The Terrorist Threat to
the US Homeland
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
The Director of National Intelligence serves as the head of the Intelligence Community
(IC), overseeing and directing the implementation of the National Intelligence Program and
acting as the principal advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the
Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is charged with:
• Integrating the domestic and foreign dimensions of US intelligence so that there are
no gaps in our understanding of threats to our national security;
• Bringing more depth and accuracy to intelligence analysis; and
• Ensuring that US intelligence resources generate future capabilities as well as
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL
Since its formation in 1973, the National Intelligence Council (NIC) has served as a bridge
between the intelligence and policy communities, a source of deep substantive expertise on
critical national security issues, and as a focal point for Intelligence Community
collaboration. The NIC's key goal is to provide policymakers with the best, unvarnished,
and unbiased information. Its primary functions are to:
• Support the DNI in his role as Principal Intelligence Advisor to the President and
other senior policymakers.
• Lead the Intelligence Community's effort to produce National Intelligence
Estimates (NIEs) and other NIC products that address key national security
• Provide a focal point for policymakers, warfighters, and Congressional leaders to
task the Intelligence Community for answers to important questions.
• Reach out to nongovernment experts in academia and the private sector—and use
alternative analyses and new analytic tools—to broaden and deepen the Intelligence
NIEs are the DNI's most authoritative written judgments concerning national security
issues. They contain the coordinated judgments of the Intelligence Community regarding
the likely course of future events.
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATES AND THE NIE PROCESS
National Intelligence Estimates (NIEs) are the Intelligence Community’s (IC) most
authoritative written judgments on national security issues and designed to help US
civilian and military leaders develop policies to protect US national security interests.
NIEs usually provide information on the current state of play but are primarily
“estimative”—that is, they make judgments about the likely course of future events and
identify the implications for US policy.
The NIEs are typically requested by senior civilian and military policymakers,
Congressional leaders and at times are initiated by the National Intelligence Council (NIC).
Before a NIE is drafted, the relevant National Intelligence Officer is responsible for
producing a concept paper, or terms of reference (TOR), and circulates it throughout the
Intelligence Community for comment. The TOR defines the key estimative questions,
determines drafting responsibilities, and sets the drafting and publication schedule. One or
more IC analysts are usually assigned to produce the initial text. The NIC then meets to
critique the draft before it is circulated to the broader IC. Representatives from the
relevant IC agencies meet to hone and coordinate line-by-line the full text of the NIE.
Working with their Agencies, representatives also assign the level of confidence they have
in key judgments. IC representatives discuss the quality of sources with collectors, and the
National Clandestine Service vets the sources used to ensure the draft does not include any
that have been recalled or otherwise seriously questioned.
All NIEs are reviewed by National Intelligence Board, which is chaired by the DNI and is
composed of the heads of relevant IC agencies. Once approved by the NIB, NIEs are
briefed to the President and senior policymakers. The whole process of producing NIEs
normally takes at least several months.
The NIC has undertaken a number of steps to improve the NIE process under the DNI.
These steps are in accordance with the goals and recommendations set out in the Senate
Select Committee on Intelligence and WMD Commission reports and the 2004 Intelligence
Reform and Prevention of Terrorism Act. Most notably, over the last two years the IC has:
• Created new procedures to integrate formal reviews of source reporting and
technical judgments. The Director of CIA, as the National HUMINT Manager, as
well as the Directors of NSA, NGA, and DIA and the Assistant Secretary/INR are now
required to submit formal assessments that highlight the strengths, weaknesses, and
overall credibility of their sources used in developing the critical judgments of the NIE.
• Applied more rigorous standards. A textbox is incorporated into all NIEs that
explains what we mean by such terms as “we judge” and that clarifies the difference
between judgments of likelihood and confidence levels. We have made a concerted
effort to not only highlight differences among agencies but to explain the reasons for
such differences and to display them prominently in the Key Judgments.
THE US HOMELAND THREAT ESTIMATE: HOW IT WAS PRODUCED
The Estimate, Terrorist Threats to the US Homeland, followed the standard process for
producing National Intelligence Estimates (NIEs), including a thorough review of
sourcing, in-depth Community coordination, the use of alternative analysis, and review by
outside experts. Starting in October 2006, the NIC organized a series of roundtables with
IC experts to scope out terms of reference (TOR) for the Estimate. Drafters from
throughout the Community contributed to the draft. In May, a draft was submitted to IC
officers in advance of a series of coordination meetings that spanned several days. The
National Clandestine Service, FBI, and other IC collection officers reviewed the text for
the reliability and proper use of the sourcing. As part of the normal coordination process,
analysts had the opportunity--and were encouraged--to register “dissents” and provide
alternative analysis. Reactions by the two outside experts who read the final product were
highlighted in the text. The National Intelligence Board, composed of the heads of the 16
IC agencies and chaired by the ODNI, reviewed and approved the Estimate on 21 June. As
with other NIEs, it is being distributed to senior Administration officials and Members of
What We Mean When We Say: An Explanation of Estimative Language
When we use words such as “we judge” or “we assess”—terms we use synonymously—
as well as “we estimate,” “likely” or “indicate,” we are trying to convey an analytical
assessment or judgment. These assessments, which are based on incomplete or at times
fragmentary information are not a fact, proof, or knowledge. Some analytical judgments
are based directly on collected information; others rest on previous judgments, which
serve as building blocks. In either type of judgment, we do not have “evidence” that
shows something to be a fact or that definitively links two items or issues.
