Our communities and their safety. Thats true of folks inside of government as well as outside of government. But heres what i want every american to know. Since 9 11, weve taken extraordinary steps to strengthen our Homeland Security. Our borders, our ports, our airports, our aviation security, including enhanced watch lists and screening. Weve gotten much better, thanks, in part, to the people in this room, of preventing large complex attacks like 9 11. Moreover, and i think everybody here will agree, we have the very best intelligence, counterterrorism, Homeland Security, and Law Enforcement professionals in the world. Our folks are the best. Now, across our government, these dedicated professionals, including here at ntct, are relentless. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. At the Operations Center here, people from across our government work literally shoulder to shoulder, pouring over the latest information, analyzing it, integrating it, connecting the dots. Theyre sharing information, pushing it out across the federal government, and, just as importantly, to our state and local partners. In other words, what you see here today is one strong united team. So our professionals have a remarkable record of success. Of course, when terrorists pull off a despicable act like what happened in San Bernardino, it tears at our hearts. But it also stiffens our resolve. To learn whatever lessons we can and make any improvements that are needed. In the meantime, what the world doesnt always see are the successes. Those terrorist plots that have been prevented. And thats how it should be. This work oftentimes demands secrecy. But as americans, we should not forget how good these patriots are. Over the years, they have taken countless terrorists off the battlefield. They have disrupted plots. Theyve thwarted attacks. They have saved american lives. And so for everybody who is involved in our counterterrorism efforts, i want to say thank you. And the American People thank you. Now, i want to repeat what my team just told me. At this moment, our intelligence and counterterrorism professionals do not have any specific and credible information about an attack on the homeland. That said, we have to be vigilant. As i indicated in my address to the nation last week. We are in a new face of terrorism. Including lone actors and small groups of terrorists. Like those in San Bernardino. Because they are smaller, often selfinitiating, selfmotivating, their harder to detect. And that makes it harder to prevent. But just as the threat evolves, so do we. Were constantly adapting, constantly improving, upping our game, getting better. Today, the mission to protect our homeland goes on, on their main fronts. First, were going after terrorists over there where they plot and plan and spew their propaganda. As i described at the pentagon, were hitting issel harder than ever in syria and iraq. Were taking out their leaders. Our partners on the ground are fighting to push isil back and isil has been losing territory. Our special Operations Forces are hard at work. We took out the isil leader in libya. Weve taken out terrorists in yemen and somalia. So were sending a message. If you target americans, you will have no safe haven. We will find you and we will defend our nation. Meanwhile, as always, were working to protect americans overseas, including our military bases and service members. Secretary john kerry updated us on security at our embassies and our diplomatic posts. Second, we continue to do everything in our power to prevent terrorists from getting into the United States. Were doing more with countries around the world including our european partners, to prevent the flow of Foreign Terrorists partners, both to places like syria and iraq and back into our countries. Were implementing additional layers of security for visitors who come here under the Visa Waiver Program. And were working with congress to make further improvements. Any refugee coming to the United States, some of them victims of terrorism themselves, will continue to get the most intensive scrutiny of any arrival. They go through up to two years of vetting, including bio metrics screening. The review i ordered into the Fiance Visa Program under which the female terrorist in San Bernardino came here is ongoing. Third, were stepping up our efforts to prevent attacks here at home. As i said, the nctc is constantly sharing information with our state and local partners. Across the country, more than 100 joint Terrorism Task forces are the action arm of this fight. Federal state and local experts all working together to disrupt threats. At the state level, fusion cells are sketching tips and pushing information out to Law Enforcement. Just yesterday, the department of Homeland Security updated its alert system to make sure americans are getting the most timely and useful information. With groups like isil trying to radicalize people to violence, especially online, part of our meeting today focused on how we can continue to strengthen our partnership between Law Enforcement, high tech leaders, communities, faith leaders and citizens. Weve got to keep on building up trust and cooperation that helps communities inoculate themselves from the kind of propaganda that ice se isils spewing out. Preventing their loved ones, especially young people, from succumbing to terrorist ideologies in the first place. Finally, one of our greatest weapons against terrorism is our own strength and resilience as a people. That means staying vigilant. If you see something suspicious, Say Something to Law Enforcement. It also means