Burr: Technology is key to preventing terror attacks in U.S.

Intelligence work by the United States and its allies must focus more on decoding encrypted cellphone messages and other communications that helped the Islamic State go seemingly unnoticed as it organized and carried out multiple deadly, coordinated strikes in Paris Friday, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., said Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

The latest attacks in Paris were carried out even after French authorities ramped up intelligence work following three days of attacks in January that started with the slaughter of 12 people at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, said Burr, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Better monitoring of communications channels used by terrorists is critical because the United States remains a target of ISIS, Burr said.

“Technology is going to be a tough thing to deal with, but we’ve got to redouble our efforts to get the communication we need to give us lead time” to prevent strikes in the United States,” Burr said.

He criticized President Barack Obama’s foreign policies and suggested the United States does not have a strategy for dealing with terrorism in Syria, repeating a statement first made by U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and also a guest on the program during the same segment.

“These pin pricks that we’ve had as far as a tactical effort in Syria really are not a strategy,” Burr said.

This story was originally published November 15, 2015 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Burr: Technology is key to preventing terror attacks in U.S.."