Official: Economic Crisis Top US Threat

National Intelligence Director Warns Of Dangerous Recession

WASHINGTON -- The economic crisis has trumped bullets and bombs in the intelligence chief's latest assessment of the top security threats to the United States. In his opening statement Thursday, National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair is telling the Senate Intelligence Committee about the potentially dangerous effects of a sustained and deep recession.

Blair also said al-Qaida is less capable than it was a year ago but remains a leading threat to the U.S. And despite U.S. and international efforts in Afghanistan, the Taliban is regaining power in many parts of that country. He put much of the blame on Pakistan's inability to control the tribal area on the Afghan border.