Hot Seat

Behind the Scenes at NCTC

Mike Leiter's job is trying to protect the United States from another Sept. 11, or Dec. 25, which put his job in jeopardy.

He's the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, which puts him right in the middle of the controversy over the attempted bombing of an airliner over Detroit on Christmas Day — and how the Nigerian student accused in the attack was apparently able to walk onto a U.S.-bound plane with a bomb sewn into his clothing.

Shortly before the attempted attack on NW 253, Leiter spoke at length with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly at the NCTC's high tech HQ in McLean, VA.

Audio: NPR's All Things Considered, January 2.

Calling Out the Spinners



And the BBC asked "What can be done to stop radicalisation" of young Muslims, particularly those who reside in western countries?