SEVEN MEN WERE CHARGED IN THE UNITED STATES ON FRIDAY WITH DISCUSSING ATTACKS ON THE LANDMARK SEARS TOWER IN CHICAGO AND THE FBI BUILDING IN MIAMI IN A MISSION THEY HOPED WOULD BE "JUST AS GOOD OR GREATER" THAN SEPT. 11, U.S. OFFICIALS SAID ACCORDING TO REUTERS. BUT ATTORNEY GENERAL ALBERTO GONZALES TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON THAT THE PLOTTING OF THE "HOME-GROWN TERRORISM CELL" NEVER WENT BEYOND THE EARLIEST PLANNING STAGES. "THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE THREAT," GONZALES SAID, ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEFENDANTS NEVER HAD ANY ACTUAL CONTACT WITH AL QAEDA AND DID NOT GET THEIR HANDS ON WEAPONS OR EXPLOSIVES, REUTERS REPORTED. DEPUTY FBI DIRECTOR JOHN PISTOLE SAID AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT NEWS CONFERENCE THAT THE DISCUSSIONS TO ATTACK THE 110-STORY SEARS TOWER -- THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE UNITED STATES -- WERE "ASPIRATIONAL RATHER THAN OPERATIONAL." --MORE 23/06/2006 23:31 ت م
