Terrorism

Documents & Texts from America.gov

28 February 2008
Al-Qaida Remains Leading Threat, Say Intelligence Officials

By David McKeeby
Staff Writer

Washington -- Top U.S. intelligence officials warn that al-Qaida and its affiliates remain a leading threat to the United States and its allies around the world, followed closely by the rapid spread of missile technologies and ongoing efforts by terrorists or nation states to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

“Despite our successes, the group [al-Qaida] has retained or regenerated key elements of its capability, including top leadership, operational mid-level lieutenants, and de facto safe haven in Pakistan’s border area with Afghanistan,” Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee February 27.

As director of national intelligence, McConnell is a principal adviser to the president, and his office oversees efforts by 17 agencies across the U.S. government that comprise America’s intelligence community. Since most of the work of the Office of National Intelligence is shrouded in deepest secrecy, the Annual Threat Assessment sent to Congress, the subject of McConnell’s testimony, offers rare and unique public insight into American policymakers’ top national security priorities.

Continued close counterterrorism coordination among the United States and its allies in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and elsewhere helped bring hundreds of al-Qaida operatives to justice in 2007 and prevented several major incidents, including attempted attacks in Denmark and Germany, McConnell said.

Al-Qaida’s affiliate organization in Iraq also experienced significant setbacks in the face of the U.S.-led coalition’s surge strategy and support from local Iraqi groups fed up with the terrorists' targeting of civilians. But McConnell expressed concern that al-Qaida in Iraq remains both a threat to Iraqis, and may be capable of staging attacks outside the country.

“Other al-Qaida regional affiliates in the Levant [a large area in the Middle East], in the Gulf, Africa and Southeast Asia, maintained a lower profile in 2007, but they also remain capable of conducting strikes against U.S. interests,” McConnell said.

Joining McConnell at the hearing was General Michael Maples, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, who said that in addition to extending its operational reach through these regional partnerships, al-Qaida also continued to seek chemical, biological and nuclear weapons for use in future attacks and was interested in recruiting new operatives from European countries to obtain easier access into the United States.

Al-Qaida and its Taliban allies also continue to enjoy safe haven along the Afghan-Pakistani border region, but both McConnell and Maples highlighted the commitment of Pakistan’s security forces and the growing capability of Afghan military and police units to confront them.

“Ultimately, defeating the insurgency will depend heavily on the government's ability to improve security, deliver effective government and expand development for economic opportunity,” McConnell said.

PROLIFERATION CHALLENGES AHEAD

Another major security challenge, said McConnell, comes from continuing efforts by North Korea and Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.

North Korea’s continued failure to disclose fully its past nuclear activities is a worrisome development, Maples said, despite the diplomatic progress made in the Six-Party Talks that involve North Korea, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

“Although Pyongyang continues to deny uranium enrichment programs and proliferation activities, we believe North Korea engages in both,” McConnell said. “We remain uncertain about [North Korean leader] Kim Jong Il's commitment to full denuclearization.”

McConnell also addressed lingering misperceptions about a 2007 National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s nuclear program, stressing that while intelligence agencies believe Tehran may have halted efforts to design nuclear warheads in response to international pressure in 2003, it is only one piece of the nuclear issue.

Iran continues to enrich uranium, McConnell said, and even may be able to manufacture enough to build nuclear weapons by late 2009. Tehran also continues to perfect ballistic missile technology capable of delivering nuclear weapons, he added, and currently is building new models capable of reaching targets in Europe and North Africa.

Iran’s nuclear program, its support of terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and ongoing efforts to undercut security in regional neighbors Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon combine into a significant regional challenge, said McConnell.

“Iran is pursuing policy intended to raise the political, economic and human costs for any arrangement that would allow the United States to maintain presence and influence in the Middle East region,” McConnell said.

The full text of prepared testimony by McConnell (PDF, 45 pages) and Maples (PDF, 37 pages) can be found on the Senate Armed Services Committee Web site.

back to top ^