Secret report:terrorism spreading across Iraq

[cal04]

The intelligence revision of the scale of the insurgency, which puts the number of militant cells at over 50 and growing, indicates that the current level of coalition forces will struggle to cope with an increased level of insurgent activity as the election approaches next year. The documents show that terrorist and militia activity is spreading across Iraq and is not just limited to Baghdad and Fallujah.

The increasing number of anti-coalition militias are believed to receive funds from wealthy Saudi donors and to be in receipt of funds from money placed in Syrian banks before the fall of Saddam. As much as $1 billion belonging to Saddam may have found its way to Syria before the coalition invasion. The militia problem is compounded by criminals now rampant inside the almost lawless parts of Iraq.

The picture painted by the rise in the number of resistance groups, allied to a rise in the number of attacks on coalition forces, points to serious question marks now over Ayad Allawi’s interim government. Allawi still claims that elections will be held across all parts of Iraq and will also be fair and democratic. The United Nations have recently voiced concern over the interim Iraqi government’s plans to limit the election and yet still claim it is legitimate. The timing of the rise in militia violence and the dangerous picture of an Iraq far from under control, is also bad news for the re-election prospects of President George Bush.

In the run-in to the US presidential election, one of Bush’s key messages is that a democratic Iraq will make the world a safer place. That claim is key to the White House’s justification for the invasion.
The more the claim looks suspect, the likelihood is that swing voters – crucial to the outcome of the election race - could turn to Bush’s challenger, Senator John Kerry. The fears of a pro-Saddam resistance network and increased instability outlined in the intelligence reports seen by the Sunday Herald were born out by 24 hours of exceptional violence across Iraq.

http://www.sundayherald.com/45619

[Carolab]

1. Do you think this will be on CNN? n/t

[aquart]

2. Ah, the money.

If we'd tackled the money first........but no, John Wayne's Mini Me always has to send in the troops, while he stays safely in the airport hanger with the plastic turkey.

[malatesta1137]

3. secret?

what's secret about it? this was Bush's first goal, to increase terrorism so he can continue his illegal wars for oil and hegemony for eternity.

[UCLA Dem]

4. naw really??? terrorism in Iraq?? Never!!

[nosmokes]

5. and the secret is???

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

6. Duh...Why don't we just

nuke em all!!!

Or go to Mars?

Or make nucular bunker-busting bombs!!!

Or spend our children's future on needless wars and unfunded mandates!!

Why do us democrats hate America so much?

Aw, F***, my head hurts...

[Laelth]

7. Thank goodness for British journalists.

Jon Stewart is right. American journalism is becoming a farce. If it weren't for the British, many of us in America would have no clue what's really going on in the world.

(And, no. I don't think we'll see this on CNN, but I hope I'm wrong about that.)

-Laelth

[mike_c]

8. stop using the "terrorism" label....

Terrorism is a tactic-- the deliberate targeting of civilians, usually to undermine the resolve of the opposition. Bombing civilians in Falluja is terrorism. Executing kidnapped civilian aid workers is either terrorism, if they are indeed innocents unconnected to the occupation, or mistreatment of prisoners if they're allied with it.

On the other hand, virtually all of the attacks against coalition forces are targeted against legitimate military targets or against Iraqis collaborating with the occupation. That's not terrorism, it's partisan guerilla warfare. Call it organized resistance, but don't call it terrorism. Applying the "t" word is a cheap rhetorical device to demonize the Iraqi resistance, IMO.

[leftchick]

10. well said mike....

the majority of the attacks are from "resistance fighters" (created BTW from the US invasion) trying to oust the US occupiers and their collaborators. Terrorist is just plain wrong and should not appear in the media at all when reporting on Iraq.

[getoffmytrain]

14. Is it not terrorism

when Iraqi 'resistance fighters' car bomb thirty some odd kids waiting in line to receive candy as happened in Baghdad a few weeks ago? What is that called by you, 'collateral damage'? Just curious...

[goforit]

9. Bush's network of terrorist is at his beckon calling!!!

[neomonkey]

11. I can't wait for those free and open elections in January

So this mess can all be straightened out and our boys can come back home!


<idiocy off>

[struggle4progress]

12. kick

:kick:

[struggle4progress]

13. kick

:kick:

[Tight_rope]

15. Kick!