Intelligence judgments pertaining to likelihood are intended to reflect the Community’s
sense of the probability of a development or event. Assigning precise numerical ratings
to such judgments would imply more rigor than we intend. The chart below provides a
rough idea of the relationship of terms to each other.
We do not intend the term “unlikely” to imply an event will not happen. We use
“probably” and “likely” to indicate there is a greater than even chance. We use words
such as “we cannot dismiss,” “we cannot rule out,” and “we cannot discount” to reflect
an unlikely—or even remote—event whose consequences are such it warrants
mentioning. Words such as “may be” and “suggest” are used to reflect situations in
which we are unable to assess the likelihood generally because relevant information is
nonexistent, sketchy, or fragmented.
In addition to using words within a judgment to convey degrees of likelihood, we also
ascribe “high,” “moderate,” or “low” confidence levels based on the scope and quality of
information supporting our judgments.
• “High confidence” generally indicates our judgments are based on high-quality
information and/or the nature of the issue makes it possible to render a solid
• “Moderate confidence” generally means the information is interpreted in various
ways, we have alternative views, or the information is credible and plausible but not
corroborated sufficiently to warrant a higher level of confidence.
• “Low confidence” generally means the information is scant, questionable, or very
fragmented and it is difficult to make solid analytic inferences, or we have significant
concerns or problems with the sources.
We judge the US Homeland will face a persistent and evolving terrorist threat over the next
three years. The main threat comes from Islamic terrorist groups and cells, especially al-
Qa’ida, driven by their undiminished intent to attack the Homeland and a continued effort by
these terrorist groups to adapt and improve their capabilities.
We assess that greatly increased worldwide counterterrorism efforts over the past five years
have constrained the ability of al-Qa’ida to attack the US Homeland again and have led
terrorist groups to perceive the Homeland as a harder target to strike than on 9/11. These
measures have helped disrupt known plots against the United States since 9/11.
• We are concerned, however, that this level of international cooperation may wane as
9/11 becomes a more distant memory and perceptions of the threat diverge.
Al-Qa’ida is and will remain the most serious terrorist threat to the Homeland, as its central
leadership continues to plan high-impact plots, while pushing others in extremist Sunni
communities to mimic its efforts and to supplement its capabilities. We assess the group has
protected or regenerated key elements of its Homeland attack capability, including: a
safehaven in the Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), operational
lieutenants, and its top leadership. Although we have discovered only a handful of
individuals in the United States with ties to al-Qa’ida senior leadership since 9/11, we judge
that al-Qa’ida will intensify its efforts to put operatives here.
• As a result, we judge that the United States currently is in a heightened threat
We assess that al-Qa’ida will continue to enhance its capabilities to attack the Homeland
through greater cooperation with regional terrorist groups. Of note, we assess that al-Qa’ida
will probably seek to leverage the contacts and capabilities of al-Qa’ida in Iraq (AQI), its
most visible and capable affiliate and the only one known to have expressed a desire to attack
the Homeland. In addition, we assess that its association with AQI helps al-Qa’ida to
energize the broader Sunni extremist community, raise resources, and to recruit and
indoctrinate operatives, including for Homeland attacks.
We assess that al-Qa’ida’s Homeland plotting is likely to continue to focus on prominent
political, economic, and infrastructure targets with the goal of producing mass casualties,
visually dramatic destruction, significant economic aftershocks, and/or fear among the US
population. The group is proficient with conventional small arms and improvised explosive
devices, and is innovative in creating new capabilities and overcoming security obstacles.
• We assess that al-Qa’ida will continue to try to acquire and employ chemical,
biological, radiological, or nuclear material in attacks and would not hesitate to use
them if it develops what it deems is sufficient capability.
We assess Lebanese Hizballah, which has conducted anti-US attacks outside the United
States in the past, may be more likely to consider attacking the Homeland over the next three
years if it perceives the United States as posing a direct threat to the group or Iran.
We assess that the spread of radical—especially Salafi—Internet sites, increasingly
aggressive anti-US rhetoric and actions, and the growing number of radical, self-generating
cells in Western countries indicate that the radical and violent segment of the West’s Muslim
population is expanding, including in the United States. The arrest and prosecution by US
law enforcement of a small number of violent Islamic extremists inside the United States—
who are becoming more connected ideologically, virtually, and/or in a physical sense to the
global extremist movement—points to the possibility that others may become sufficiently
radicalized that they will view the use of violence here as legitimate. We assess that this
internal Muslim terrorist threat is not likely to be as severe as it is in Europe, however.
We assess that other, non-Muslim terrorist groups—often referred to as “single-issue” groups
by the FBI—probably will conduct attacks over the next three years given their violent
histories, but we assess this violence is likely to be on a small scale.
We assess that globalization trends and recent technological advances will continue to enable
even small numbers of alienated people to find and connect with one another, justify and
intensify their anger, and mobilize resources to attack—all without requiring a centralized
terrorist organization, training camp, or leader.
• The ability to detect broader and more diverse terrorist plotting in this environment
will challenge current US defensive efforts and the tools we use to detect and disrupt
plots. It will also require greater understanding of how suspect activities at the local
level relate to strategic threat information and how best to identify indicators of
terrorist activity in the midst of legitimate interactions.