17 July 2007
Al-Qaida Remains Significant Terrorist Threat, Report Says
International cooperation remains essential to counter terrorism
Washington –- The terrorist organization al-Qaida remains a persistent and evolving threat to the United States, according to a new report from the U.S. intelligence community.
"The main threat comes from Islamic terrorist groups and cells, especially al-Qaida, driven by their undiminished intent to attack [the United States] and a continued effort by these terrorist groups to adapt and improve their capabilities," according to declassified key findings based on the National Intelligence Estimate The Terrorist Threat to the U.S. Homeland.
As a result, the United States remains in "a heightened threat environment," White House counterterrorism adviser Frances Townsend said July 17.
National Intelligence Estimates are produced for the government's most senior officials and represent the consensus of top intelligence analysts from the 16 agencies that make up the U.S. government's intelligence community. The reports are on long-term security issues and are not linked to specific threats. Portions of the documents occasionally are declassified for public release to explain pressing policy issues to the general public.
Although most of al-Qaida’s top leadership before September 11, 2001, has been killed or captured, the report says a new generation of less experienced lieutenants has come up the ranks as replacements, found safe haven in the tribal region straddling Pakistan and Afghanistan, is encouraging Sunni militants to follow its example across the Middle East, and remains focused on efforts to acquire chemical, biological and nuclear weapons for use in future attacks.
Al-Qaida is stepping up efforts to smuggle operatives into the United States to launch future attacks, according to the report. They are among many terrorist groups using the Internet to extend their reach to radicalize disaffected youth into forming their own terror cells to bypass improved security measures.
"We assess that globalization trends and recent technological advances will continue to enable even small numbers of alienated people to find and connect with one another, justify and intensify their anger and mobilize resources to attack all without requiring a centralized terrorist organization, training camp, or leader," the report says.
The report also says that al-Qaida also will continue to compensate for its diminished operational ability to strike the United States by forging closer cooperation with regional terrorist groups, such as its "most capable and visible affiliate," al-Qaida in Iraq.
The United States has responded to a continually adapting terrorist threat by expanding its international intelligence networks and deepening its security partnerships around the globe, Townsend said.
"We are strengthening our cooperation with partners in key regions to undermine al-Qaida's attempts to tap into and to co-opt regional networks for their own strategic purpose," she said.
Although the report expresses concern that international cooperation may wane in the future as national interests diverge, Townsend -- who recently returned from consultations with leaders in Morocco, Algeria and Libya -- said that counterterrorism cooperation is stronger than ever.
"Terrorism is not a threat we face alone; it is a threat faced by our allies around the world in London, in Bali [Indonesia], Madrid [Spain], Riyadh [Saudi Arabia] and Islamabad [Pakistan]. We cannot win this war alone; we need our allies to win," Townsend said.
Excerpts of the National Intelligence Estimate are available on the Web site of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
A transcript of Townsend's remarks and the full text of a related fact sheet are available on the White House Web site.
(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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