U.S. Lawmakers Seek Sharper Focus on Fighting Terrorism

U.S. Must Make Sure Middle East Allies Aren’t Aiding Terrorism, Senators Say

Top lawmakers on congressional intelligence committees said the U.S. and other nations must intensify their focus on potential “sleeper” terrorist cells in Western countries following the recent attacks in Paris and the arrest of terror suspects across Europe.

Sen. Richard Burr (R., N.C.), the new chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on CNN’s State of the Union that every country must “stay on them 24/7” to ensure individuals who train abroad don't ultimately carry out terror attacks, even if they appear dormant for a period of time.

Mr. Burr pointed to the fact that the group authorities said carried out the Paris attack was believed to have been dormant for years.

“We’ve got dozens of individuals that we know went to Syria” and intelligence agencies in multiple countries now need to monitor them in addition to previously known terror threats, Mr. Burr said.

Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D., Md.), said on Fox News Sunday that he is concerned about foreign terrorists who hold western passports and are now in Europe. “In some cases these are Americans who we know have been associated with these extreme groups,” Mr. Cardin said. He said the U.S. and its European allies need to share information on such individuals.

Mr. Burr and Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.), who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, both said the U.S. also needs to work to ensure allies in the Middle East aren’t aiding terrorism.

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