Another Terrorist Attack in US; National Intelligence Director is "Certain"

The heads of several intelligence agencies met before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday to discuss matters of national security. When asked how sure he was regarding an imminent attack against the U.S. in the next three to six months, National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair uttered he was "certain". Blair was accompanied by CIA Director Leon Panetta and FBI Director Robert Mueller. Each of the directors agreed with Blair's comment; the liklihood of another terrorist attack was most definately "certain". This comes just weeks after the failed Christmas day attack on a Detroit-bound airliner.

While none of the intelligence experts could provide a specific threat, each acknowledged an evolving al Qaeda terrorist network as their top concern. CIA Director Leon Panetta says, "My greatest concern, and what keeps me awake at night, is that al Qaeda and its terrorist allies and affiliates could very well attack the United States." The agency heads each provided testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee amidst much partisan bickering regarding President Obama's handling of national security threats. Republicans both on this committee and off have been very outspoken regarding the handling of the Christmas day bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Many Republicans believe the terrorist should have been tried and prosecuted as an enemy combatant in a military commission rather than a civilian in a criminal court.

Of the topics discussed in the meeting, cyber terrorism was another issue noted as a major threat to national security. "Sensitive information is stolen daily from both government and private sector networks, undermining confidence in our information systems, and in the very information these systems were intended to convey", says National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair. Mr. Blair also says, "We often find persistent, unauthorized, and at times, unattributable presences on exploited networks, the hallmark of an unknown adversary intending to do far more than merely demonstrate skill or mock a vulnerability."