Nerve Center In The War On Terror

David Martin Visits Super-Secret Counterterrorism Center

(CBS)  Five years ago, a counterterrorism center with top intelligence officers in constant contact with one another existed only on the hit TV series "24" — which debuted shortly after 9/11.

But today there is a real-life National Counterterrorism Center. CBS News has agreed not to give away its exact location in return for unprecedented access, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.

The top-secret facility was set up specifically to overcome rivalries between intelligence agencies like the CIA and FBI, which failed to share vital clues about the al Qaeda plot to attack the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

The nerve center of the war against terror is a 24/7 operations center where all the intelligence collected by 18 different agencies is supposed to come together. Barely a year old, it's run not by Jack Bauer but by retired Navy Adm. Scott Redd.

"All counterterrorism intelligence comes into the center," Redd says. "We see the most sensitive stuff."

A binder holds one of the most sensitive documents in the entire government. It's the Threat Matrix, a daily status report on every potential terrorist plot against the United States. On any given day there are 30 to 40.

"A large percentage of them, probably well over 90 percent, turn out to be nothing," Redd says.

"This is a dangerous and persistent enemy," Redd adds. "They're persistent and they're not stupid."

The heavy lifting of figuring out where terrorists might strike is the job of Andy Leibman, who oversees 200 analysts.

Leibman is from the CIA, but his analysts come from almost every agency.

"It's probably the only place in the intelligence community where, where you'll find a CIA analyst, an FBI analyst, a DHS analyst and a DIA analyst all sitting together," Leibman says,

That may sound unremarkable to you, but it took a bureaucratic battle royal to make it happen.

"I think a lot of people hoped it was gonna fail," says John Brennan, the former CIA officer who set up the center. "Sometimes if I told CIA that I wanted to have someone from the Department of Homeland Security have access to their sensitive operational cable traffic, I would be met with looks of disbelief."

Have bureaucratic battles detracted from the center's ability to track terrorists?

"There were times that we were spending energy on fighting those bureaucratic battles when it should have been, in fact, directed toward the terrorism front," Brennan replies.

Despite all the hard work in the five years since 9/11, the counterterrorism center is still not fully manned.

"The answer is no. I don't have enough," Leibman says when asked if he has enough staff to cover all of al Qaeda's offshoots around the world. "I should be gradually increasing the size until probably a year and a half or so from now when we'll be at full strength."

He's going to need every one of them, because each day the National Counterterrorism Center adds literally thousands of names to a list of suspected terrorists that already numbers 400,000.

[jack_bauer11]

Ron, I missed something here. You said that there is no chance of a bomb being on a plane because of the security at the airports?

You mean the chance is Zero? Well well well Ron, maybe the security companies should hire you since your assessment is of absolute certitude.

There is ALWAYS a chance of a bomb being on a plane. ALWAYS.

You have such an exaggerated view of the world....I think the correct word would be infantile....not exaggerated.

Jack Bauer
Director of CTU-Los Angeles

[jack_bauer11]

Ron, yes there are people complaining about it. All I am saying is that I remain a bit concerned about the quality of the analysts.

I have always been a staunch defender of the intelligence community. I scoff at the dissenters who claim that the NSA is doing wrong by wire-tapping; I scoffed at them when these same people shouted bloody murder when the bank-tap program was unveiled.

I have a background (academic) in counter-terrorism. All I am saying is that the report that was aired did not convince me that the analysts are top rate.

Sincerely

Jack Bauer
Director of CTU Los Angeles

[rcochran48]

Im shocked at the amount of people in the Country who see this as a bad thing.
Listen, we complained when we missed the ball on 911 now when a President is doing all he possibly can to protect us from another attack some of you want to cry about your loss of freedom.
Please list me the civil liberties any of you have lost because of the Patriot act?

Sure, we have more security at Airports, but do you not feel safer knowing there is no chance of a bomb on the plane?
I recently flew out of Charlotte Douglas to Washington State, I didn't find the security one bit invasive, in fact I slept peacfully knowing the baggage and the passengers were screened properly.

Regurds,

Ron

[jack_bauer11]

Imapatriot26, can you please also tell me what was foolish about my statement?

I would be delighted to know what makes you such an expert on counter-terrorism.

You say that our positions are foolish, yet I see nothing about your position.

Are you afraid of other people's perspectives? Im merely playing devil's advocate.

Now surely you know more about this stuff than I do since you are saying that my statement is foolish. If you could be ever so kind, please enlighten me.

Jack Bauer
Director of CTU-Los Angeles

How much of our freedom are we supposed to surrender in return for all of this "security?" If they have 400,000 people on their list already, just wait until they list the entire Democratic Party.

[patriotic9]

Mr. or Ms impatriot,I highly appreciate your comments.I'll be grateful if you please tell me what was idiotic and foolish in the message I posted so that I can correct my self and change my point of view.I think you might be shocked to know about the animosity of the radical religious people against freedom and democracy and the danger which is faced to the world by thesebigots whose ultimate goal is the dictatorship of a dictator and enemy of freedom name God on the name of who they wanna take our freedom whcih makes us happy and make us enjoy our lives.

[imapatriot26]

Wow, the last two comments are so idiotic and foolish...I didn't realize the depravity of and ridiculousness of some people.

[jack_bauer11]

Why is this such great news? It actually worries me.

Think about it. If I am a CIA manager, or a DIA manager and someone from Washington asks me for one or two of my analysts, I would be crazy to give them my best. I would give them teh analyst that produces dead wood and probably has a bad track record.

this doesn't comfort me at all. Yes it is nifty and it makes you think all Jack-Bauer-ish by truth of the matter is that unless these people are the cream of the crop, it is useless.

Secondly, rivalry between intelligence agencies is not a bad thing. The US Intelligence aparatus works on competitive intelligence where competing views are presented. That is the best way really. If group-think happens....then, you can see good things get flushed down the toilet.

Jack Bauer
Director of CTU-LA
Los Angeles Counter-terrorism Unit

[patriotic9]

How can we spread freedom and democracy around the globe when we have the worst enemies of freedom and democracy in Home land who wants to have the Foreing Policy based on the 2nd coming of jesus.Who believes that when Jesus'll be back,all the democratically elected Governments elseted by the people of their countries'll be collapsed and the whole world be living under the dictatorship of a dictator named God who'll take the freedom of the people goin to strip clubs,having parties ,fun and enjoyment in their lives away from them just like the Radical Talibans.

[patriotic9]

All these problems we facing is because of the Republican President Ronald Reagan who helped,supported,given weapons and money to Usama Bin Laden.Now we have removed Saddam Hussain from power whos was good with christian of his country as he didn't fear them.He knew that in a muslim nobody would like to see a christian as a president and we've brought those extremist Shias in power on the name of democracy who are takin American tax payer's money on the name of rebuilding but actually to form a radical stste based on hatred of west.Prime minister of Iraq is actually a Governer from Iran