[mvonfr]

Stratfor comments on the Moscow situation:

Stratfor sources within the Russian foreign ministry say the latest development already is shaping Moscow's diplomatic strategy. They say Moscow will pressure Washington to refocus its efforts on al Qaeda and drop plans to attack Iraq. Few outside the Bush administration believe Iraq has substantial links to al Qaeda. Russia wants to emphasize that, in the aftermath of the Bali bombing and now the Moscow hostage situation, al Qaeda poses a clear and present danger to all countries.

[Travis McGee]

Nice try Pooty Poot, but you don't defeat rats or roaches or weeds by killing the ones you see.

You go to their nests and burn them out.

Don't worry, we'll make sure the Iraqis pay you what they owe.

[Naspino]

Please -- this isn't Al Qaeda. Its Chechnya. Bush will say give me mine and I'll give you yours. Let me knock out Iraq and you can knock out Chechnya.

[Wordsmith]

The Russians need to realize that we can do both. How about we agree that the best way to handle AQ is to take out the terror masters. If the Russians take down Iran, we'll take down Iraq. I bet Syria and the Saudis and the Palestinians start getting real cooperative after that happens.

[js1138]

They say Moscow will pressure Washington to refocus its efforts on al Qaeda and drop plans to attack Iraq.

Does that mean the 100,000 prisoners have to go back? I find it interesting that Bush has won more for human rights without firing a shot that JCarter did in his lifetime. And not a peep of praise from the press.

[denydenydeny]

Russia wants to emphasize that, in the aftermath of the Bali bombing and now the Moscow hostage situation, al Qaeda poses a clear and present danger to all countries.

This is just mealy-mouthed.

And-assuming we drop the Iraq plans--we address this how?

It's easy to say "let's get Al Qaeda instead." But what does that mean militarily? Where do we send troops where we aren't already?

[Shermy]

"Few outside the Bush administration believe Iraq has substantial links to al Qaeda."

One weakness of Stratfor is their susceptibility to propaganda talking points. Whether Iraq is linked to AQ or not is irrelevant.