Coming at 10am from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on terrorist threats against the US homeland. I previewed some of what will be released here last week:
–Concern that Al Qaeda is getting more comfortable in “ungoverned spaces” of Pakistan, due to various factors, including a recent agreement by the Pakistani authorities with tribal leaders to leave Islamic militants in Waziristan alone. Intelligence community seeing more signs Al Qaeda is regrouping, able to train, and communicate in Pakistan …
–Expect a new National Intelligence Estimate on terrorist threats to the homeland (this is not yet officially out …), which [ODNI intel chief Thomas] Fingar rated the greatest threat to US national security. Al Qaida remains the greatest threat to the country. US intel community is increasingly concerned about Al Qaeda-linked militants in Pakistan using Europe, and in particular the UK, as a gateway to target the US homeland. Thwarted airplane plot last summer “very sophisticated” and of the type that concerns them, with its mix of UK and Pakistani-based terrorists working together on a plot to target the US. …
We’ll post and analyze the report when it’s out. But for starters, go read Peter Bergen and Paul Cruickshank on how the Iraq war has increased the terrorism threat sevenfold worldwide.
Update: Here’s the report (.pdf).
