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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

 

Apparently, palin' around with a washed-up '60s radical like Bill Ayers isn't enough to get Barack Obama admitted to the International League of Extraordinary Terrorists. If I didn't know better, I'd say that al-Qaeda doesn't like our new president. Didn't they see the secret fist jab?

CAIRO,Egypt (AP) - Al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri insulted Barack Obama in the terror group's first reaction to his election, calling him a demeaning racial term implying that the president-elect is a black American who does the bidding of whites.

The message appeared chiefly aimed at persuading Muslims and Arabs that Obama does not represent a change in U.S. policies. Al-Zawahri said in the message, which appeared on militant Web sites Wednesday, that Obama is "the direct opposite of honorable black Americans" like Malcolm X, the 1960s African-American rights leader.

Al-Zawahri also called Obama—along with secretaries of state Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice—"house negroes."

Speaking in Arabic, al-Zawahri uses the term "abeed al-beit," which literally translates as "house slaves." But al-Qaida supplied English subtitles of his speech that included the translation as "house negroes."

See, this what happens when you watch too many McCain-Palin rallies on CNN International. Somewhat seriously, this also gives you an idea of why Islamic terrorists want someone like a George W. Bush or a John McCain in the White House, and not a Barack Obama. Their main job is to win the hearts and minds of impressionable young Muslims around the globe, and we all know that Bush was a boon to terrorist recruitment.

The Obama presidency scares them. Ironic, huh?

Posted by Will Bunch @ 10:10 AM  Permalink | 78 comments
Comments   
Posted 10:21 AM, 11/19/2008
E Plebnista
"The Obama presidency scares them. Ironic, huh?"..Our respect in the world is growing already, yeah! Next problem to be solved, GM bailout.
Posted 10:46 AM, 11/19/2008
ocjones
After the messiah cures our economic problems he's promised to use his vast powers to change the planet's climate. I assume for the better, cause I've got to tell you this global "warming" is hell on my arthritis.
Posted 10:47 AM, 11/19/2008
db_cooper
I see you are gonna keep using your Obama-pom-poms, Will. No mention from you about Rahm Emmanuel and his work at Freddie and his not paying property tax by abusing a tax break. No mention of Eric Holder, Obama's AG nominee, who was in up to his neck in the Marc Rich pardon. It appears your morality over the last few years was just situational (surprise).
Posted 10:54 AM, 11/19/2008
beetlejuice
The Obama presidency scares me. Ironic, huh?
Posted 10:56 AM, 11/19/2008
jmc
First off, don't compare McCain supporters to Al Qaeda, you appear moronic. Second, because of George Bush the Al Qaeda monster has no teeth, they only have words. Your assessment that AQ somehow wants McCain in the White house is, for lack of a better word, dumb. You can't possibly believe that AQ has anywhere near the strength it did in 2001. Even AQ isn't insane enough to wish for the continuing of policies that have led to it's almost total decimation. The racial nature of Zwahiri's comments are there because he is, in fact, a racist, and he thinks incorrectly that it will get under Obama's skin. He's just desperate and isolated. Why would Obama get all riled up about empty words from an enemy in shambles? Obama still needs to keep swinging the hammer to keep Al Qaeda down. If more effort in the "hearts and minds" area is part of that, fine, but I think Barack Obama's policies toward Al Qaeda won't look too much different from George Bush's.
Posted 11:00 AM, 11/19/2008
urkidnmepal
Will, if you think they are scared, you don't understand their statement and the fundamentals of terrorism... and great post, beetlejuice.
Comment removed.
Posted 11:13 AM, 11/19/2008
urkidnmepal
I also believe that BHO's declaration that he wants to "kill" Bin Laden has warmed their hearts. That un-christian-like course of action will be targeted next in their communications.
Posted 11:17 AM, 11/19/2008
SteveMG
While I agree that President Bush was a great recruiting tool for AQ, I don't think there's much point in taking your enemy's words at face value. Also, don't forget that Ralph Nader felt the same way as al-Zawahri.
