Osama bin Laden is alive and living in Pakistan, CIA Director Michael Hayden said in a talk to the Atlantic Council of the United States, an international relations group.

Speaking in Washington the other day, Mr. Hayden also said that American intelligence had blocked a terrorist attack that "would have rivaled the destruction of 9-11."

Mr. Hayden said that bin Laden "appears to be largely isolated from day-to-day operations" of the terrorist network, reported USA Today. He stressed that setbacks have not much weakened the organization, which remains "determined and adaptive."

"This war — and no one should mistake it as anything else — is far from over," the CIA director said.

Although al-Qaida in Iraq is near "strategic defeat," the terrorist group has joined extremists in Somalia to establish itself there. Al Qaida is active in North Africa and in Yemen, where the U.S. Embassy was assaulted in September.

Bin Laden is believed to be living in Pakistan's lawless tribal area. His role now is something of a mystery, but he is still most-wanted on the CIA list.

"The truth is, we simply don't know what would happen if bin Laden is killed or captured, but I'm willing to bet that it would work in our favor," Mr. Hayden said. That is something the U.S. government should continue to pursue.

The thwarted terrorist plot Mr. Hayden mentioned is a reminder: America has not suffered another domestic attack since 9-11, for which the current administration deserves some credit.