But to describe the center as the place where all the dots are connected-implying that its staff are supposed to be able to predict the next attack-is at best a misunderstanding of the NCTC’s capabilities and at worst an attempt to pin the intelligence failures of Christmas Day on a single organization. In the global fight against terrorism the NCTC is mostly a passive participant. It cannot investigate terrorist suspects in the United States. That’s the FBI’s job. It cannot legally conduct covert operations overseas. That’s the CIA’s domain. It cannot intercept foreign communications. That’s the NSA’s bailiwick. It cannot revoke visas. That’s up t to the State Department. Some criticism can be leveled that they didn’t connect all the dots, but that can’t fall all on NCTC’s shoulders.
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