US intelligence and counterterrorism officials expressed concern that al Qaeda’s central command is trying to establish bases and recruit fighters in Syria for attacks against the West. US military officials said North Korea has the capacity to fire missiles on short notice and the US lacks assets to conduct amphibious operations in the Pacific. In the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, President Obama called Russia “a regional power” and dismissed allegations that a perceived US retreat abroad had emboldened Russia. Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, a bin Laden son-in-law and al Qaeda propagandist, was convicted of supporting al Qaeda and conspiring to kill Americans.
