Toiling in obscurity, counter terrorism experts lauded

 President Obama told workers at the National Counterterrorism Center today they may toil in "obscurity," but their intelligence work is the difference between life and death for thousands of Americans.  "Your professionalism is essential to protecting our country," Obama told employees of the center created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

"Our intelligence community is comprised of 16 organizations," the president added. "We have countless federal and state and local and international partners, and this is where it has to all come together."

The president did not specifically mention the ongoing war in Afghanistan, the subject of his big meeting this afternoon with congressional leaders. But Obama did say, "we will target al-Qaeda wherever they take root," and efforts to destroy the terrorist network are succeeding.

Obama also praised counterintelligence officials for a spate of recent arrests across the country.

"You've stayed vigilant," he said. "You watched for signs. You stitched together the intelligence. You worked together across organizations, as one team ... arrests in Denver and New York, and still more in Illinois and Texas, have made us safer."

Obama, who told the counterterrorism analysts that "I am one of those consumers of your work product," also took a tour of the facility in suburban Virginia, which features Star Trek-like consoles and video boards.