Al-Qaida limping, but still dangerous - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Al-Qaida limping, but still dangerous

U.S. intelligence officials gave a mixed message on national security threats to a Senate committee on Tuesday: It is increasingly difficult for al-Qaida to carry out complex attacks against the U.S. and its interests, but radical, anti-American ideology continues to spread, and with it the chance of isolated attacks that are harder to predict and stop.

“I cannot reassure you the danger is gone,” Dennis Blair, director of national intelligence, told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Al-Qaida, its associates and mimics “remain committed to striking the United States and U.S. interests,” Blair said. While carrying out coordinated, multi-cell attacks has become more difficult and Muslim support for violent extremism is declining, terrorist networks remain able to find lone recruits whose backgrounds make them unlikely suspects before they carry out attacks, he said.

He cited the November shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, allegedly by a Muslim Army officer, and the Christmas Day attempt by an airline passenger to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear.

“The tragic violence at Fort Hood last year underscores our concerns about the damage that even an individual or small number of homegrown extremists can do if they have the will and access,” said Blair, who appeared alongside the heads of the CIA, FBI and Defense Intelligence Agnecy.

Blair reported that the Taliban insurgency and al-Qaida are both quite active in Afghanistan, presenting increasing danger and destabilization.

“Insurgents have shown greater aggressiveness and undertaken more lethal tactics,” he said — something the so-called surge of U.S. troops is supposed to help staunch.

On Afghanistan, U.S. strategy calls for quick training of the Afghan National Army and law enforcement to provide their own security so U.S. combat troops can withdraw, but Blair cited problems. A shortage of trainers and high absenteeism and attrition among Afghan forces “hamper efforts to make units capable of significant independent action,” he said.

There are other risks as well. Corruption and the drug trade reduce public confidence in the Afghan government, and a lack of security leads to generally low competency and capability within the government, Blair said.

In Iraq, Blair said al-Qaida appears to be suffering from financial troubles, difficulty recruiting new members, and rejection by many ordinary Iraqis. However, al-Qaida in Iraq “will remain committed to conducting attacks into the foreseeable future,” he said.