Sobering Assessment of Counter-Terrorism

On August 12, 2008, U.S. national intelligence officer (NIO) for transnational threats Ted Gistaro addressed The Washington Institute's Special Policy Forum. Mr. Gistaro was appointed NIO in November 2006 after nearly two decades of service with the Central Intelligence Agency. He provided a sobering assessment of counter-terrorism efforts. The U.S. has made progress in security measures which have helped disrupt known plots against us since 9/11. On the other hand, al-Qaeda is the most serious terrorist threat to the United States, and we remain in the heightened threat environment noted in the July 2007 National Intelligence Estimate.