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swag Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 07:53 AM
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"Al Qaeda Better Positioned to Strike the West," title of new threat assessment
Laura Rozen has some of the findings here.

--Concern that Al Qaeda is getting more comfortable in "ungoverned spaces" of Pakistan, due to various factors, including a recent agreement by the Pakistani authorities with tribal leaders to leave Islamic militants in Waziristan alone. Intelligence community seeing more signs Al Qaeda is regrouping, able to train, and communicate in Pakistan (also of Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan). US policymakers have been reluctant to intervene in a major way in a sovereign country, especially as Musharraf's position is vulnerable, and out of the concern that what is now a problem in corners of Pakistan could explode across the whole country of 169 million people. There are a lot of potential terrorist recruits in Pakistan, one of the analysts said. (This focusing one's attention more by Pakistani analyst on BBC this morning comparing US relationship with Musharraf to "Shah of Iran" syndrome). Translation: duck.

--Expect a new National Intelligence Estimate on terrorist threats to the homeland (this is not yet officially out or "known" -- a couple journalists grabbed one of the CIA analysts during the break, his press aide politely monitoring the conversation), which Fingar rated the greatest threat to US national security. Al Qaida remains the greatest threat to the country. US intel community is increasingly concerned about Al Qaeda-linked militants in Pakistan using Europe, and in particular the UK, as a gateway to target the US homeland. Thwarted airplane plot last summer "very sophisticated" and of the type that concerns them, with its mix of UK and Pakistani-based terrorists working together on a plot to target the US.

. . .
Just something to keep in mind from your reporter here. Iraq: 20-25 million people. Iran: 65 to 70 million people. Pakistan: 170 million people. And Pakistan is the one with the precipitous situation for its military government, widespread sympathies for the Taliban and Islamic jihadis, and the historical relationship with the UK whose citizens have easier access to US visas and entry. Oh yeah, and the bomb. Perhaps it's a good thing the USS Stennis carrier group is sailing back from the Persian Gulf to Hawaii. Sometimes, you don't get to choose your enemies, but they choose you.

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Botany Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 08:02 AM
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1. Mission accomplished




" ... to do all those things we've done that have kept us safe and secure for
the last five years." Dick Cheney

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/864tewrq.asp?pg=2
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