Full Version: Leaked memo from spy agencies on Iraq
Well this report should come as NO suprise to those of us who have always thought going into Iraq was the wrong move to take. We should have stayed in Afghanistan, where the real terror threat came from. But this leaked memo from about 16 agencies said that because the US went into Iraq, the terror situation worldwide including the US has been made worse, and we are NOT safer now, than we were before......its going to be interesting hearing the spin from the GOP on this. I feel sorry for the leaker. If the administration finds out who did it, they will be branded as a traitor and an outcast! Meanwhile Karzai said Afghanistn needs much more $$$$.....
Hey Tommy, any chance you could post a link? Thanks.
Looks like you beat me to the punch. Thanks Miller. 
This isn't exactly what you wanted, hockeyTom, but this comes close. It's an MSNBC story about how Bush will disclose select portions of the National Intelligence Estimate which purportedly shows how Iraq has become the rallying cry for terrorists around the world. Sadly, the Bush Regime has largely ignored Afghanistan and now the Taliban is back, wanting to come back to power with the help of al Qaeda operatives. Yes, our Imperious President has fumbled the ball for all to see. 
I can just see the redacted version of the document now:
"The war on terrorism isnot going well. Invasion of Iraq was a mistake and has now become a terrorist hotbed. The administration did not do everything in its power to protect American citizens."
"The war on terrorism is
MSU, thats HILARIOUS!!!!! 
You got it kid.
You got it kid.
Now I wish that more people would get it, as MSU has. Yes, this edited version of the National Intelligence Estimate will likely be lesson in spin-doctoring. I'm glad that President Clinton has come out on Faux News and hit the home run off of Chris Wallace.
I agree with you.
"Hardball" was very interesting today. The administration is tripping all over itself to get this classified document out, because they claim its being used "politically", so it was released during the program, and large chunks of talk were devoted to opinions and such. If this document isn't the tell all failure about the Iraq quagmire, I don't know what is.It should make for more than ample ammo for the Dems if used right and intelligently. Both of which they are capable of. 
Um, portions of it are out and they seem to support the critics of the Bush administration. Maybe someone should have told Bushie to keep them secret. T'ain't looking good at all for the Liars' ClubBushies.
Also, documents prove that Kindasleezzy (Katie Cutesycouric's new favorite Bush admin Cuddlebear) lied through her teeth just the other day--Richard Clarke gave Kinda and the Bushies docs not long after W took office, Sandy Berger warned her, etc.. I guess they were just too busy plotting the Iraq War and never looked at them. Kinda like Katrina...heckuva job, blame Clinton!
QUOTE
We assess that the Iraq jihad is shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders and operatives; perceived jihadist success there would inspire more fighters to continue the struggle elsewhere.
• The Iraq conflict has become the “cause celebre” for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement. Should jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves, and be perceived, to have failed, we judge fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight.
We assess that the underlying factors fueling the spread of the movement outweigh its vulnerabilities and are likely to do so for the duration of the timeframe of this Estimate.
• Four underlying factors are fueling the spread of the jihadist movement: (1) Entrenched grievances, such as corruption, injustice, and fear of Western domination, leading to anger, humiliation, and a sense of powerlessness; (2) the Iraq “jihad;” (3) the slow pace of real and sustained economic, social, and political reforms in many Muslim majority nations; and (4) pervasive anti-US sentiment among most Muslims—all of which jihadists exploit.
• The Iraq conflict has become the “cause celebre” for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement. Should jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves, and be perceived, to have failed, we judge fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight.
We assess that the underlying factors fueling the spread of the movement outweigh its vulnerabilities and are likely to do so for the duration of the timeframe of this Estimate.
• Four underlying factors are fueling the spread of the jihadist movement: (1) Entrenched grievances, such as corruption, injustice, and fear of Western domination, leading to anger, humiliation, and a sense of powerlessness; (2) the Iraq “jihad;” (3) the slow pace of real and sustained economic, social, and political reforms in many Muslim majority nations; and (4) pervasive anti-US sentiment among most Muslims—all of which jihadists exploit.
Also, documents prove that Kindasleezzy (Katie Cutesycouric's new favorite Bush admin Cuddlebear) lied through her teeth just the other day--Richard Clarke gave Kinda and the Bushies docs not long after W took office, Sandy Berger warned her, etc.. I guess they were just too busy plotting the Iraq War and never looked at them. Kinda like Katrina...heckuva job, blame Clinton!
Read an article in my local paper this morning whereas some major poll of Iraqs citizens was just taken, and a big majority of them want the US OUT of Iraq, and think that the violence will die down soon, or shortly after we leave. Most wanted us out within a year...please send memo to Shrub and Dummy please. Thanks. And I understand the President of Pakistan, also said to CNN that he thinks the war in iraq has been terrorism in the world much, much worse.....the administration must be starting to feel very, very isolated right about now...
And I understand the President of Pakistan, also said to CNN that he thinks the war in iraq has been terrorism in the world much, much worse.....the administration must be starting to feel very, very isolated right about now...
