Bush declassifies al-Qaida intelligence

[Kadie]

Bush declassifies al-Qaida intelligence
By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
24 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - President Bush, trying to defend his war strategy, declassified intelligence Tuesday asserting that Osama bin Laden ordered a top lieutenant in early 2005 to form a terrorist cell that would conduct attacks outside Iraq — and that the United States should be the top target.

Frances Fragos Townsend, the White House homeland security adviser, said the intelligence bolsters the Bush administration's contention that al-Qaida wants to use Iraq as a staging area to launch terrorist attacks around the world, including the United States.

In January 2005, bin Laden tasked al-Qaida operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was in Iraq, to organize the cell, Townsend said. Al-Zarqawi, the former leader of al-Qaida's Iraq operations, was killed there in June 2006 by a U.S. airstrike.

"We know from the intelligence community that al-Zarqawi welcomed the tasking and claimed he already had some good proposals," Townsend said.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070522/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_terrorism_7

[LynnTheDem]

1. And Osama bin Laden CAN use Iraq...NOW. Thanks to his biggest enabler...

GEORGE W. bUSH.

The man who's made all Osama bin Laden's wildest dreams come true.

[Gabi Hayes]

2. is that the same Zarqawi that Bush had the opportunity to KILL several times before the invasion?

oopsy.....

THREE chances, at least, to off the guy, that we know about. how many deaths did he cause after those REJECTED opportunities?

http://debatebothsides.com/showthread.php?t=12031&page=1

[wicket]

3. It would have interferred with Bush's war plans

:grr: