Counterterrorism analysts say al-Qaida thriving in "safe haven" Bush allowed them in Pakistan

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Al-Qaida has regained strength, US warns

Associated Press
15 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - A new threat assessment from U.S. counterterrorism analysts says that al-Qaida has used its safe haven along the Afghan-Pakistan border to restore its operating capabilities to a level unseen since the months before Sept. 11, 2001.

Al-Qaida is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," the counterterrorism official said, paraphrasing the report's conclusions. "They are showing greater and greater ability to plan attacks in Europe and the United States."

The group also has created "the most robust training program since 2001, with an interest in using European operatives," the official quoted the report as saying.

John Kringen, who heads the CIA's analysis directorate, echoed the concerns about al-Qaida's resurgence during testimony and conversations with reporters at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.

"They seem to be fairly well settled into the safe haven and the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan," Kringen testified. "We see more training. We see more money. We see more communications. We see that activity rising."

The threat assessment comes as the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies prepare a National Intelligence Estimate focusing on threats to the United States. A senior intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity while the high-level analysis was being completed, said the document has been in the works for roughly two years.

The threat assessment says that al-Qaida stepped up efforts to "improve its core operational capability" in late 2004 but did not succeed until December of 2006 after the Pakistani government signed a peace agreement with tribal leaders that effectively removed government military presence from the northwest frontier with Afghanistan.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070712/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_terror_threat;_ylt=A0WTUe5xRZZG024Agx.yFz4D

[Ganja Ninja]

1. If only we could find oil in Waziristan. n/t

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2. Byron Dorgan speaking on this NOW

on the Senate floor

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3. this is the counter to the Bush argument

that Iraq is the "center" of the fight against al-Qaeda.

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4. Kerry speaking on this NOW

on the Senate floor

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5. Dorgan speaking on this again