Posted 11:20 AM, 11/19/2008
will
" I think Barack Obama's policies toward Al Qaeda won't look too much different from George Bush's." That's probably true in some ways -- funny how the GOP as trying to make the opposite point during the election, however.
Comment removed.
Posted 11:28 AM, 11/19/2008
bird11
will - funny how the BHO campaign thundered away on how we can't afford 4 more years of "the same failed Bush policies".
Posted 11:37 AM, 11/19/2008
montani semper liberi
Yeah, let's not compare Al Zwahiri to Mccain supporters - like that Home Depot guy who wants store owners shot if they didn't support the GOP.
Posted 11:46 AM, 11/19/2008
montani semper liberi
I wonder if Mccain has told Obama yet the details of his secret plan to catch Osama bin Laden if he was elected. Or will that go to the grave with him?
Posted 11:47 AM, 11/19/2008
Paul B
Sadly overlooked in your post, Mr Bunch, is the notorious hatred of Arabs for sub-Saharan Africans. If you look at how black people are treated in countries like Libya, or in Sudan & Mauritania, where to this day, black people are bought & sold as slaves by Arabs. It is truly inhumane. Yet many African-American elected officials here in the U.S., or Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, et al, have ever uttered one word against their evil hatred Arabs have for blacks and their continuation of slavery.
Posted 12:04 PM, 11/19/2008
Hulk
Yeah, they're shakin' like a leaf!
Comment removed.
Posted 12:06 PM, 11/19/2008
jmc
I never believed Obama would differ much with Bush on Al Qaeda policy. There's campaigning, then there's the reality of being President. Bush's policies have worked. Obama won't do the opposite of Bush because of ideology, the war against AQ is too important.
Posted 12:07 PM, 11/19/2008
RG
" I think Barack Obama's policies toward Al Qaeda won't look too much different from George Bush's." Only because recently did Bush get tough with Pakistan and listen to his generals to use cross border and predator drone strikes.
Posted 12:20 PM, 11/19/2008
voiceofreason
jmc, you must not read the newspapers. The Bush administrations catastrophic decision to wage an unnecessary war in the middle east has been the biggest recruiting boon imaginable for AQ. It has mobilized young radical muslims in a way AQ could not do on its own. Thanks to W, AQ is now stronger than ever.
Comment removed.
Posted 12:29 PM, 11/19/2008
James TL
I agree that not will change with Obama considering Al Qaeda. Bush's policies have obviously worked so why change them? People who say that Al Qaeda would rather have McCain than Obama are being naive and foolish. Either one would be a deterent to them.
Posted 12:34 PM, 11/19/2008
bird11
Isn't it obvious that regardless of President or policy (at least any policy short of turning the U.S. into a Muslim state run by sharia law) that AQ is always going to view the U.S. as evil and focus their attacks/hatred on us. While the war in Iraq may have increased AQ recruitment it certainly resulted in many of the new recruits dying and has limited AQ's ability to operate in other areas of the world. If you really want to embolden AQ and increase recruitment, pull out of Iraq - that will give AQ perceived victories against the two biggest super powers of the last 50 years - USSR & USA.
Posted 12:38 PM, 11/19/2008
molonlabe
Will said: "See, this what happens when you watch too many McCain-Palin rallies on CNN International"... what happens- you lose verbs?
Posted 12:44 PM, 11/19/2008
montani semper liberi
"that will give AQ perceived victories against the two biggest super powers of the last 50 years - USSR & USA." . . . . . . Who gives a flying utley what they perceive when they're dead? We're finally gonna put AQ out of its misery in the next year.
Posted 12:45 PM, 11/19/2008
RG
bird, you make alot of good points, but then end with something that I can't really agree with. AQ in Iraq is NOT the main culprit behind the violence there. Sectarian strife has and will be. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0710.tilghman.html#Byline
Posted 01:08 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
Birdie, where do you get evidence that the invasion of Iraq has made it harder for AQ to operate in other areas of the world? The invasion of Iraq has attracted thousands to join AQ and train there in fighting in an insurgency - and many of them have returned to their home countries. Please show some evidence. All the evidence I've seen, including that provided by American government intelligence agencies, has demonstrated that the invasion has impacted the "GWOT" negatively.
