Sure we can do battle with him on a issue or two. But he is better to deal with then someone like Kerry, Gore, or Hillaryious would be.
Posted on 07/12/2007 3:18:50 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Al-Qaida is stepping up its efforts to sneak terror operatives into the United States and has acquired most of the capabilities it needs to strike here, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment, The Associated Press has learned.
The draft National Intelligence Estimate is expected to paint an ever-more-worrisome portrait of al-Qaida's ability to use its base along the Pakistan-Afghan border to launch and inspire attacks, even as Bush administration officials say the U.S. is safer nearly six years into the war on terror.
Among the key findings of the classified estimate, which is still in draft form and must be approved by all 16 U.S. spy agencies:
• Al-Qaida is probably still pursuing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons and would use them if its operatives developed sufficient capability.
• The terror group has been able to restore three of the four key tools it would need to launch an attack on U.S. soil: a safe haven in Pakistan's tribal areas, operational lieutenants and senior leaders. It could not immediately be learned what the missing fourth element is.
• The group will bolster its efforts to position operatives inside U.S. borders. In public statements, U.S. officials have expressed concern about the ease with which people can enter the United States through Europe because of a program that allows most Europeans to enter without visas.
The document also discusses increasing concern about individuals already inside the United States who are adopting an extremist brand of Islam.
National Intelligence Estimates are the most authoritative written judgments that reflect the consensus long-term thinking of senior intelligence analysts.
Government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the report has not been finalized, described it as an expansive look at potential threats within the United States and said it required the cooperation of a number of national security agencies, including the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security Department and National Counterterrorism Center.
National security officials met at the White House on Thursday about the intelligence estimate and related counterterrorism issues. The tentative plan is to release a declassified version of the report and brief Congress on Tuesday, one government official said.
Ross Feinstein, spokesman for National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell, declined to discuss the document's specific contents. But he said it would be consistent with statements made by senior government officials at congressional hearings and elsewhere.
The estimate echoes the findings of another analysis prepared by the National Counterterrorism Center earlier this year and disclosed publicly on Wednesday. That report — titled "Al-Qaida better positioned to strike the West" — found the terrorist group is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," a counterterrorism official familiar with the reports findings told The Associated Press.
On Thursday, news of the counterterrorism center's threat assessment renewed the political debate about the nature of the al-Qaida threat and whether U.S. actions — in Iraq in particular — have made the U.S. safer from terrorism.
At a news conference Thursday, President Bush acknowledged al-Qaida's continuing threat to the United States and used the new report as evidence his administration's policies are on the right course.
"The same folks that are bombing innocent people in Iraq were the ones who attacked us in America on Sept. 11," he said. "That's why what happens in Iraq matters to security here at home."
Yet Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said Iraq has distracted the United States. He said the U.S. should have finished off al-Qaida in 2002 and 2003 along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Instead, "President Bush chose to invade Iraq, thereby diverting our military and intelligence resources away from the real war on terrorism," Rockefeller said. "Threats to the United States homeland are not emanating from Iraq. They are coming from al-Qaida leadership."
He called for the U.S. to end its involvement in what he called the Iraqi civil war.
In recent weeks, senior national security officials have been increasingly worried about an al-Qaida attack in the United States.
Appearing on a half-dozen morning TV shows Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff laid out a list of factors contributing to his "gut feeling" that the nation faces a higher risk of attack this summer: al-Qaida's increased freedom to train in South Asia, a flurry of public statements from the network's leadership, a history of summertime attacks, a broader range of attacks in North Africa and Europe, and homegrown terrorism increasing in Europe.
"Europe could become a platform for an attack against this country," Chertoff told CNN, although he and others continue to say they know of no specific, credible information pointing to an attack here.
National security officials are frustrated by an agreement last year between Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and tribal leaders in western Pakistan, which gave tribes near the Afghan border greater autonomy and has led to increased al-Qaida activity in the region.
Nevertheless, Bush administration officials still view Musharraf as a partner.
Speaking to a congressional hearing, Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said that Pakistan under Musharraf has captured more al-Qaida operatives than any other country and that several major Taliban leaders were captured or killed this year.
"There is a considerable al-Qaida presence at the border, but they are under pressure," Boucher told a House national security subcommittee.
Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., was skeptical, saying Osama bin-Laden and other terrorist leaders apparently feel safe there. "Is this a Motel 6 for terrorists?" he asked.
___
Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Lara Jakes Jordan, Barry Schweid and Deb Riechmann contributed to this report.
Disrespecting the President by calling him out of his name is a typical DU tactic.... I thought folks on this board were above that but I guess not...
