Experts Say We Can't Let Down Our Guard Against Al-Qaida - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

Last year at this time, Osama bin Laden was caught and killed by American forces.

But experts say, while Al Qaida has been dealt a blow, the terrorist network still exists, and still vows vengeance on the United States.

To say that Al-Qaida has been wiped out is wishful thinking, and not necessarily accurate.

Experts say members have actually increased their global presence.

Congessman Bill Johnson of Ohio says they are still out there and we can't be complacent.

"We've made a lot of progress in making sure we have our fingers on the pulse of terrorist activity," Johnson says. "But we must always remain vigilant because they proved on Sept. 11 that they can bring the fight here to America."

Ohio University Eastern Assistant Dean and history professor Michael McTeague says they were dealt a blow but the terrorist network still exists, perhaps among us.

"We're certainly going to be the subject of rage on the part of groups that don't like our culture, don't like our standards," says McTeague. "And they're considered to be a terrorist. But we have individuals who, for a variety of reasons, don't necessarily have to be foreign born, could be domestic, could be individuals who for whatever reason decided to take action."

He says it may take them quite a while to carry out their plan.

"Something that took years in the making such as the bombing of the towers and the Pentagon  probably didn't happen as a weekend pass and all got together and decided they could do something," said McTeague. "Plans had to be secured, pilots had to be trained, monies had to be transferred. So I think we're going to be watching for some time in the future."

McTeague says if he were in charge of Homeland Security, he would not let our guard down, because the terrorists are fueled by revenge.

He says even a small attack in a rural area of America would not be outside the realm of possibility.