Posted 01:12 PM, 11/19/2008
Domenic
Obama scares Al Qaeda? HAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Comment removed.
Posted 01:16 PM, 11/19/2008
pagoda
Bird- "pull out of Iraq - that will give AQ perceived victories against the two biggest super powers of the last 50 years - USSR & USA." Isn't that precisely what Bush and co. did by pulling their focus away from Afghanistan? Isn't that also why Obama believes we should be pulling our resources away from Iraq and intensifying the pressure on the real region that defeated the USSR??? Just sayin'.
Posted 01:19 PM, 11/19/2008
bird11
RG - I don't disagree with you. Sectarian violence will be a problem in Iraq for a long time to come and some people will not only never let it end they will pass it on to their children and grandchildren - as sad as it sounds it is normal look at North Ireland for example, worse how many people in Georgia still think the War of Northern Agression isn't over yet? If we leave Iraq now (read that too soon), people who can't defend themselves will be killed and AQ will take it as a victory. We can debate forever if going to Iraq was right or wrong but the IMHO these are the facts as we look at Iraq on 11-19-2008.
Comment removed.
Posted 01:31 PM, 11/19/2008
James TL
Bird11: Do you think that will change in 2011 or 2012 when we are supposed to get most of the troops out? I doubt it will very much. In the meantime, our soldiers will be used as target practice. I wish we would set our own timetable for withdrawl and do it responsibly before the Iraqis want us out. By all means if the situation dictates our staying we should be staying. The US can always increase troop amounts if the insurgents again try to escalate violence. We will no doubt be in IRAQ for many years to come in some capacity. It will be the insurgents themselves that will actually dictate how many troops we have there by their own actions.
Comment removed.
Posted 01:52 PM, 11/19/2008
gee1971
JMC, how many illegals crossed the border form mexico last night? Any idea? Neither does George Bush....7 years later....Please don't assume we're safer. We may be, we may not be, but don't assume you know.
Posted 02:43 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
birdie, let's just get this straight. AQ has successfully contributed to getting the U.S. bogged down in an insurgency that is impossible to "win." And you think that they don't already think that they've won a victory? They have developed a training ground where they can train terrorists and perfect their strategies? You don't think they already consider that a victory? By invading Iraq, AQ has been handed a cause celebre that has spiked their recruitment dividends markedly and increased their support around the world. Don't you think they already think they've won a victory? By invading Iraq, Bush has significantly diminished the moral credibility of the US in the eyes of the vast majority of people throughout the world. And you don't think that AQ already thinks they've won a victory? This dichotomy you've created that leaving Iraq sooner or later will draw a line between AQ thinks they've lost or won simply doesn't reflect reality.
Posted 02:56 PM, 11/19/2008
bird11
"Al-Qaeda leaders admit: 'We are in crisis. There is panic and fear'" see http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article3346386.ece This article from February 2008 quotes AQ leaders who seem to feel their numbers are dwindling in Iraq as RG said earlier the real threat in Iraq today is sectarian violence. Now are there thousands more AQ members than before the Iraq invasion - I honestly don't know. AQ members don't wear a scarlet AQ on their chest so I can get a good headcount. What is obvious is that AQ hasn't had a successful strike in the U.S. since 9/11 - do you really think they have stopped trying??
Comment removed.
Posted 03:21 PM, 11/19/2008
bird11
I have the solution lets send the illegals from the last blog to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan - anybody who comes back alive gets citizenship. The 2008 version of "The Dirty Dozen".
Comment removed.
Posted 03:28 PM, 11/19/2008
junethe4th
Throw away your guns! Bring the military home! Open the borders(oops, they're already open)! I feel safer now, knowing that Al-Qaeda is fearful of Obama. You are soooooooo knowledgable, Bunch!
