The assertion by Zarate, responsible for counter-insurgency on the
National Security Council, differed from the assessments of the State
Department and the U.S. military in Iraq. In 2008, officials from both the
military and State Department reported a sharp decline in Al Qaida
operatives from Syria as well as efforts by Damascus to halt the insurgency
flow.
"We need to continue to pressure and expose the ongoing state
sponsorship of these two regimes, which have an interest in not only
opposing U.S. interests but in sowing instability wherever they see an
advantage for their interests," Zarate said.
The deputy national security advisor said Al Qaida has revived its
leadership and was determining strategy for networks throughout the Middle
East. Zarate said Al Qaida was also forming cells in Western Europe.
"Al Qaida has aggressively and systematically moved to establish and use
outposts, like Al Qaida in Iraq or Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, that
serve as forward bases for Al Qaida activity and strategic reach," Zarate
said. "In addition, Al Qaida has identified and nurtured pockets of
radicalized cells or individuals in Western Europe with the capability to
carry out deadly attacks under Al Qaida direction and in its name. Despite
our disruptions and aggressive counterterrorism actions
against Al Qaida leadership, this movement has found ways of extending its
reach beyond the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region."