Those with a brain in the head know they can't....and haven't. Terrorists HAVE been coming through our southern border. SOME have been caught.
Disrespecting the American people, as this president has and continues to do, is typical of someone whose loyalties lie south of the border, or elsewhere. This "president of the U.S." certainly has not been.
You're barking up the wrong tree with Czar. I doubt you'll not find a finer, more loyal, patriotic CONSERVATIVE American than he, in FR or elsewhere within the United States of America (that's America, not Amexico).
I doubt you’ll not find a finer = I doubt you’ll find a finer....
Here, you might need this
/sac
It’s like negotiation, but easier.
*****Weather Report: Day Follows Night*****
Hello tnb
I am a supporter of Bush and the war. I am not a supporter of Bush's position on border security. He is the very person who has total authority to build a 854 mile fence on the southern border.
Duncan Hunter wrote a Bill that Congress passed into law that says we can build a 854 mile fence. Congress makes laws and the President enforces them. He has total control of building that fence and enforcing the law but he will not do it. If we want security, we need to pressure him to build it somehow. If there really is a threat out there, then why doesn't the President enforce the law?
The final element:
$300 Million stolen from a bank in Baghdad?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1864771/posts
We only have 5 muslims in the US?
“Maybe if we talked to them, we could get them to see how silly they are being. We just want to be friends. :)”
Maybe we can hold some world wide concerts... that’s the ticket! ;-)
LLS
Call it what you wish.
I'm a loyal American conservative first and a Republican second. With S.1639, Bush exerted every effort to ram an amnesty bill down the throats of American citizens who had clearly rejected any kind of amnesty for illegal alien lawbreakers. That bill would have instantly legalized every illegal alien now here (as many as 30 million) and invited in another 100 million or so within the next 10 years. Moreover, a section in that bill dealt with another sovereignty-destroying initiative, the notorious SPP/NAU debacle for an integrated North America (U.S., Mexico & Canada). This president is a confirmed NWO/CFR globalist who cares little for what conservatives value highly: the protection of national sovereignty and secure borders, and the preservation of American culture, customs, traditions and the English language.
Bush has also paid little attention to conservative principles, instead embracing a big government/big spending agenda. While he has accomplished a few good things, primarily SCOTUS nominations and temporary tax reductions, this is far short of what was expected of a Republican president. By the policies chosen, actions taken and statements made, he has made little effort to hide his contempt for conservatives--this led in significant part to the 2006 midterm election disaster and the virtually total departure of the conservative base.
Please feel free to attempt to persuade the conservative base why we sould continue to respect someone who neither respects conservatives or their principles.
I'll be waiting.
You know these are Iraqi benchmarks. These are not our benchmarks.
Don’t you think our Congress should have some benchmarks?
Don’t you think We should set a benchmark for them? Here is my first suggestion:
I want the entire House impeached by the end of the month.
I think that the ‘Rats are making a very big mistake, because when all is said and done, and the U.S. is hit again and many times as hard as 9-11, the ‘Rats’ children will be facing being called up to deploy with our military. I am so sure I’d bet money on it that there again will be a draft. Our volunteer troops have already been facing a third, fourth and even a fifth rotation into the theatre. They’re tired in more ways than one. Their spirit and their patriotism might still be burning bright, but how much more should these same individuals be asked to give?
BTTT!
We can rake him over the coals for his wrong headed ideas about illgal aliens, but I stnd behind him 100% on Iraq.
Now even student visa is difficult to get for the US - many questions are asked and the mother can be made to suffer in the future...it is still very easy my brother.. on the internet you can find many fat American girls from poor fathers looking for husbands - you can buy them easy for between 3000-5000 muhr (dowry) or maybe less but best you pay them - they have no muhr (dowry) in their custom and they will gladly accept your offer - you must choose microsoft messenger to know them - they will want to marry you soon - so play the game with them it is best - you must choose the fat ugly ones though - those are the easiest to control
If not, then I suggest this is just one very good reason (out of many great reasons) to kill al qaeda anyplace they are a threat... and if allowed a Victory in Iraq... it will not be long until ALL nations outside of Israel will be under sharia rule.
Israel and her people are GOD’s chosen... and as such will NOT be allowed to be conquered by the satanists... and they have at least 200 Nukes in silos that can fly when the time comes... and radioactivity in the ME just ain’t going to do anything good for anyone on the face of the planet. We cannot ride around with a tiger in our tank that has nine lives spanning a half life of 50,000 years. THINK people... think.
LLS
Sure we can do battle with him on a issue or two. But he is better to deal with then someone like Kerry, Gore, or Hillaryious would be.
I still thank God each day that he’s the CIC and not Gore, Kerry or McCain
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