Posted 03:47 PM, 11/19/2008
Gibba Mang
Is mCSame still going to follow OBL to the gates of Hell, os has he given up already?
Posted 03:52 PM, 11/19/2008
bird11
Osama bin Laden is alive and "putting a lot of energy into his own security," the director of the CIA, General Michael Hayden, said today (11-13-08). Osama bin Laden is alive and hiding in Pakistan, said CIA chief Michael Hayden today, though the terrorism leader has little oversight of the al Qaeda daily operations. He also claimed, without providing details, that the US intelligence community had disrupted an attack "that would have rivaled the destruction of 9/11." A senior intelligence official said Hayden was referring to the 2006 liquid bomb on airliners plot that was foiled in London. "American and its friends have taken the fight to the enemy," Gen. Hayden said in a broad roundup of efforts to fight al Qaeda. "Al Qaeda has suffered serious setbacks, but it is a determined, adaptive enemy unlike any our nation has ever faced," he said. Without directly referring to the CIA's offensive blitz of unmanned missile attacks in the tribal areas of Pakistan, the CIA boss said the US had successfully isolated the al Qaeda leader bin Laden, referring to him in the present tense.
Posted 03:53 PM, 11/19/2008
bird11
Sorry - source for last post : http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6248595&page=1
Posted 03:56 PM, 11/19/2008
bird11
b. atkinson - I truly believe in freedom so I will let the illegals decide if they want to head off to Iraq/Afghanistan or finish moving TPS's furniture. I'm sure most will opt for going off to war.
Posted 04:03 PM, 11/19/2008
bird11
From bin Laden audio - bin Laden says that Bush should give al Zarqawi's body to his family and says "the flag has not fallen thanks be to God, but it has moved from a lion to a lion from the lion of Islam. We will continue -- God willing -- to fight you and your allies everywhere in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Sudan until we deplete your resources, kill your men and (force you) to return defeated to your lands as we have defeated you before -- God willing -- in Somalia." Would that be the Somalia that Clinton pulled out of??? No better illustration of how AQ will use our pulling out of Iraq as a victory for AQ and his uninformed followers will grow thinking they have defeated the U.S. and can actually either change the U.S. or kill all the infidels.
Posted 04:05 PM, 11/19/2008
bpphilly
TPS: Do us all a favor and provide a source for your claims that AQ is stronger than ever and has increased membership all over the world (like there is actually a register of membership) since the Iraq invasion. It seems every time someone that doesn't share your viewpoint is always being asked for "credible sources." Practice what you preach and cite the sources from which you claim the above. Don't respond to my post with "just because you're always wrong and can't source your argument..." Just leave us all a source, none of your self righteous nonsense. --Snip-- TPS is the biggest fraud hypocrit on here --Snip--
Posted 04:09 PM, 11/19/2008
bpphilly
Will: Dow falls below 8k, S&P falls to its 5 year low. Remember that dumb post about the market proping up on the 5th? I do...why don't you blog about the new lows the market is testing and attribute it to your Messiah? Fair-weather friend you are...beware Obama.
Posted 04:13 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
The CIA and State Department reported in 2005 that Iraq had replaced Afghanistan as the AQ training ground. Numerous reports detailed how terrorists from all over the Middle East went to Iraq to train in fighting in an insurgency. Now, the war in Afghanistan is deteriorating to levels equal if not worse than those that existed when we first went in after 9/11. But, yeah, the war in Iraq was a good thing in the "GWOT." Good point, birdie.
Posted 04:15 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
Gee - this was tough, bp. 3rd hit on one google search: --snip-- While disturbing, this report comes as no surprise. Senior members of the U.S. intelligence and military have been sounding the alarm about the strengthening Al Qaeda network for some time. The July 2007 National Intelligence Estimate, the Intelligence Community’s Annual Threat Assessment in February 2008, and a March 30 Meet the Press interview with CIA Director Michael Hayden all pointed to the same concern.
