CNN is discussing the National Intelligence Estimate about Al Qaeda. I assume the shrieking and gibbering I hear from afar emanates from Greater Wingnuttia. It's worth pointing out though that Al Qaeda appears to be back in the news primarily because it has recently been discovered that Al Qaeda is in Iraq, of all places, and so now provides the latest reason why we must stay there forever. Of course, there would be no Al Qaeda in Iraq if we had not invaded Iraq....
Al Qaeda will try to tap its resources and capabilities in Iraq in its efforts to exact another terrorist attack on U.S. soil, according to a top government intelligence report released Tuesday.
"In addition, we assess that its association with [al Qaeda in Iraq] helps al Qaeda to energize the broader Sunni extremist community, raise resources and to recruit and indoctrinate operatives, including for homeland attacks," states the declassified summary of the report.
Watching the press conference now. Funny, because the obvious conclusion from this report is that the only people in the whole entire fucking world the Iraq war has so far benefited... is Al Qaeda. And now the administration wants to stay in Iraq, so they need to pump up the Al Qaeda in Iraq thing. But they also don't want anyone to draw the obvious conclusion that the war was a fuckup.
They also are running into trouble with the usual conundrum they face in bringing up Al Qaeda at all -- here is this Threat that we told you we would Vanquish six years ago! And we did Vanquish them! But they are still a Dire Threat! Why, worse then ever! But we were not lying in saying we Vanquished them!
Shorter Bush administration:
IF YOU PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER AND GET FOUR, THE TERRORISTS WIN!
More fun with AQ: top story on memorandum is "Iran found to be lair of al Qaeda". Yep, the only Shiite country in the world is now supposed to be harboring the most extreme of the Sunni extremists.
It's like they aren't even trying to come up with plausible lies anymore. Sure, we didn't believe 'em before either, but at least they made the effort of draggin out Colin Powell.
Posted by: MikeJ | July 17, 2007 at 12:09 PM
So now the Bush administration has "discovered" Al Qaeda is in Iran.
Some days, I feel like we're the cat chasing the flashlight, and I'll let you guess who's holding the flashlight.
Posted by: Steve | July 17, 2007 at 12:17 PM
I can't wait 'til we bring al Qaeda to Venezuela. That'll be cool.
Posted by: Tom Hilton | July 17, 2007 at 12:58 PM
it's the recent attacks by Al Qaesda in Alabama that have me concerned. Al Qaeda in Kamloops seems to be getting ready, though Al Qaeda in Poopyland and their incessant need for diapers is a threat we need to address, and I mean now.
pooopy!
Posted by: mrs. ibrahim al-jafaari | July 17, 2007 at 04:05 PM
"Funny, because the obvious conclusion from this report is that the only people in the whole entire fucking world the Iraq war has so far benefited... is Al Qaeda."
Now hold on there bucko, essentially taking the second largest pot of oil in the world off the market
and making war right in the heart of the region with 40% of the planet's greasy lifeblood has pushed up oil prices and benefitted big oil and the other oil producing states handsomely.
Sure those Saudi Sheiks who
prop up Al Qaeda are doing great but so are lots of other people who also hate us.
Posted by: markg8 | July 17, 2007 at 04:58 PM
So...we are 'fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here', but at the same time the situation over there has made them MORE capable of attacking on US soil?
Am I reading this wrong or did this report just undermine a central pro-war talking point?
Posted by: Eric | July 17, 2007 at 05:08 PM