Intel Head: U.S. Safer From al Qaeda

The top U.S. intelligence official said the country is safer from al Qaeda and is attacking it more aggressively than in the past because it has a more sophisticated understanding of the terrorist organization.

National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair told reporters Tuesday that the group behind the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks is under more pressure from the United States than it has ever been.

Blair says U.S. intelligence officials, however, remain concerned that terrorists are trying to get nuclear weapons; failed states are leaving ungoverned areas that terrorists can use to plan and train; and Iran and North Korea are continuing to develop nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Blair was speaking upon the release of the 2009 National Intelligence Strategy, which will serve as the blueprint for the functioning of the nation's 16 intelligence agencies over the next four years.

2009 National Intelligence Strategy
DNI Press Release

The report states that there are four strategic goals for the intelligence community and lays out various objectives necessary for the successful attainment of those goals.

It also specifies the importance of operating within a clear legal framework "regardless of where the intelligence resides."

The NIS' stated goals include:

• Enabling wise national security policies by continually monitoring and assessing the international security environment, to warn policymakers of threats and inform them of opportunities;

• Supporting effective national security actions taken by diplomats, military units, interagency organizations in the field, and domestic law enforcement organizations at all levels, and acting at the direction of the president within the bounds of U.S. law;

• Delivering balanced and improving capabilities to support the intelligence community's mission while adjusting to meet the demands of an evolving world; and

• Operating as a single integrated team to leverage the full range of the intelligence community's capabilities.

As part of the intelligence community's mission the report cites providing strategic intelligence and counterintelligence, combating violent extremism, countering proliferation of WMDs, enhancing cybersecurity, and supporting ongoing diplomatic, military, and law enforcement operations, such as counterinsurgency, international counter-narcotics and border security.

The report also listed areas where agencies can instill best practices to better integrate efforts across the intelligence-gathering enterprise. These include ensuring accountability; strengthening existing relationships with foreign and domestic partners (and establishing new ones) to improve access to sources of information and intelligence; improving information sharing and dissemination; streamlining business operations to improve efficiency; transitioning to new technologies; and increasing diversity within its workforce.