Posted 04:24 PM, 11/19/2008
SBVFT Contributor
"Numerous reports detailed how terrorists from all over the Middle East went to Iraq to train in fighting in an insurgency. " Yes, they did. Iraq served as a sacrificial anode situated right smack dab in the middle of the Middle East. Thousands upon thousands of jihadists becoming victims of acute lead poisoning. Tragic really.
Posted 04:33 PM, 11/19/2008
bpphilly
So I guess your source supercedes Birds? Or the fact that we haven't been attacked since 2001? But typical of you, you'll dismiss anyone else's sources if they don't fit your argument. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/09/letters_from_al_qaed.php All the while, you claim AQ is stronger than ever, they're planning on getting us, they're coming! I thought Republicans only practiced the politics of fear? Hope and change must be code for 'we'll just run on Republican principles, call them Democratic, scream about how wrong current policy is and then fall right in line with it. You toady, coward dope.
Posted 04:35 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
"Thousands upon thousands of jihadists becoming victims of acute lead poisoning. Tragic really....---}}} Really is amazing how folks who are sooooooo concerned about terrorism are so dismissive of the training terrorists received in killing Americans in Iraq. I guess when you're a toady for the Bush administration, even laughing at American deaths is possible.
Posted 04:36 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
Lol. "My source." That's beautiful, bp. Let's try this again: "he July 2007 National Intelligence Estimate, the Intelligence Community’s Annual Threat Assessment in February 2008, and a March 30 Meet the Press interview with CIA Director Michael Hayden all pointed to the same concern."
Posted 04:40 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
Nice link, bp. Maybe you didn't notice that it talks about AQ in Iraq. Unfortunately, the topic of discussion was the "GWOT." Given that you're so interested in that topic, I think you'll find the following interesting: --snip-- The U.S. State Department released its “Country Reports on Terrorism” for 2007 this week. The congressionally-mandated report highlights a disturbing global trend: Al Qaeda and its associated networks are strengthening and expanding. Al Qaeda and its affiliates remained the “greatest terrorist threat to the United States and its partners in 2007,” according to the report. Ambassador Dell Dailey, the State Department’s top counterterrorism official, also stated in a press conference on the report that “core elements of Al Qaeda are adaptable and resilient, and Al Qaeda and associated networks remain our greatest terrorist threat to the United States and its partners.”
Posted 04:50 PM, 11/19/2008
PattyPat1962
Shrink away repubs: http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/article.php?id=AIA2008050101
Posted 04:51 PM, 11/19/2008
SBVFT Contributor
The Sloth just can't bring himself to admit AQ suffered a crushing defeat in Iraq. That AQ said it was the central battle against the hated Crusaders, and the Crusaders went ahead and won. He also can't admit the Surge was an amazing success. What a fraud. It is to laugh. Even Bunch admits we won in Iraq. (I kid of course. He doesn't have to admit it. His dearth of posts on Iraq of late is all the admission you need).
Posted 04:55 PM, 11/19/2008
bpphilly
"Al-Qa'ida in Iraq suffered major setbacks last year, although it is still capable of mounting lethal attacks. Hundreds of AQI leadership, operational, media, financial, logistical, weapons, foreign fighter facilitor cadre have been killed or captured. With much of the Sunni population turning against AQI, its maneuver room and ability to attack have been severly constrained. AQI's attack tempo, as measured by suicide attacks, had dropped by more than half by year's end after approaching all time highs in 2007. We see indications that al-Qa'ida's global image is beginning to lose some of its luster;" Update yopur info TPS...as this was pulled directly from the 2008 National Intelligence Estimate. Nice try though. Elitist Coward TPS. --Snip-- TPS will no try and spin his way out of being completely debunked and proven wrong --Snip-- Toadie, lackey, sissy hypocrit.
