US President Barack Obama reckons that the country can “absorb” another terror attack, a new book by journalist Bob Woodward has claimed.
According to Fox News, the comment in the book, “Obama’s Wars”, was made despite the President being warned repeatedly by his advisers about the threat of another terror attack on the US soil.
“We can absorb a terrorist attack. We’ll do everything we can to prevent it, but even a 9/11, even the biggest attack ever… we absorbed it and we are stronger,” Mr Obama reportedly said.
The comment has drawn tough criticism from Liz Cheney, daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney and chairwoman of Keep America Safe. “This comment suggests an alarming fatalism on the part of President Obama and his administration,” Liz said in a statement.
“Once again the President seems either unwilling or unable to do what it takes to keep this nation safe. The President owes the American people an explanation,” she added.
A senior administration official, however, defended the depiction of the President’s actions. “The President comes across in the review and throughout the decision-making process as a commander in chief who is analytical, strategic and decisive, with a broad view of history, national security and his role,” the official said.
Senior administration officials have repeatedly said that Al Qaeda and its allies are likely to attempt small-scale and less sophisticated terrorist attacks in the US.
Testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security secretary, said: “Unlike large-scale, coordinated, catastrophic attacks, executing smaller-scale attacks requires less planning and fewer pre-operational steps.”
“Accordingly, there are fewer opportunities to detect such an attack before it occurs,” she added. National Counterterrorism Centre director Michael Leiter said that the failed plots targeting New York subway system, a commercial airliner approaching Detroit and the Times Square has increased the risk of another dramatic mass-casualty event.
“The impact of the attempted attacks during the past year suggests Al Qaeda, and its affiliates and allies, will attempt to conduct smaller-scale attacks targeting the homeland, but with greater frequency,” Leiter said.