Our highest priority?

Just a few weeks ago, the terrorist plot to bring down Northwest Airlines Flight 253 was thwarted by a combination of luck and vigilance on the part of everyday citizens.

This incident aboard an international flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day combined with the assassination of seven CIA officers in Afghanistan by a double-agent just before the New Year are stark reminders the war on terror continues.

Terrorists still have innocent people in their sights and the will to follow through on their murderous intents.

The challenge those tasked with defending our nation and our people is as simple as it is unsettling: terrorists only have to do everything right once, while those who defend our nation have to get it right every time.

This threat does not exist in any one nation or have a single face -- it is global, multi-faceted and constantly evolving. It seeks out ungoverned spots around the globe from which to operate -- places like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen.

I have traveled to many of these areas, and have just returned from the Middle East where I was able to discuss terrorism with the leaders of Israel, Egypt and Turkey. The challenges are immense, but the safety and security of Americans depends on Congress and the White House making the right decisions.

Both parties recognize the stakes. However, this is about much more than an expanding no-fly list or an increasingly cumbersome security line.

We need to take a hard look at exactly what went wrong and how to actively prevent future attacks. We should remove legal and bureaucratic barriers which have raised significant obstacles for the U.S. military and intelligence communities in aggressively pursuing those who have joined or assisted terrorist groups.

Congress also should pass H.R. 2294, the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act, a commonsense bill which would prevent terrorists from being brought to American soil. The measure, of which I am a cosponsor, would require the President notify Congress 60 days before a transfer or release of a Guantanamo Bay detainee. This measure also would require states to consent to any release or transfer of an enemy combatant into their state.

For instance, this bill would help stop the misguided plan to put Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other terrorists on trial in downtown Manhattan. Bringing dangerous terrorists to U.S. soil does not make our country safer; rather if terrorists are brought to our country to be tried in U.S. courts, they would seek to manipulate the rights provided by the very Constitution they seek to destroy.

The Keep Terrorists Out of America Act also will help ensure we are treating terrorists as war criminals, not as petty criminals warranting law enforcement actions.

Recent events demonstrate the threat to our nation is not a structured organization. The terrorists who hate our freedom do not have membership cards or a central authority. However, they do share the common goal of harming U.S. interests at home and abroad.

It has been more than eight years since September 11, 2001, and threats still exist. The American people should not have to rely on luck to stop terrorist attacks. They deserve a government which is working together on all levels to keep our homeland safe.