Intelligence Chief Cites Qaeda Threat to U.S.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Al Qaeda is gaining in strength from its refuge in Pakistan and is steadily improving its ability to recruit, train and position operatives capable of carrying out attacks inside the United States, the director of national intelligence told a Senate panel on Tuesday.

The director, Mike McConnell, told lawmakers that Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, remained in control of the terrorist group and had promoted a new generation of lieutenants. He said Al Qaeda was also improving what he called “the last key aspect of its ability to attack the U.S.” — producing militants, including new Western recruits, capable of blending into American society and attacking domestic targets.

A senior intelligence official said Tuesday evening that the testimony was based in part on new evidence that Qaeda operatives in Pakistan were training Westerners, most likely including American citizens, to carry out attacks. The official said there was no indication as yet that Al Qaeda had succeeded in getting operatives into the United States.

The testimony, in an annual assessment of the threats facing the United States, was the latest indication that Al Qaeda appears to have significantly rebuilt a network battered by the American invasion of Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/washington/06intel.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Boy, these guys have become predictable. Dems kicking ass, GOOPers trot out The Terr'ists.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. Yep..."Super Tuesday Red Terra Alert," a new low, even for the GOP.

It would be hilarious if it weren't so damned transparent and pathetic.

[tekisui]

3. "We know, we tortured it out of them." -- War criminals.

[ursi]

4. this is what Hillary was talking about with her "swiftboat America" line

terror, terror, terror!

[zeemike]

5. They are laying the foundations for the GOP campaign

McCain the strong is the one to save us from the terra.
Obama osama is with them
Hillary not a military man.
Just give us a close one and we can steal it. No one is going to say anything.

[DCKit]

6. TERRA! TERRA! TERRA!

Be afraid! Be very afraid! They're coming to murder you in your homes and only we can protect you! Haven't we heard enough of this shit?

Pssst, asshats, there would be no Al Qaeda without the U.S. government policies that created, funded, trained then pissed off and abandoned them. How could we ever lionize St. Ronnie and George I enough for all they've done to us?

[badgervan]

7. bush's "legacy"....

al q thousands of times more numerous and powerful than five years ago... and getting stronger by the day. how the hell can the bush enablers spin their way out of this one?

[DCKit]

10. It is obviously all WJC's fault.

Tell a huge lie often enough, and the sheeple will fall in line.

However, I would like to think that even the stupidest among us are tired of being lied to and are beginning to pay attention to those things that affect their lives directly.

[LynnTheDem]

8. Thank GEORGE W. bUSH for making al Qaeda stronger than ever!

Just as so many of the world's experts warned would happen.

[krkaufman]

13. Don't forget to spread the love to all the Rubber Stamp Republicans, too...

... who enabled his policies.

[Lasher]

9. Would you explain that flypaper thingy?

I guess I don't understand how that works.

[krkaufman]

12. Chuckle.

I love the attitude that "over here" just means our 50 states. We don't give a crap if Iraq has caused bombings in Indonesia, Spain, London, ...

Our "coalition" allies have to be bumming. They probably thought that "over there" meant Iraq & Afghanistan.

[krkaufman]

11. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was election season. n/t

[liberal N proud]

14. Is this the beginning of the build of of fear for November or

Just a special little boost for the primaries?


FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR FEAR

[yurbud]

15. How can we ever tell what is true about al Qaeda after Bush years of propaganda?