In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against America, it became clear that U.S. intelligence agencies had failed to "connect the dots." That is becoming even more difficult as al-Qaida changes its tactics.
Al-Qaida terrorists are expected to attempt an attack on the United States within the next three to six months, intelligence officials told members of Congress last week. But the pattern of planning and carrying out the assault will not be the same as was used prior to 9/11.
Instead, al-Qaida will continue to recruit "clean" operatives - people who have few known links to terrorist organizations, CIA Director Leon Panetta explained. Some of the operatives will be "homegrown extremists" with little training for their missions, he added.
That is not a surprising conclusion, especially in light of events during recent months. We hope Panetta and others in President Barack Obama's administration take measures to foil al-Qaida's new tactics.
U.S. Army Major Nidal Hassan, who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, is a "homegrown extremist," Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair told lawmakers. That makes it puzzling why the administration has downplayed Hassan's link to terrorism.
Political correctness must not stand in the way of connecting the dots.