The latest collective assessment from the nation’s spy agencies says the U.S. is no safer from the threat of attack than it was around 9/11. The National Intelligence Assessment says al-Qaeda has rebuilt much of its operations from havens in Pakistan and has attracted new recruits and support because of the war in Iraq. With the release of the report Tuesday, Homeland Security adviser Frances Townsend said the U.S. faces a “heightened” threat environment.

Homeland Security adviser Frances Townsend: “The NIE found that although we have discovered only a handful of individuals in the United States with ties to al-Qaeda senior leadership since September 11th, we judge that al-Qaeda will intensify its efforts to put operatives here in the homeland. As a result of these factors, the NIE concludes we are currently in a heightened threat environment. I hasten to add we have no credible information pointing to a specific, imminent attack or the timing or execution of such an attack.”