Michael Hayden, the CIA director, Puts to Rest The Notion of "al-Qaida in Iraq"

[leftchick]

so much for "the central front in the war on terra" bs we have heard from Abizaid to the chimp....

<snip>

Although the Bush administration continues to emphasize the role of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Maples described the current situation as "mostly an intra-Arab struggle to determine how power and authority will be distributed," with or without the U.S. presence. Al-Qaeda and foreign terrorist numbers were put at roughly 1,300, while Hayden, pressed by senators, estimated the number of insurgents in the "low tens of thousands." Maples estimated the number of Iraqi insurgents, including militias, at 20,000 to 30,000, and said there are many more who supply support.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/16/AR2006111601509.html

Pincus's whole article is well worth the read. Iraq is a hell hole thanks to bush.

[sabra]

1. but but but what about Zarqawi!

:sarcasm:

[leftchick]

6. this al-Qaida in Iraq thing really pisses me off

and it is the only thing about Michael Ware's reporting that bothers me. He uses the term constantly.

And general abizaid called Iraq the central war on terror and also mentioned al-q in I as "the biggest threat" the other day before the senate committee.

:puke:

[mom cat]

2. Impeach the lying sack of shit and his side-kick who can't shoot straight.

[smoogatz]

3. Thanks for posting this.

I think the days of unexamined Bushco propagandizing about the nature of the insurgency are about over.

[redqueen]

4. Won't stop them saying it though I'll bet.

And many citizens will keep right on believing the lies. Less than 30%, I'd hope... but I'm not too optimistic about that.

[Minnesota_Lib]

5. K&R

[MAX 1]

7. Where Up is Down

Al-Qaeda is in and then out...

Tell me...

Am I supposed to be scared today or can I breath?

.

[Martin Eden]

8. Foreign jihadists are a tiny minority in Iraq

They were attracted to the country by our presence.

They're fighting the majority Shiites.

The Kurds want no part of them.

The Sunni insurgency is sectarian in nature, not jihadist.

When we get out of Iraq the Shiites, Kurds, and Sunnis will settle things among themselves one way or the other and al Qaeda will have no power in the country.

[Kolesar]

9. The dazed CIA chief turns to the underworld for explanations: "the satanic level of violence"

this is extra-pathetic:

Hayden said he believes that the turning point in the fighting came in February with the bombing of the Askariya mosque in Samarra. The destruction of the revered Shiite site by Sunni-based al-Qaeda terrorists unleashed what Hayden described as "historic forces" that have created "the satanic level of violence" of today.

"Bush sucks, but I am grateful for my tax cuts"

[nealmhughes]

10. In a related story: Emmanuel Goldberg may be fictional! A spokesman for the Inner Party's

Ministry of Peace announces, however, he did exist at one time and the War in Eurasia must continue with our brave EastAsian allies.

Flash! The Ministry of Peace has announced that the EastAsian agressors are now being beaten back with the aid of our brave Eurasian allies in attacks believed led by Emmanuel Goldstein and his followers.