Preventing Another 9/11
Al-Qaeda is Still a Threat to America's Homeland Security
According to a recent National Intelligence Estimate, the American homeland is still susceptible to terrorism.
Since September 11, 2001, American territory has not been terrorized, despite America’s engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. Terrorism occurs daily in Bagdad, Kabul, and Mogadishu, but the U.S. has not been successfully targeted in six years. However, homeland terrorism remains a serious threat to the United States, according to a recent National Intelligence Council (NIC) assessment entitled The Terrorist Threat to the U.S. Homeland.
The NIC reports that the major threat continues to come from al-Qaeda. Most of Al-Qaeda’s pre-9/11 leadership has been eliminated, but replacements have emerged. The organization continues to operate in the mountainous region along the Afghan-Pakistan boarder, outside the jurisdiction of either government. Al-Qaeda remains committed to its battle against the U.S. and continues to encourage Sunni extremism throughout the Islamic world. Al-Qaeda is forging alliances with active terrorist organizations in Iraq, Somalia, Algeria, and elsewhere. In the UK, every major terrorist operation since 2002 has been traced back to al-Qaeda in Pakistan. Last week, in Denmark and Germany, suspected al-Qaeda operatives were detained.
Al-Qaeda and likeminded organizations are utilizing the internet and other technology to recruit and radicalize sympathizers. The NIC reports 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."
In the Middle East, a complex situation faces foreign policymakers. The U.S. must continue to support regimes with similar concerns about terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism, particularly near areas within which terrorist organizations operate. However, America’s support for dictatorial regimes in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt is troubling. Discouraging democracy will not encourage moderate sentiment.
The war in Iraq has undeniably distracted resources from counterterrorism operations in al-Qaeda linked countries, yet the U.S. homeland has not suffered. However, emphasis must now be placed on counterterrorism operations in Pakistan, particularly in the northwest Frontier Provence (NWFP) along the Afghan boarder. Al-Qaeda continues to operate from NWFP, and Osama Bin Laden (who released two new videos in the last few days) is probably hiding there; however, no senior al-Qaeda leaders have been killed or captured in Pakistan in more than a year. Pakistani president Perez Musharraf is America’s most important regional ally, but his administration has not successfully combated al-Qaeda. The Bush administration must persuade the Pakistani army to conduct joint counterterrorism operations in NWFP with American military personnel.
The U.S. should encourage regional heavyweights throughout the Islamic world to participate in multilateral counterterrorism operations. European governments are similarly concerned about terrorism and would probably cooperate, as would Israel. Even China and Russia, America’s most formidable nemeses, are troubled by Islamic extremism. Much of the world is threatened by al-Qaeda and other similar groups.
September 11, 2006, President Bush addressed the nation: “Five years after 9/11, our enemies have not succeeded in launching another attack on our soil — but they have not been idle. Al-Qaeda and those inspired by its hateful ideology have carried out terrorist attacks in more than two dozen nations. And just last month, they were foiled in a plot to blow up passenger planes headed for the United States. They remain determined to attack America and kill our citizens — and we are determined to stop them.”
Another year has now passed and terrorism has not struck inside the U.S., but al-Qaeda still threatens homeland security. If another year is to pass without incident, the U.S. must pressure al-Qaeda in Pakistan.
J.G.
Sources:
Kelly, Mary Louis. 'Is Al-Qaida Stronger Six Years After Sept. 11?' NPR, 9/11/2007
Rashid, Ahmed. Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundimentalism in Central Asia. Yale Nota Bene, 2001.
'Text of President Bush's 9/11 Address.' USA Today, 9/11/2006
'The Terrorist Threat to the U.S. Homeland' National Intelligence Council, July 2007