They should feel very isolated right now because they are on the wrong path to fighting this so-called "war on terror". Our Imperious President had it right that this is a war of ideology, but that war is on the homefront, not on the global stage. It's about moral right and moral wrong. It's about making our soldiers' lives count for something more than re-writing history in Iraq.
This "war on terror" cannot be won by bombs or guns. It must be won with the free exchange of ideas and discourse. Yes, there are extremes on both sides. (If you don't believe our Imperious President is on the extreme "Christian" side, then you are as blind as Ray Charles, if not more so.) He has become the extreme in our country and many Americans in several polls have demonstrated that while we don't all know the right way to winning this "war on terror", we do know which way is wrong - Bush's way is wrong.
If this leaked and redacted national intelligence estimate can be used for something moral, then I hope that the Democrats use it to oust the rubber-stamp, Republican Congress and stand up to our Imperious President and his regime.
This "war on terror" cannot be won by bombs or guns. It must be won with the free exchange of ideas and discourse. Yes, there are extremes on both sides. (If you don't believe our Imperious President is on the extreme "Christian" side, then you are as blind as Ray Charles, if not more so.) He has become the extreme in our country and many Americans in several polls have demonstrated that while we don't all know the right way to winning this "war on terror", we do know which way is wrong - Bush's way is wrong.
If this leaked and redacted national intelligence estimate can be used for something moral, then I hope that the Democrats use it to oust the rubber-stamp, Republican Congress and stand up to our Imperious President and his regime.
Hear hear UCLA!! Hear!! Hear!!
I've said it before and I'll say it again: if Iraq is the front line in the war on terror, if success there is so important to the entire global war on terror, why did Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld only commit enough troops to the battle to guarantee a loss?
If this edited version of the report is the best spin the Administration could put on it, one can only imagine what the report would say in total, and the one dealing solely with the situation in Iraq must be a real doozy. Seriously , is anyone (other than Dubya and Dick "Cant Shoot Straight" Cheney) terribly surprised that the invasion of Iraq lead to an increase in terrorism in the Middle East and likely around the world. Unfortunately having made such a mess of the situation in Iraq I don't know how the US can get out without leaving Iraq and its people in a much worse situation than they were in before the invasion.
"Hardball" today was great. Matthews had that idiot John Boehner on, the one with the funny grimace/smirk/twitch?? He hammered him on Iraq, going to Iraq, the do nothing Congress and on and on and on. Boehner was left stuttering and stammering, just like, you know who?! It was great. Chris was totally on today.
Tonights dinner at the WH with Bush and the visiting Presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan should be on pay per view. The conversation should be interesting and revenues could help pay for more troops or perhaps pay down some debt.
I wonder if Rove and Mr. "we will be greeted as liberators" wil be there. Ho hummmmmmmm 
Hey, maybe they could call in Jeff Gannon...what's he been up to lately?
The other thing Chris Matthews mentioned over and over yesterday, and I agree with him completely, is how the US media is not covering the Iraq quagmire any more, and this is by design. Rove has told Bush to get in front of the camera every day if for no other reason to show his face, and thus, there are no more daily horror stories coming out of there. Where is the coverage US Networks?????!!!!!!
I will tell you where the coverage is. It isn't anywhere. Try working in a newsroom and imagine the frustration of never hearing anything about this "war" that we are in right now. Upper management keeps insisting the American public is not interested in the Iraqi war. I beg to differ. Granted, it is not as "interesting" as what Brad and Angelina are up to, or who Jennifer Aniston is dating, but it still deserves coverage, at least in my humble opinion. I think it is all part of the vast, right-wing media conspiricy designed to make this administration look a little less foolish than it actually is.
Did anyone else see that video yesterday of that poor abandoned US Service guy who was driving a truck through Baghdad, and was being led by some service provider schmuck hired by Halliburton??? The poor guy was driving right into an ambush, was without a gun, and everybody ahead of him just drove off to leave him?? Now how &*^%$( is that???? The video actually took place last Sept 2005. I believe the US Serviceman was rescued by somebody, but you could tell in his audio comments he was totally freaked out. Who wouldn't be??? Again, thank you goes to Halliburton! NOT! 
QUOTE
Did anyone else see that video yesterday of that poor abandoned US Service guy who was driving a truck through Baghdad, and was being led by some service provider schmuck hired by Halliburton??? ...Again, thank you goes to Halliburton! NOT!
The story.The Halliburton employee with the camera was the one abandoned. Supporters of the terror in Iraq are using this as a cause célèbre to argue for arming civilian employees in Iraq.
The risk of misunderstandings, panicking and old-fashion revenge becoming as common among USA private employees as it is among sectarian parties within Iraq would insure that this would cause a bloodfest of atrocities that would make Vietnam look like a tea party.
Contractors generally would not consider themselves bound in the the same way by the conventions of military conduct IMO. I think they also tend to be more nationalistic and avaricious than trained soldiers.
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