Addressing the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on February 2, 2006, Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte said: ” ‘Attacking the US Homeland, US interests overseas, and US allies–in that order–are al-Qa’ida’s top operational priorities. The group will attempt high-impact attacks for as long as its central command structure is functioning and affiliated groups are capable of furthering its interests, because even modest operational capabilities can yield a deadly and damaging attack.’ “
– Ian S. Lustick, Trapped in the War on Terror, Page 123