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What does it mean that Gen. David Petraeus is taking over at the CIA? Traditionally, there has been a line between military and civilian intelligence spheres, though personnel crossover is a trend. Is the line between the two areas blurring? We speak with Paul Pillar, 28-year CIA veteran and visiting Georgetown University professor, to understand the changing relationship between the CIA and the military. We also talk with Loch Johnson, professor of political science at University of Georgia, about some of the same issues. 

The President's announcement of a link between alleged 'Christmas Bomber' Umar Farouk Abdullmutallab and al-Qaida in Yemen not only shed light on the real threat posed by international terror; it also raised awareness of the mobility of terror cells.  We're joined again by Peter Galbraith, former United Nations Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, as well as Paul Pillar, director of  the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University and former deputy director of the CIA’s Counterterrorist Center. Both come on to discuss security in the age of franchised terror.

Concerns about the safety of airline travel are still running high this morning after a 23-year-old Nigerian man, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, allegedly attempted to detonate explosives aboard Northwest flight 253, flying from Amsterdam to Detroit, on Christmas Day. Authorities credit quick action by passengers and crew and a faulty detonator with preventing what could have been a tragedy aboard the plane. But travelers can expect to see a host of new restrictions on airline flights. Micheline Maynard is covering the story for our partner, The New York Times. 

Many people were surprised to learn that the father of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had reportedly approached the U.S. embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, with concerns that his son was becoming radicalized. That has raised questions of why the young man wasn't subjected to greater scrutiny before boarding the plane to Detroit. For a look at how this incident may change planning and procedure around U.S. airport security we speak to Paul Pillar. Pillar is the director of graduate studies at Georgetown University's Center for Peace and Security Studies.

The National Intelligence Estimate released this week revealed the continuing role of Pakistan in the survival of Al Qaeda. Former CIA analyst Paul Pillar and Lehigh University professor of international relations Rajan Menon talk about how US foreign policy could best address the problem.