NIE: SSDD

The latest National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) seems to have all of the anti-war deepthinkers in knotted knickers. The Washington Post acts like this is truly news;

The White House faced fresh political peril yesterday in the form of a new intelligence assessment that raised sharp questions about the success of its counterterrorism strategy and judgment in making Iraq the focus of that effort.

Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, President Bush has been able to deflect criticism of his counterterrorism policy by repeatedly noting the absence of any new domestic attacks and by citing the continuing threat that terrorists in Iraq pose to U.S. interests.

But this line of defense seemed to unravel a bit yesterday with the release of a new National Intelligence Estimate that concludes that al-Qaeda “has protected or regenerated key elements of its Homeland attack capability” by reestablishing a haven in Pakistan and reconstituting its top leadership. The report also notes that al-Qaeda has been able “to recruit and indoctrinate operatives, including for Homeland attacks,” by associating itself with an Iraqi subsidiary.

Anyone shocked? Nope, me neither. Terrorists will continue to regenerate as long as there’s a chance they can get their enemies to let them have the run of the world. The Left and the anti-war-at-any-cost crowd give them hope for that chance. But anyone who is surprised that terrorists are still trying to terrorize need to go back and read the dictionary definition of terrorist.

From Washington Times’ Bill Gertz;

“Although we have discovered only a handful of individuals in the United States with ties to al Qaeda senior leadership since 9/11, we judge that al Qaeda will intensify its efforts to put operatives here,” the report stated.

Retired Vice Adm. Michael McConnell, the director of national intelligence whose office produced the NIE, said the United States will face a “persistent and evolving terrorist threat” in the next three years.

What a waste of Bill Gertz’ talents – that “bug duh” moment. As long as  it’s possible that the US Left divides the country for purely policitical reasons, the terrorist threat will always evolve to take advantage of their naivete`.

Contrast these two views from the Gertz story;

“It is deeply troubling that more that nearly six years after 9/11, al Qaeda maintains a safe haven, an intact leadership and the capability to plan further attacks,” said Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois Democrat and 2008 presidential candidate. “It is time to act to correct those mistakes, and the first step is to get out of Iraq, because you can’t win a war when you’re on the wrong battlefield.”

House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, said the NIE shows that the United States must keep up the fight against terrorists.

“Retreat is not a ‘new way forward’ when the safety and security of future generations of Americans are at stake,” Mr. Boehner said.

Instead of deciding that fighting harder and more united is the answer young Barack decides that getting out is the answer. That’s just cowardly…and partisan. AT least we have John Boehner to call them wimps to their faces.

Meanwhile, my new buddy Robin at Chickenhawk Express delivers deadly blows to that [d]ick Clarke’s “analysis” of the NIE.

Category: Antiwar crowd, Foreign Policy, Media, Politics, Terror War