"Official Says 30,000 Terrorists in Iraq"

[Bluebear]

CAIRO, Egypt - As many as 30,000 well-trained terrorists are actively operating throughout Iraq at the behest of former regime leaders based in Syria, Iraq's intelligence chief said in Wednesday edition of a pan-Arab newspaper.

Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abdullah al-Shahwani told the daily newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that the men, who are well-organized and trained, include former Baath party members, Islamic militant groups and unemployed former army members.

"We officially call them terrorists," he told the London-based newspaper. "They are between 20,000 and 30,000 armed men operating all over Iraq, mainly in the Sunni areas where they receive moral support from about 200,000 people."

Al-Shahwani said terrorist attacks could affect Iraq's Jan. 30 election for a constitutional assembly, predicting that some people will stay away from polling stations because they are afraid of possible assaults.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=5&u=/ap/20050105/ap_on_re_mi_ea/egypt_iraq_intelligence_1

[knight_of_the_star]

1. And that's all?

That doesn't take into account home-grown rebels.

[Bluebear]

2. Bring it on!!! Now watch this drive! n/t

[Worst Username Ever]

3. But- but-but they said 20,000 6 months ago!

But the war is going so well!

[Jacobin]

4. Last week they said 200,000

Anyway, what's a "terrorist"? Someone fighting to evict a foreign force illegally occupying their country?

[LynnTheDem]

5. WOW that is pure and utter BULL. SHIT.

Now we know why EGYPT, with MORE DETAINED "terrorists" in Iraq than ANY OTHER NATION is NOT being US-sanctioned while SYRIA, with LESS detained "terrorists" than both EGYPT and SAUDI, IS being US-sanctioned.

HELLO BUSH! WAY TOO BLATANT! We aren't ALL as STUPID as you THINK!

[theycanbiteme]

6. Just how the hell do they know that?

I mean seriously people. What, do these rebels go running around with
something saying "I'm a terrorist"? Bullshit. This is a lame ass
explanation for the increase resistance that the US is facing in
Iraq.