National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)
The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is a pivotal federal agency in the United States, established in May 2003 to enhance national and international counterterrorism efforts. Its creation was a direct response to the findings of the 9/11 Commission, which highlighted significant failures in information sharing among intelligence agencies before the September 11 attacks. The NCTC serves as a central hub for operational planning and intelligence analysis, integrating data from both foreign and domestic sources to foster collaboration among various governmental entities.
The agency is tasked with producing detailed analyses that inform policies and operational strategies against terrorism, while ensuring that vital intelligence is accessible to all relevant agencies. It also manages the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE), a comprehensive database of individuals linked to terrorism, which supports national security efforts by aiding in the identification and monitoring of threats. Over the years, the NCTC has cautiously expanded its focus to include domestic terrorism, responding to evolving threats in a dynamic security landscape.
Key leadership has included figures such as John Brennan and Christine Abizaid, who have guided the NCTC as it adapts to contemporary challenges, including the rise of extremist groups. The NCTC continues to play an essential role in coordinating a unified response to terrorism, integrating various instruments of national power, including intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security efforts.
National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)
Summary: The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is a federal agency responsible for the United States' national and international counterterrorism efforts. The NCTC was created in May 2003 by President George W. Bush, following a report by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United Statescommonly known as the 9/11 Commission. The NCTC was established to overcome the inability of national agencies to share information, and it operates as a center for operational planning and joint intelligence. The NCTC is charged with gathering information and producing detailed analyses, sharing the information with all agencies, and coordinating strategic operational planning for counterterrorism activities among all groups.
In-Depth Overview
Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the US intelligence community underwent a major overhaul in terms of structure and functions. Prior to 9/11, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was responsible for conducting intelligence operations outside the United States, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) operated as the lead federal domestic intelligence agency. The National Security Agency (NSA) was responsible for electronic surveillance and eavesdropping external to the United States. The division between domestic and foreign responsibilities served as a "wall" between the agencies and inhibited necessary information sharing; laws enacted to safeguard civil liberties also prevented the creation of an all-powerful, all-encompassing state intelligence agency.
The National Commission On Terrorist Attacks Upon the United Statesalso known as the 9/11 Commissionreleased a report that revealed serious shortcomings in different agencies' ability to share information. According to the 9/11 Commission, US counterterrorism strategy before 9/11 had failed to disrupt or even delay al-Qaeda's plot. Due to both law and tradition, US intelligence agencies were either unwilling or unable to share actionable intelligence with each other that might have prevented the attacks on New York and Washington.
The 9/11 Commission recommended the creation of a national counterterrorism center that would unify all strategic intelligence and operational planning pertaining to counterterrorism, spanning the foreign and domestic divide. The report also suggested appointing a Directory of National Intelligence responsible for unifying the functions of more than a dozen agencies. In response to the commission's diagnosis, George W. Bush established the Terrorist Threat Integration Center in 2003. In 2004, it was renamed the National Counterterrorism Center. The director of the NCTC was assigned to report to the newly established Directory of National Intelligence. At the outset, the directive establishing the NCTC was sensitive to concerns about invading privacy or violating civil liberties. As a result, the NCTC's responsibilities do not solely include domestic counterterrorism.
The NCTC's mission statement reads: "Lead the nation’s effort to protect the United States from terrorism by integrating, analyzing, and sharing information to drive whole-of-government action and achieve our national CT objectives." The NCTC gathers and analyzes all information pertaining to counterterrorism, integrating both foreign and domestic information. It uses this information to produce detailed analyses that can then be used to influence policy, strategy, operations, law enforcement.
The NCTC then shares the information, functioning as "the central and shared knowledge bank" and ensuring all agencies have access to necessary intelligence. As a result, the NCTC breaks the traditional mold of national government organizations in favor of joint operational planning and joint intelligence. Finally, the NCTC integrates "all instruments of national power," coordinating activities between groups and agencies. It conducts strategic operational planning for counterterrorism activities that may include diplomatic, financial, military, intelligence, homeland security, and law enforcement activities among diverse agencies. The NCTC also maintains a "worldwide incidents tracking system" that records all terrorist attacks.
The founding director of the NCTC was John Brennansucceeded in 2005 by Vice Admiral Scott Redd. Redd retired in October 2007 and was succeeded by Michael Leiterwho served until 2011. In July 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Matthew G. Olsena career federal prosecutor with experience as the counsel to the NSAto succeed Leiter. Several other people served as directors in the ensuing decade. Christine Abizaid’s headed the NCTC, beginning in 2021. Abizaid resigned in 2024, and Brett Holgrem succeeded her as its acting Director. The NCTC continues to concentrate on five key missionsthreat analysis, identity management, information sharing, strategic operational planning, and national intelligence management.
Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE). Functioning as the central knowledge bank, the NCTC created a central database called the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE). TIDE functions as a compendium of all names associated with terrorism, using highly classified information gathered by the various federal agencies. TIDE is the authoritative source on terrorist identities and individuals associated with terrorist activities. These activities include information gathering, raising funds, recruiting members, or providing material support such as housing, communications, or transportation.
A subset of TIDE is included in a separate database, the Terrorist Screening Center. The FBI oversees the Terrorist Screening Center to help create the "no-fly" list maintained by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and a State Department database used in to screen visa applications.
In the wake of the attempted 2009 Christmas bombing aboard a Northwest Airlines flight, TIDE came under intense scrutiny. The name of the accused bomber had been added to the TIDE database of around 564,000 names, but it had not been added to more concise versions.
The NCTC has also cautiously expanded into domestic terrorism as the twenty-first century progressed. In 2012, the agency amped up its domestic surveillance program and, in 2019, officially announced its plan to monitor terrorism within the United States when concerned with US perpetrators. The NCTC processes 10,000 reports on a daily basis.
In October 2023 testimony to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, NCTC Director Christine Abizaid, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas detailed current threats to the US homeland. Topics included terror organizations such as al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hezbollahresulting from Israeli operations against Hamas in Gaza and Palestine. The Senate committee also expressed concerns over negative domestic trends including rising anti-semitism and sentiments against Islamic groups. In her testimony, Abizaid described US counterterrorism efforts over the past decade as having "diminished" threats to the US, but that the security environment remained highly dynamic. Abazaid advocated for the continuance of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which she described as an indispensible tool for countering terrorist operations within US borders.
Bibliography
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"FBI Director and Homeland Security Secretary on Threats to Homeland." C-SPAN, 31 Oct. 2023, www.c-span.org/video/?531450-1/fbi-director-homeland-security-secretary-testify-threats-part-1. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.
Isikoff, Michael, and Daniel Klaidman. "Look Who's Not Talking—Still." Newsweek, vol. 145, no. 14, 4 Apr. 2005
"Overview." Office of the Director of National Intelligence, www.dni.gov/index.php/nctc-how-we-work/overview.
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