Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice), Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing & Terrorism Risk Assessment, today released the following statement on the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Terrorism:

The key judgments of the NIE on Terrorism released today paint a disturbing picture:  a regenerated al Qaida, with a safe haven in Pakistani tribal areas, which is intensifying efforts to put operatives in the US.  I agree with this assessment, as I do with the judgment that al Qaida is plotting to inflict mass casualties and “significant economic aftershocks” in our country.

But the NIE key judgments do not include actions on our part to reduce the likelihood of domestic attacks.

From work my Subcommittee is now doing and my role as Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee from 2002-2006, I believe that the following actions should be taken:

1.      Intense study of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism.  The Subcommittee will report legislation to do this later today.

2.      A responsible end to the combat mission in Iraq.  The NIE states that al Qaida will seek to leverage the capabilities of al Qaida in Iraq.  Our focus needs to be on degrading al Qaida in Iraq, not on a failed surge to clear and hold Baghdad.

3.      Use of all appropriate tools to learn of plots against the US and disrupt them.  Administration efforts to label FISA as an impediment are overblown and unwise.  The core principle in FISA – that individualized warrants are needed to eavesdrop on a US person – can and must be maintained.  If we gut FISA and throw out the 4th Amendment to our Constitution, we will seriously degrade the rule of law and not enhance our security.  Democrats have suggested ways to modernize the FISA warrant process that can solve the problem.

4.      The need to prepare – not scare – the public.  Terrorism is the effort to terrify.  Better information and education of the public on what to look for and do are required.