Insurgent told to strike U.S., report says: Bin Laden prodding al-Zarqawi to target America, government bulletin indicates

WASHINGTON - Osama bin Laden is enlisting his top operative inIraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, to plan potential attacks on the UnitedStates, U.S. intelligence indicates.

Al-Zarqawi, who rivals bin Laden as the nation's public enemy No.1, has been involved in attacks in the Middle East but has not beenknown before to have set his sights on the United States.

The Homeland Security Department issued a classified bulletin toofficials over the weekend about the intelligence, which spokesmanBrian Roehrkasse described Monday as "credible but not specific."

The intelligence was obtained over the past several weeks,officials said.

The United States has no immediate plans to raise its nationalterror alert level, Roehrkasse said. However, the intelligence"reiterates the desire by al-Qaida and its associates to target thehomeland," he said.

Bin Laden was in contact with al-Zarqawi within the past twomonths in an effort to enlist him in attacks, a U.S. official said oncondition of anonymity. The move may reflect the al-Qaidaleadership's desire to involve al-Zarqawi in activities outside Iraq,the official said.

Events in Iraq, officials noted, have limited al-Zarqawi's abilityto undertake attacks elsewhere.

Al-Zarqawi is blamed for scores of attacks in Iraq and pledgedallegiance to bin Laden and the al-Qaida network last year. Yet hehas had differences with bin Laden, and his efforts are consideredsomewhat distinct from central al-Qaida operations.

Another administration official with access to the HomelandSecurity Department's bulletin said the intelligence indicates thatal-Qaida has continued to encourage al-Zarqawi, who was born inJordan, to get involved in terrorist actions against Americansoutside of Iraq - including in the United States.

DHS sent the bulletin to state homeland security directors. AJustice Department official said that the information that led to thebulletin was gleaned by CIA intelligence.

Al-Zarqawi has a $25 million U.S. bounty on his head and isbelieved to have orchestrated a wave of car bombings, kidnappings,assassinations and beheadings across Iraq. He is blamed largely forattacks in the Middle East, including numerous attacks in Iraq andfoiled plots targeting U.S. and Israeli targets in Jordan at themillennium.

In October, he made a first-ever pledge of loyalty to bin Laden,by posting a message on a Web site known for carrying militantIslamic content.