Senators decry lack of cooperation in analyzing threats

During a confirmation hearing Tuesday for a key counterterrorism post, senators vented their frustrations over the resurgence of al Qaeda and the lack of cooperation among federal agencies in analyzing looming threats.

But members of the Senate Intelligence Committee indicated that the nominee, Michael Leiter, would easily win confirmation to become head of the National Counterterrorism Center, which Congress created in response to a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission.

"If there were a single negative vote on you in this committee, I would be very surprised," Senate Intelligence Chairman John (Jay) Rockefeller, D-W.V., told Leiter. "You're kind of an ideal of what a public servant should be."

Rockefeller said Leiter's confirmation could occur as early as next week.

In response to questions, Leiter acknowledged that the Bush administration has not succeeded in stopping al Qaeda from planning terrorist attacks.

Leiter, a former Navy pilot who has held several administration positions and is acting chief of the counterterrorism center, said he has recommended that the White House reduce funding to U.S. agencies if they do not provide needed support to the center, mainly in the form of qualified analysts.

Senators said the Homeland Security and State departments have lagged in providing support, prompting Leiter to agree. Democratic senators pressed Leiter on al Qaeda's foothold in Pakistan.

"The most recent National Intelligence Estimate on terrorism, a portion of which was declassified in July 2007, stated that, from its safe haven in Pakistan, al Qaeda has regenerated key elements of its U.S. attack capability," Rockefeller said. "Clearly, the NCTC must succeed at the tasks assigned to it; our security and safety depends on it."

Leiter said the administration has succeeded in killing leaders of the terrorist network.

"How can you say we're succeeding when al Qaeda appears to be regenerating its capabilities?" countered Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

Leiter conceded: "We have clearly not succeeded in stopping core al Qaeda plotting."

He also found himself in the middle of a policy dispute between Intelligence ranking member Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo., and Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., over how the intelligence community can best assess threats.

Feingold asked Leiter if he agreed that most NCTC resources are put toward assessing current threats, rather than planning for emerging ones.

"Largely yes," replied Leiter, adding that he wished he had more resources.

Leiter said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's office last week pledged more support to the center.