staying united as one american family. Remembering that our greatest allies in this fight are each other. Americans of all faiths and all backgrounds. And when americans stand together, nothing can beat us. Most of all, we cannot give in to fear or change how we live our lives. Because thats what terrorists want. Thats the only leverage that they have. They cant defeat us on a battlefield, but they can lead us to change in ways that would undermine what this countrys all about. We have to remind ourselves when we stay true to our values, nothing can beat us. Anyone trying to harm americans need to know that were strong and were resilience. And we will not be terrorized. Weve prevailed over much greater threats than this. We will prevail again. I once again want to thank all of you at ntct and every one of your home agencies across our entire government for your extraordinary service. I want everyameric american to as you travel and gather with family and the kids open their presents and as you ring in the new year, that youve got dedicated patriots working around the clock all across the country to protect us all. Oftentimes, theyre doing so by sacrificing their own holidays and their own time with families. But they care about this deeply. And theyre the best in the world. And for that, were very grateful. Thank you, everybody. Happy holidays. The president , surrounded by the Vice President , the secretary of state, the director of national intelligence, the cia director, the attorney general, all the Top National SecurityLaw Enforcement intelligence officials in the Obama Administration trying to reassure the American Public right now that the u. S. Is ready for terror attacks. We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. Im wolf blitzer in washington. Immediately to our white house Senior Correspondent jim acosta. The second in a series of discussions by the president in this war on terror. Earlier in the week, at the pentagon. Hell head out to San Bernardino, california, tomorrow. The president on the eve of christmas and new years wants to reassure the American Public that this administration is on top of this terror threat. Thats right, wolf. I think the theme all week at the white house has been very quickly we got this. You know, from the days after the San Bernardino attacks, the president had that oval office attacks. Now at the National Counterterrorism center. Theyre trying to say to the American People there are people working around the clock. And, wolf, you know, the problem with what the president is facing at this point is hes facing some major doubts within the public. Theres a New Washington post abc poll that showed only 22 of americans are confident that the u. S. Government can prevent a lone wolf attack on the u. S. Homeland security. Thats what the president s been up against. I think the little nugget of news that came out of that speech from the president , and we were warned in advance that perhaps there wouldnt be a whole lot of new policy, is that there was a discussion at the National Counterterrorism there about technology. Law enforcement forming better partnerships with technology firmings. Wolf, one of the big problems this government has right now is dealing with social media. Monitoring what potential lone wolf terrorists are doing. How theyre messaging back and forth between the United States and terrorists overseas through encryption. Right now, the u. S. Government doesnt have a way to get around some encrypted messages. Thats the discussion taking place. So the president did get an update on that in terms of what theyre trying to formulate with the Law Enforcement community. We might have more news in the coming days on that, wolf. Thats a very Important Development. Theres an increase concern, as you point out, by incryptioned communications by various terrorist groups out there. The president saying at this moment, based on everything his Top National Security advisers have told him, he said theres not any specific and credible attack the u. S. Knows of thats in the works, but that doesnt mean the u. S. Cannot be vigilant right now. We have a lot more. Jim acosta. We have a lot more to discussion. We have a panel of experts standing by. Well be right back. [meow mix jingle slowly anright on cue. Cks] [cat meows] meow, meow, meow, meow. Its more than just a meal, its meow mix mealtime. With great taste and 100 complete nutrition, its the only one cats ask for by name. When i went on to ancestry, i just put in the name yes, we are twins. Of my parents and my grandparents. I was getting all these leaves and i was going back generation after generation. You start to see documents and you see signatures of people that youve never met. I mean, you dont know these people, but you feel like you do. You get connected to them. I wish that i could get into a time machine and go back 100 years, 200 years and just meet these people. Being on ancestry just made me feel like i belonged somewhere. Discover your story. Start searching for free now at ancestry. Com. At this moment, our intelligence and counterterrorism officials do not have any specific and credible information about an attack on the homeland. That said, we have to be vigilant. As i indicated in my address to the nation last week, we are in a new phase of terrorism, including lone actors and small groups of terrorists like those in San Bernardino. Because they are smaller, often selfinitiating, selfmotivating,er there harder to detect. And that makes it harder to prevent. But just as the threat evolves, so do we. The president only moments ago speaking at the National