Bush Says al-Qaida Is Top Enemy in Iraq

[Poiuyt]

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush on Wednesday declared al-Qaida "public enemy No. 1 in Iraq," placing increasing emphasis on the terror network forever associated with the deadliest attack in U.S. history.

The president also seemed to offer another definition of success in Iraq - not a lack of violence, but a livable level for citizens.

In a speech to construction contractors, Bush put a heavy focus on al-Qaida, which carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. In doing so, he sought more bluntly to cast the unpopular Iraq war in terms that U.S. citizens could connect to their own lives.

"For America, the decision we face in Iraq is not whether we ought to take sides in a civil war, it's whether we stay in the fight against the same international terrorist network that attacked us on 9/11," Bush said. "I strongly believe it's in our national interest to stay in the fight."

more -

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070502/D8OSFFHG0.html

In spite of what he says, Bush is working harder than ever to attach Iraq and 9/11. It was my understanding that about 92% of all American deaths in Iraq were from the Sunnis, not al Queda. And that al Queda comprised only about 3% of all the people fighting over there.

[sam sarrha]

1. actually it looks like We are... if the enemy is the one that kills the most civilians, the Muslims

have an excuse to kill each other... a 1,400 year old family feud.. why are we there, looks like we killed nearly 3 times the people Saddam did

[damntexdem]

2. Our top enemy in Iraq, and elsewhere around the world, are the ...

Bushistas, Dubya in particular.

[BuyingThyme]

3. There is no al Qaeda fighting in Iraq. Never was.

By definition al Qaeda would not fight in Iraq. Bush has simply expanded the definition of al Qaeda to include every Islamic group that happens to have a problem with Americans occupying otherwise sovereign nations (among other things).

[Kutjara]

4. Because Al Qaeda is a largely Sunni organization...

...Shrub is trying to conflate Sunni violence and Al Quaeda violence in the American mind. It's the kind of lame trick that will only work on a grossly ignorant populace, so it should play pretty well here.

[Beelzebud]

5. Honestly. I don't think "al-quaeda" exists.

Al-Quaeda means The Base in Arabic. This is what Osama Bin Laden and the Mujahadeen called Afghanistan.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

7. I thought it meant The Network? I don't speak Arabic, so, I don't

know.

[Beelzebud]

10. It's The Base.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Quaeda

In the 70's and 80's we called them what they call themselves: The Mujahadeen. We trained, funded, and armed them to fight against the soviet union.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

11. Thanks, I don't like to be mistaken, so, I appreciate your

correction.

[Igel]

19. Base, foundation.

The plural, qawa'id, is the word for 'grammar'. The "foundations" of the language.

[northofdenali]

6. And George W. Bush is their most prolific recruiter. n/t

[Disturbed]

9. Busholini and his Fascists spin and catapult their

propaganda.

The majority of Dems do not call for all US Troops to be pulled out of Iraq. The Bill outlined that a undetermined number will stay indefinetly to train Iraqi Troops, to defend the Green Zone and the 14 US Bases and to fight al Q and the Sunni and Shi'ite Insurgency. The US will have at least 40K Troops and a large number of Mercs in Iraq well beyond '09.

[northofdenali]

12. Probably more troops & civilians than that, Disturbed -

have you eyeballed the new "embassy"? It alone will most likely require over 2000 troops to "protect" it.......... And redeployment takes time, talent, coordination.....

To be honest, I believe if the Pukes regain the majority, or if our Dems keep being cowards, we may never get out entirely.

I just want our guys & gals out NOW. Every day, we are losing our best and brightest for an illegal invasion by a non-elected pResident in the White House.

In the meantime, to all of us who continue to hope, and fight, and care, and cry - :hug::patriot::hug:

[uppityperson]

8. Iraqis say bush is Top Enemy in Iraq. eom

[tabasco]

13. That's a complete and utter lie.

WTF is going on with this government?

That is a bald-faced lie. Our military and intelligence service says this is not the case.

How can Bush lie like this and not be called on it?

[Sapere aude]

15. Because the only base he has left kisses his ass every time he opens his mouth.

[Bonhomme Richard]

14. UMmmmmmmm.....Never mind. n/t

[leftchick]

16. that is the exact opposite of what the military and analysts say

The US is being attacked by Iraqis. Period. If there are foreign elements they are inconsequential. I suppose no one in the media will notice this lie.

[allvegas]

18. It's A Civil War

The Iraqi tribes have been at war for Centuries, and still are. It's a religious Civil War and we marched right into it. With Saddam gone Iraq went right back into the 11th Century. What in H_ll did the Pentagon think was going to happen? Is Al Qaeda also in there? Of course they’re in there, not that many are there, and they want their nursery of terrorist training camps back, like they had in the 90's. Over the last 3-1/2 years we sent thousands of messages to, Washington defining exactly what was wrong. No responses from the self-proclaimed White House Royalty. This is the first President in my lifetime that didn't send a signed letter in response. It’s total, chronic Denial.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi allvegas!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[onecent]

17. That should read - Al-Qaida Says Bush Is Top Enemy in Iraq.n/t