Al-Qaeda Still the Top Threat to US
Jim Kouri, CPP
May 02, 2009
The violent and murderous terrorist group al-Qaeda, and its affiliate members, continue to pose the greatest danger to the United States and its allies, according to a senior U.S. State Department official.
In addition, US counterterrorism experts have pointed out that the so-called Somali pirates are affiliated with Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. They depend on piracy to finance their terrorist operations such as purchasing weapons, explosives, and other war-making equipment and materials.
Ronald L. Schlicher, acting coordinator for the State Department's counterterrorism directorate, shared with bloggers and Internet journalists some highlights of his agency's just-released reports that examine events in 2008.
The annual compilation of terrorist activity gathered from around the world, Schlicher said, provides "a very good idea of the challenges we face in the counterterrorism field, of the progress we've made, and of the problems that still need to be addressed effectively."
Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Schlicher said, al-Qaeda has moved its base of operations eastward from Afghanistan into remote areas of Pakistan's northwest frontier. Today, al-Qaeda is using the mountainous terrain in Pakistan's federally administered tribal areas "as a safe haven," he said, "where they can hide, where they can train, where they can communicate with their followers, where they can plan attacks and where they can make plans to send their fighters to support the insurgency in Afghanistan."
The tribal areas now provides al-Qaeda "with many of the benefits that it once derived from the base that it had across the border in Afghanistan," Schlicher said.
During his April 29 news conference, President Barack Obama said he is "gravely concerned" about the situation in Pakistan.
However, the Pakistani military is continuing its offensive against Taliban fighters who have taken up residence in Pakistan's Swat Valley and were threatening Islamabad, the country's capital city.
"You're starting to see the Pakistani military take much more seriously the armed threat from militant extremists," Obama said during his news conference.
Turning to Iraq, Schlicher observed that although al-Qaeda terrorists residing there remain dangerous, the group has lost influence and experienced "significant" defections.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq has "lost key mobilization areas," Schlicher continued, noting the terrorist group suffers from "disruption of support, infrastructure and funding." The deteriorating state of affairs, he added, has forced al-Qaeda in Iraq "to change its targeting priorities in some instances." Also, the numbers of al-Qaeda bombings in Iraq "fell significantly" in 2008, Schlicher pointed out.
"And, very importantly, tribal and local leaders in Iraq continue to encourage Sunni tribes and local citizens to reject al-Qaeda and to reject its ideology," Schlicher said.
However, Somalia now appears to be emerging as a new terrorist "hot spot," Schlicher said. The al-Shabab terrorist group in Somalia has strong ties to al-Qaeda, he said, noting these terrorists have "overrun" the southern and central parts of the country.
"And Somalia's newly-established unity government remains in need of more substantial international support to face this and other challenges," Schlicher added.
The National Association of Chiefs of Police is grateful to Gerry J. Gilmore of the Pentagon press and liaison office for his help with this report.
In addition, US counterterrorism experts have pointed out that the so-called Somali pirates are affiliated with Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. They depend on piracy to finance their terrorist operations such as purchasing weapons, explosives, and other war-making equipment and materials.
Ronald L. Schlicher, acting coordinator for the State Department's counterterrorism directorate, shared with bloggers and Internet journalists some highlights of his agency's just-released reports that examine events in 2008.
The annual compilation of terrorist activity gathered from around the world, Schlicher said, provides "a very good idea of the challenges we face in the counterterrorism field, of the progress we've made, and of the problems that still need to be addressed effectively."
Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Schlicher said, al-Qaeda has moved its base of operations eastward from Afghanistan into remote areas of Pakistan's northwest frontier. Today, al-Qaeda is using the mountainous terrain in Pakistan's federally administered tribal areas "as a safe haven," he said, "where they can hide, where they can train, where they can communicate with their followers, where they can plan attacks and where they can make plans to send their fighters to support the insurgency in Afghanistan."
The tribal areas now provides al-Qaeda "with many of the benefits that it once derived from the base that it had across the border in Afghanistan," Schlicher said.
During his April 29 news conference, President Barack Obama said he is "gravely concerned" about the situation in Pakistan.
However, the Pakistani military is continuing its offensive against Taliban fighters who have taken up residence in Pakistan's Swat Valley and were threatening Islamabad, the country's capital city.
"You're starting to see the Pakistani military take much more seriously the armed threat from militant extremists," Obama said during his news conference.
Turning to Iraq, Schlicher observed that although al-Qaeda terrorists residing there remain dangerous, the group has lost influence and experienced "significant" defections.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq has "lost key mobilization areas," Schlicher continued, noting the terrorist group suffers from "disruption of support, infrastructure and funding." The deteriorating state of affairs, he added, has forced al-Qaeda in Iraq "to change its targeting priorities in some instances." Also, the numbers of al-Qaeda bombings in Iraq "fell significantly" in 2008, Schlicher pointed out.
"And, very importantly, tribal and local leaders in Iraq continue to encourage Sunni tribes and local citizens to reject al-Qaeda and to reject its ideology," Schlicher said.
However, Somalia now appears to be emerging as a new terrorist "hot spot," Schlicher said. The al-Shabab terrorist group in Somalia has strong ties to al-Qaeda, he said, noting these terrorists have "overrun" the southern and central parts of the country.
"And Somalia's newly-established unity government remains in need of more substantial international support to face this and other challenges," Schlicher added.
The National Association of Chiefs of Police is grateful to Gerry J. Gilmore of the Pentagon press and liaison office for his help with this report.
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