Director William Burns highlighted the utilization of AI by Al Qaeda and other groups to create videos encouraging lone-wolf attacks in the wake of the Gaza conflict. “Al Qaeda and the Arabian peninsula have used AI to generate videos aimed at inspiring lone-wolf attacks as a result of the Gaza conflict,” Burns said.
Haines, for her part, warned of the enduring impact of the Gaza conflict on global terrorism, indicating that it motivates both Al Qaeda and ISIS, inspired by Hamas, to direct supporters to target Israeli and U.S. interests, fueling acts of antisemitism and Islamophobia worldwide.
Amidst these discussions, the hearing faced interruptions from pro-Palestinian protesters, demonstrating against U.S. military support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
The session further delved into the significant political implications of the failed bipartisan border bill, with Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga) criticizing former President Trump’s influence on its downfall, and Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) defending his stance against any legislation that would allow unauthorized crossings into the U.S.
Concerns over the security of the U.S.-Mexico border have been a focal point of the hearings, with Wray acknowledging the detection of a human trafficking network with ties to ISIS, underscoring the border’s vulnerability to exploitation by terrorist organizations.
The intelligence community’s annual threat assessment report, released in conjunction with the hearing, forecasts continued challenges, including attacks on U.S. interests in the Middle East by Iranian-backed militias, the generational impact of the Gaza conflict on terrorism, and the ongoing wave of illegal immigration over the uncontrolled U.S. border.
On a lighter note, Maine’s junior senator had tough questions of his own this week.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="26607 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=26607">11 Comments
Why use a 30 year old picture of RINO, Susan Collins?
I don’t believe she’s capable of “grilling” anyone, much less a steak.
I suggest everyone go back and review President Bush’s ‘Mission Goal ‘ for both Afghanistan and Iraq. If you please tell me if you think they were attainable. Many Thanks!
RINO, Never Trump RINO. Where is she on the laws the state Dems are trying to pass in the state house? You never hear her have any push back on the radical Trans, child abuse and up until the day of birth without a Dr. medical reason abortion laws her state is passing. She is a do nothing, sit on her hand’s establishment republican.
While she lobbies for more money, our tax dollars, for Ukraine.
She’ll be on the board of General Dynamics or one of the defense contractors when she retires from the Senate probably.
She never once says anything, anywhere about the civil rights violations of the J6 prisoners who have been in prison for years and still have no charges filed against them.
Noooo, let’s not touch anything remotely difficult.
It’s not difficult to talk about illegal weed farms or non controversial subjects.
this is useless. We need new people in congress
She did NOT ask About the SACO shootings. THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THOSE 3 GUYS. They will not be able to round them up only to vote for Democrates. Get of the all 4 in DC starting with this election. King is sitting on his hands along with the 1st destrict congraswoman. Her mouth has not moved yet about the illegals who shoot up SACO at noon time 6 weeks ago. And the locals KNOW THING Local State and federal police were there and did not catch them yet! I feel so safe.
Did she ask about the Biddeford address on a NY licence driver which was in a car crash with 3 ILLEGALS in northen Maine . All 4 of our DC reps are looking like fools!
CIA Director William Burns lied about Trump. He can not be trusted.
This is sure some timely concerns over the Biden Administration’s disastrous and reprehensible withdrawal from Afghanistan. I’m sure the commenter who referenced SC’s future with GD is right on target, too. Her “concern” with keeping BIW busy I’m satisfied wasn’t as altruistic as she hopes everyone sees it. Of course this is only my opinion I’m sure.
Susan Collins is one of, if not THE, biggest reason the Maine Republican Party is dead. Unfortunately, until we get rid of “ranked choice cheating” (and her) our state will continue on it’s steep downward spiral until there’s no hope of return.
I’ve lost any faith in Susan Collins. She’s done nothing about the influx of illegals in Maine. It’s laughable that she pretends to be tough on national security.