Counterterrorism center. Lets discuss what the president said. Joining us, our chief National Security correspondent jim sciutto, tom fuentes, our cnn Law Enforcement analyst, former fbi assistant director, analyst peter bergen, joining us from florida, retired general mark heardling. All of you well aware of whats going on. The president very specific in his words. We just heard him say no specific credible attack on the u. S. Homeland. He did have the secretary of state. There are deep concerns about attacks around the world. This is an International Issue for the president. The president s message today was one of reassurance. Youve heard from the white house, from counterterrorism officials and others. Theyre concerned the level of fear has gotten so great in the u. S. That theyre worried about panic. There is a real threat. They know it. But they also dont want people to be hiding in their closets, right, particularly as the holidays come. But he also right after that gets to the specific challenge with terrorism today. Which is that often with these kinds of plots, when you talk about lone wolf plots, there may never be a specific and credible threat. Because there are not the points, the choke points, where you can catch it in advance. Theres not the phone call from the cave in pakistan ordering the attack. You know, theres not the transit necessarily from the war zone to here. Could be a home grown person who reads something online and plots and kills people. So, you know, thats part of the problem here. Then the president carries on from there to say, yeah, the threat is evolving, but so are we. Trust us. Youve got people working here 24 7. I was in the ops Center Recently for a documentary we shot. This is running 24 7. It was created after 9 11 because the criticism that the left hand of the u. S. Government wasnt talking to the right hand. There wasnt enough organization. Tom fuentes, a new abc news wg poll shows only 22 of americans say theyre confident the government can prevent whats called a lone wolf terrorist attack. 77 are less confident. The president said that is now a great threat to the u. S. , individuals motivated, inspired online, if you will. He said hes talking to Technology Companies out there. This is a huge problem. Im surprised the numbers that high, 22 . A lone individual doesnt tell anybody, doesnt share it, doesnt have a wife and they exchange jihad pillow talk. If no one else knows it. Purchases a firearm or other equipment legally. Theres no chance of stopping that. If that person goes operational. Zero. When you heard what the president s remarked, a balanced tone, be diligent, make sure you see whats going on, but go about and get ready for the holidays, were watching, were doing the best we can. Peter, what did you think . Well, you know, polling data indicates americans are more concerned about terrorism today than they have been at any time since 9 11. That has an impact on the economy. People dont travel. Theyre scared. And, you know, i think what president said is correct. Yes, we have a lot of people on top of this, but what tom has said is also correct, which is a lone wolf by definition were not going to stop lone wolf attacks. Its very, very hard to do. Unless we have a machine that can real peoples souls, which right now we dont, its hard to read someones intent. The kinds of things Law Enforcement can usually interrupt. The president said there was a threepronged effort under way right now, general hertling. The first is to get the terrorists where they are, whether in syria, iraq, sudan. He mentioned countries like yem and libya where the u. S. Has gone after and killed terror leaders, isis terror leaders. Thats the first phase. Get them where they are. I know youre going to react to this but id say its going as best as can be expected. Joint special Operations Command is everywhere. Ive talked to some friends in that organization recently. Some very good friends. And they are all over the world. Searching for different terrorist organizations. Not just isis. And theres a bevy of them out there. But what youre talking about is an organization that has to react to different organizations, terrorist organizations, that are trying to do not only our government harm but other governments as well. Thats why i think the concern about the embassies and people who are overseas is critically important. Again, i think the president , you know, as hes done this deep dive this week, going to the pentagon first, you know, pentagon briefings always start with an intelligence summary. Whats going on. And then this is how were addressing it. Now hes taking it even one step further and gone to the National Counterterrorism center. Tom and i are familiar with that building. Weve been there multiple times in our activity duties lead. It is ph. D. Level work to try and do the very best you can to prevent terrorism anywhere. Im surprised the numbers as high as it is too. Just as soon as you think youve done away with any kind of attack, something is going to happen. And its going to happen in the most bizarre place. A marathon, you know, ft. Hood, a Small Community in california. None of those would have been predicted before they happened. Jim sciutto, the second part of the president s strategy, in his words, prevent terrorists from getting into the United States. Theres enormous fear right now a tourist could come in, a refugee could come in and commit an act of terror. Specific focus on the Visa Waiver Program because this applies to a lot of european countries. When you look at france, you look at the situation in the uk, bel