Posted 04:58 PM, 11/19/2008
bpphilly
TPS: Who on here made the claim that there was a bigger threat to the US than AQ? Certainly not me. But as you will read from my last post...'the global image of AQ is losing its luster.' But I guess in Coward talk that's just code for "picking up serious steam." Keep trying to spin as 2 people proved you wrong.
Posted 05:00 PM, 11/19/2008
bpphilly
TPS: update your info...all of your sources are old, as in 2007, estimates. Mine happens to be from 2008. The CURRENT assessment. Spin away you sissy fraud.
Posted 05:09 PM, 11/19/2008
bird11
bpphilly take it easy on TPS he has been following the election very hard this year and you can't blame him if the facts show that the U.S. is winning in Iraq (winning but certainly - not won) have escaped him. It is not like they were heavily covered during the Bush-bash-a-thon aka The 2008 Presidential Elections. At this point the U.S. could leave and declare victory over al-qaeda in Iraq but as RG pointed out much earlier the problem in Iraq right now is more sectarian violence than AQ. We went there (right or wrong you can argue til the end of time), we removed the dictator who was able to stop such sectarian violence , leaving now to allow a civil war to erupt is just IMHO immoral (kinda like profitting from cheating illegal aliens of a fair wage - sorry TPS couldn't resist).
Posted 05:09 PM, 11/19/2008
SBVFT Contributor
"The Obama presidency scares them." I just wanted to post this again so we can all have a good laugh. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted 05:11 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
"as this was pulled directly from the 2008 National Intelligence Estimate....---}}} Lol! That's the same National Intelligence Estimate that was in my post. But yeah, "your" sources were much newer and more reliable than "my" sources. It would help, bp, to not make such of an a** of yourself if you actually read the comments you're responding to.
Posted 05:13 PM, 11/19/2008
RG
The NIE also said recently that Pakistan was on the brink because of a resurgent AQ. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/53926.html
Posted 05:15 PM, 11/19/2008
bird11
SBVFT - it actually might scare them. They probably realized that only a fool would stop what is working - and it is working. And while I may not have voted for him I would never call Obama a fool. If Obama changes course he better hope it works 7 years 2 months 8 days and counting - he doesn't want to be in charge when the next attack happens.
Comment removed.
Posted 05:17 PM, 11/19/2008
RG
bird how long are we willing to spend billions into trillions to prevent a potential next attack by keeping hundreds of thousands of soldiers over there?
Posted 05:20 PM, 11/19/2008
bpphilly
TPS: It would also help if you read the assessment...obviously you missed the opening page where it clearly states that AQ is weakening in Iraq and its global image has also weakened. But don't let facts get in the way. But, yeah, AQ is much stronger now that hundreds of high-ranking personel are dead or captured, their infrastructure has been debilitated and their image is nowhere near as strong as it was in 2001. You're right. AQ is gaining strength. Don't forget, they haven't done anything significant in about 2 years, no one has seen or heard from Bin Laden, and all of their taped messages and broadcasts that used to be filled with threats and propaganda are no filled with personal attacks and insults. sounds like a strong organization to me. Read the report instead of cherry-picking, nitwit. --Snip-- TPS Forgets to Actually Read the Report! --Snip--
Posted 05:20 PM, 11/19/2008
bpphilly
TPS: It would also help if you read the assessment...obviously you missed the opening page where it clearly states that AQ is weakening in Iraq and its global image has also weakened. But don't let facts get in the way. But, yeah, AQ is much stronger now that hundreds of high-ranking personel are dead or captured, their infrastructure has been debilitated and their image is nowhere near as strong as it was in 2001. You're right. AQ is gaining strength. Don't forget, they haven't done anything significant in about 2 years, no one has seen or heard from Bin Laden, and all of their taped messages and broadcasts that used to be filled with threats and propaganda are no filled with personal attacks and insults. sounds like a strong organization to me. Read the report instead of cherry-picking, nitwit. --Snip-- TPS Forgets to Actually Read the Report! --Snip--
Posted 05:23 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
No probs, birdie, the fact that you trotted that lame argument across threads is only further evidence of your desperation. As for the issue of this thread - I never said that AQ was, currently, doing well in Iraq. The question at hand was whether invading Iraq had a positive impact in the "GWOT" as you asserted. NIE's indicate otherwise. As for you assertion that we have "won" in Iraq, I think that if you define winning as being stuck in a quagmire, then you are, indeed correct. I define winning differently. As for the effect of the surge, sloboat, I have no problem agreeing that it has reduced the violence levels. There is little question about that. AS to how much of the reduction in violence is attributed to the surge or to other measures, anyone who is honest would admit that it is very hard to say. But the bottom line is that many terrorists trained in Iraq and have now left Iraq to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Fortunately, AQs policies of mass-murdering Muslims has begun to significantly reduce AQs support in the Muslim world. But some facts remain. They are still strong. They are still surging in their strength in Afghanistan. They killed more people last year than in previous years. As recently as May of last year, the director of the CIA expressed concern about an "alarming trend" with AQ. That's it, boys, gotta sign off now - but it's been nice chatting. Interesting how you all hate me so much, but feel so compelled to respond to my posts. Guess that kind of behavior goes along with being a Republican toady, eh?
