Intel officials worry Iraq's al Qaeda to spread

[sabra]

Source: Chicago Tribube Politics Blog

President Bush has often said it's important to fight al Qaeda "over there" in Iraq so the U.S. doesn't have to fight it closer to home.

Seems like the nation's intelligence community is ever more concerned that a result of fighting al Qaeda in Iraq could lead to AQI metastasizing like a cancer beyond Iraq. "Over there" could become an ever bigger battle field.

In testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence, Michael McConnell said this:

"Al Qaeda's affiliates also pose a significant threat. As noted, al Qaeda in Iraq remains al Qaeda's central, most capable affiliate. We are increasingly concerned that even as coalition forces inflict significant damage on al Qaeda inside Iraq, they may deploy resources to mount attacks outside that country.

Al Qaeda's North Africa affiliate, known as al Qaeda in the Lands of Islamic Maghreb, that group is active in North Africa and is extending its target set to include U.S. and Western interests. Other al Qaeda regional affiliates in the Levant, the Gulf, Africa and Southeast Asia maintained a lower profile in 2007 but remain capable of conducting strikes against American interests.

Homegrown extremists, inspired by militant Islamic ideology but without operational direction from al Qaeda, are on an evolving course for danger inside the United States. Disrupted plotting last year, here at home, illustrates the nature of the threat inside the country.

In addition, our allies continue to uncover new extremist networks inside Europe for their version of the homeland threat, homegrown threat."

Read more: http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/by_frank_james_president_bush_1.html#more

[Iwasthere]

1. People seem to forget the entire reason the Saudis and Osama attacked us

Our presence in the Middle East. * just keeps opening up more and more cans of worms, creating additional enemies everyday. get him out of our Whitehouse NOW! We cannot afford to wait. At the very least there should be hearings, this would at least slow down his current slash and burn tactic imo.

[4dsc]

2. Can you say FEARMONGERING?

I'm sure you can...

[Lasher]

3. Has anyone told him al Qaeda didn't exist in Iraq until President Cheney invaded?

"...al Qaeda in Iraq remains al Qaeda's central, most capable affiliate."

A statement obviously intended to keep the flat-earthers believing Iraq had something to do with 9/11.

[Tempest]

4. They knew this was going to happen

A stark assessment of terrorism trends by American intelligence agencies has found that the American invasion and occupation of Iraq has helped spawn a new generation of Islamic radicalism and that the overall terrorist threat has grown since the Sept. 11 attacks.
http://fairuse.100webcustomers.com/sf/nyt9_24_06.htm


al-Qaeda leaders have said they would train their fighters in Iraq and send them home as seasoned veterans.

[Parche]

5. its always Al-Kida

:grr: :grr: :hi:

[OKthatsIT]

6. QUIT CONTRACTING 'Privatized Intelligence' Reports!

What a bunch of bullcrap we get fed on a daily basis.

[bitchkitty]

7. Intel Officials: DUH!

What a b.s. article. They've known full well all along. But it's the season for FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR. Bastards.