WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Patrick Meehan (PA-07), today chaired a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence entitled, “Terrorist Threat to the U.S. Homeland – Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).”  The hearing was the first of the subcommittee in the 112th Congress.

“Today, we convened to examine the multifaceted threat posed by AQAP,” said Congressman Meehan.  “We had the benefit of hearing from a panel of outside experts on the evolving terrorist threat, including the use of new media to recruit Westerners.  Their insightful analysis allowed us to more fully understand the threat posed to the United States.  Following the hearing, we received a classified threat briefing from the FBI, National Counterterrorism Center, and the Department of Homeland Security on the threat posed by AQAP to the U.S. Homeland.  This was sobering and the threat is very real.”

“During today’s hearing, we also discussed the current political unrest in Yemen and throughout the Middle East, which will have ramifications for counterterrorism and intelligence policy for the United States in the months and years to come,” said Congressman Meehan. 

At a full House Homeland Security Committee hearing held on February 9, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano stated that the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland was at its most “heightened state” since September 11, 2011.  At that same hearing, National Counterterrorism Center Director Michael Leiter told Members of the Committee that he considered AQAP to be “the most significant threat to the homeland.”

The witnesses at today’s hearing included:

Dr. Jarret Brachman, Managing Director, Cronus Global

Dr. Christopher Boucek, Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Mr. Barak Barfi, Research Fellow, New America Foundation