Since taking over the CIA, Goss has sought to lower the agency's profile in public, and his testimony Wednesday was circumspect compared with that delivered by his predecessor, George J. Tenet, in previous years.
Goss was particularly cautious on North Korea, which declared last week that it had nuclear weapons and would not resume diplomatic talks about its arms program. When asked to expand on a 2002 CIA assessment that North Korea had enough plutonium for one or two bombs, Goss would say only that "they have a greater capability than that assessment. It has increased since then."
Goss was more forthcoming on the war in Iraq. He referred to militants taking part in the insurgency as a "potential pool" for terrorist networks and cells that could scatter to other countries.
"The Iraq conflict, while not a cause of extremism, has become a cause for extremists," Goss said.
"Those jihadists who survive will leave Iraq experienced in and focused on acts of urban terrorism."
Vice Adm. Lowell E. Jacoby, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said insurgents were launching an average of more than 60 attacks per day, compared with 25 per day a year ago.
Asked about access to Khan, the Pakistani scientist, Goss said, "We are further exploring our opportunities to learn about Mr. Khan," adding that "active, appropriate, direct efforts are underway on that matter."
Access to Khan has become one of the thorniest issues in U.S. relations with Pakistan, which is otherwise credited by the Bush administration with providing significant support in the war on terrorism.
The scientist is a national hero in Pakistan, and was pardoned by the Pakistani government after he apologized. But the government has refused to let anyone question him, rebuffing not only U.S. intelligence agencies but also the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog group.
"The IAEA has had no contact directly with any Pakistani from the A.Q. Khan network since the start of its investigation into the nuclear smuggling ring," said a senior Western diplomat familiar with the inquiry.
"The Pakistanis are helpful on other issues. On the network so far, they could do much better."
Times staff writer Douglas Frantz in Istanbul, Turkey, contributed to this report.
