John King, USA

The latest political news and information on the most important stories affecting you.
Biden does not rule out possibility of 'lone wolf' attack
September 11th, 2011
12:19 PM ET

Biden does not rule out possibility of 'lone wolf' attack

(CNN) – Vice President Joe Biden says the country is safer today than it was 10 years ago but does not rule out the possibility of a “lone wolf” attack.

“There’s always a possibility of an incident occurring,” Biden told CNN’s John King in an exclusive interview Saturday. “But I do not believe there is anyone right now capable of putting together the kind of extremely complicated, planned operation that took place on 9/11.”

After speaking at a memorial service for the victims of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Biden talked with King about the heightened terror alert on the 10th anniversary weekend of the September 11 attacks.

The vice president said the administration hasn’t been able to confirm the credible information they’ve received about a possible vehicle bomb plot. When Osama bin Laden was killed in May, Biden said information was found in his compound in Pakistan that hinted at a possible attack on the 10th anniversary.

“And then we didn’t hear a thing until several days ago when in came credible information,” Biden said.

To his knowledge, Biden said, the threat was not al Qaeda-driven.

When King asked about Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism, Biden said the country’s actions so far have not been “sufficient.”

“They’ve been very helpful in other times, but it’s not sufficient. They have to get better,” Biden said. “It’s in their interest that they be more cooperative, and we are demanding it.”

While former Vice President Dick Cheney repeatedly said in recent interviews that enhanced interrogation methods, such as waterboarding, were necessary when dealing with suspects of terrorism, Biden strongly disagreed with the argument.

“I’ve seen zero evidence that it works, and I think there’s abundant evidence that it hurts us internationally. It hurts our security by making a mockery of who we say we are and giving rationale to those who want to do us harm to recruit people.”

Watch the full interview at 7 p.m. Monday on CNN’s “John King, USA.”

Posted by
Filed under: Interview • JKUSA