<p>"In the tribal regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the core of al-Qaeda is under more pressure than at any point since it fled Afghanistan nine years ago. Senior leaders have been killed," said John Brennan, chief counter-terrorism adviser to US President Barack Obama.<br /><br />"It's harder for them to recruit, to travel and train, to plot and launch attacks. In short, al-Qaeda is hunkered down," Brennan said in his speech at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank.<br /><br />As the President said, he noted, it will take time to ultimately defeat al-Qaeda, but it remains a ruthless and resilient enemy bent on attacking this country.<br /><br />"But we are going to remain relentless in disrupting and dismantling that terrorist organisation, and I can envision the demise of al-Qaeda's leadership and cadre in the coming years," he said.<br /><br />In his speech, Brennan mainly dealt with the counter- terrorism operations in Yemen and said that America's efforts in that country are part of our larger comprehensive approach to protecting the American people.<br /><br />"Yesterday, the President provided the American people with an update with regard to our efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As the President said, our core goal remains the same -- to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda and prevent its capacity to threaten America and our allies in the future," he said.<br /><br />"We're making significant progress towards that goal," he added.<br /><br />Brennan said the US is helping Yemen build its counter-terrorism capacity for a very specific purpose -- "so that Yemen, with our assistance, can go on the offensive against al-Qaeda."<br /><br />"Going on the offensive means exactly that – using all the tools available to identify, locate, capture, and, when necessary, kill those who are dedicated to murdering innocent men, women and children," he said.<br /><br />The relationship between Washington and Sana'a is, at times, marked by differences of view, tension and even strong frustration by each side, he said.<br /><br />"We frequently push the Yemenis ... to be more aggressive in the actions they take against al-Qaeda for their part...," he said.</p>
<p>"In the tribal regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the core of al-Qaeda is under more pressure than at any point since it fled Afghanistan nine years ago. Senior leaders have been killed," said John Brennan, chief counter-terrorism adviser to US President Barack Obama.<br /><br />"It's harder for them to recruit, to travel and train, to plot and launch attacks. In short, al-Qaeda is hunkered down," Brennan said in his speech at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank.<br /><br />As the President said, he noted, it will take time to ultimately defeat al-Qaeda, but it remains a ruthless and resilient enemy bent on attacking this country.<br /><br />"But we are going to remain relentless in disrupting and dismantling that terrorist organisation, and I can envision the demise of al-Qaeda's leadership and cadre in the coming years," he said.<br /><br />In his speech, Brennan mainly dealt with the counter- terrorism operations in Yemen and said that America's efforts in that country are part of our larger comprehensive approach to protecting the American people.<br /><br />"Yesterday, the President provided the American people with an update with regard to our efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As the President said, our core goal remains the same -- to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda and prevent its capacity to threaten America and our allies in the future," he said.<br /><br />"We're making significant progress towards that goal," he added.<br /><br />Brennan said the US is helping Yemen build its counter-terrorism capacity for a very specific purpose -- "so that Yemen, with our assistance, can go on the offensive against al-Qaeda."<br /><br />"Going on the offensive means exactly that – using all the tools available to identify, locate, capture, and, when necessary, kill those who are dedicated to murdering innocent men, women and children," he said.<br /><br />The relationship between Washington and Sana'a is, at times, marked by differences of view, tension and even strong frustration by each side, he said.<br /><br />"We frequently push the Yemenis ... to be more aggressive in the actions they take against al-Qaeda for their part...," he said.</p>