The main purpose of this article is to bring more light - further information and a better understanding – on the reasons for the failure of the intelligence services to combat terrorist attacks. Starting with September 11th 2001 in the USA, continuing with the attack on 11th March 2004 in Madrid, and the London one on 7th July 2005, and the latest events – the bombing of the Paris and Istanbul, all this made me pay particular attention to the reasons for the intelligence services not to fall within the limits of early warning, which often lead to real catastrophes. The article focuses on drawing, as close to reality as possible, the parallel between failures of intelligence and terrorist attacks. Therefore, I have focused on the connection between actionable intelligence and terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001 in the USA. The concept ‘actionable intelligence’ involves the transformation of information into real action, one meant to launch a protective barrier, and go on the offensive. Starting from this premise, and in parallel with the attack on September 11th, 2001, we can say that intell services failed to prevent and stop this event. ‘Balance bombing’ meant the first piece of the terrorist attacks puzzle, which has tended towards a broadening of horizon given the increasing number of attacks occurred so far. Thus, the article briefly reflects an assessment of the grounds for which the intelligence services continue to fail in fighting terrorism.