Posted 05:38 PM, 11/19/2008
bird11
RG - short and very incomplete answer - as long as it takes. I personally see our common national defense as the primary purpose of a Federal Government.
Posted 05:40 PM, 11/19/2008
RG
Wow, thats giving the fed gov a ton of spending power with little to no oversight. as you or bp mentioned, if they don't denote themselves with uniforms, how can we tell if we've killed them all? reading all this back and forth, its pretty obvious that our intelligence agencies vary wildly from year to year.
Posted 06:47 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
The reports, RG, have varied along with the trends. AQI was on the upswing for years, now they're down. Globally, AQ was on a downward trend, now they're resurgent. Here's another excerpt from the latest report (the one I mentioned earlier that bp later excerpted from, claiming it was more recent, than "my" source. lol!)--snip-- ... and al-Qa'ida's central leadership based in the border area of Pakistan is its most dangerous component. Last July, we published a National Intelligence Estimate titled, "The Terrorist Threat to the US Homeland," which assessed that al-Qa'ida's central leadership in the past two years has been able to regenerate the core operational capabilities needed to conduct attacks in the Homeland: Al-Qa'ida is improving the last key aspect of its ability to attack the US: the identification, training, and positioning of operatives for an attack in the Homeland. While increased security measures at home and abroad have caused al-Qa'ida to view the West, especially the US, as a harder target, we have seen an influx of new Western recruits into the tribal areas since mid-2006.
Posted 07:38 PM, 11/19/2008
bpphilly
TPS: Pick a side you coward. Either it's fear politics or the reports for the last few years, by the current admin, have in fact been correct. Before the election, you and many others made claims that Republicans, Bush, Current Admin, etc just played the politics of fear whenever they dare mention national security as a major issue. Now you're on here espousing the same reports that you would once call "the politics of fear perpetrated by the Right-Wing lackey's." All of a sudden these same "politics of fear" have become the core component of your argument. So which is it? Were they playing "politics of fear" or just stating facts? You are nothing but a fence-jumping FRAUD. F-R-A-U-D FRAUD! Go bailout GM, you clueless Lib.
Comment removed.
Posted 09:51 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
BTW. That contractor that had a crew with some illegals? Staunch Republican. So were the subs who also hired illegals. But keep up with the immigrant hatin' Works real well as an election strategy. Really brings the growing Latino voting population right on board. Lol!
Posted 10:01 PM, 11/19/2008
Talking point sleuth
Oh, and fighting healthcare reform is another real winner of a campaign issue --snip-- Ultimate Outsourcing Now, Mexican medicine. American companies are building hospitals south of the border to serve refugees from an ailing health-care system.
Posted 08:50 AM, 11/20/2008
didderbops
Wow! Al Quaeda and the Republicans have something in common! Why do Republicans sympathize with terrorists? They must really hate America.
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