40yearfan

U.S. Cites Big Gains Against Al-Qaeda
Group Is Facing Setbacks Globally, CIA Chief Says

By Joby Warrick
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 30, 2008; Page A01

Less than a year after his agency warned of new threats from a resurgent al-Qaeda, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden now portrays the terrorist movement as essentially defeated in Iraq and Saudi Arabia and on the defensive throughout much of the rest of the world, including in its presumed haven along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

In a strikingly upbeat assessment, the CIA chief cited major gains against al-Qaeda's allies in the Middle East and an increasingly successful campaign to destabilize the group's core leadership.

While cautioning that al-Qaeda remains a serious threat, Hayden said Osama bin Laden is losing the battle for hearts and minds in the Islamic world and has largely forfeited his ability to exploit the Iraq war to recruit adherents. Two years ago, a CIA study concluded that the U.S.-led war had become a propaganda and marketing bonanza for al-Qaeda, generating cash donations and legions of volunteers.

All that has changed, Hayden said in an interview with The Washington Post this week that coincided with the start of his third year at the helm of the CIA.

"On balance, we are doing pretty well," he said, ticking down a list of accomplishments: "Near strategic defeat of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Near strategic defeat for al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Significant setbacks for al-Qaeda globally -- and here I'm going to use the word 'ideologically' -- as a lot of the Islamic world pushes back on their form of Islam," he said.

The sense of shifting tides in the terrorism fight is shared by a number of terrorism experts, though some caution that it is too early to tell whether the gains are permanent. Some credit Hayden and other U.S. intelligence leaders for going on the offensive against al-Qaeda in the area along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where the tempo of Predator strikes has dramatically increased from previous years. But analysts say the United States has caught some breaks in the past year, benefiting from improved conditions in Iraq, as well as strategic blunders by al-Qaeda that have cut into its support base.

Rest of Article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...src=newsletter

Mulli

Great, so do we still need to occupy Iraq?

40yearfan

Mulli, I have no problem occuping Iraq as long as none of our people are getting killed. I do believe we will be there for some time, but if it's an occupation like we have in Germany or Japan, I can live with it.

Louis

Unfortunately I don't think the religious base of Japan and Germany actually believe that it is their religion's requirement to murder infidels at any cost.

Any believer of the true word of the Koran will have to take arms against those who are unbelievers and dwell around them. (Koran 9:73, 9:123)

40yearfan

Maybe it's time someone made them realize that just like the bible, you can't take every word literally.

Louis

More than a 1/3 of this country's Christian's take the biblical word literally. And you ain't every gonna change their mind.

Not gonna happen in a country where you can be put to death for believing otherwise.

Mulli

Maybe we could send Jimmy Carter to do it. He seems to get along well with "them."

LacardJoe67

Well, Sadam actually allowed Christianity to be practiced under his regime at one time so I guess most Iraqis Muslims are from a more moderate part of the Muslim cloth.

__________________
If your sword's too short, add to its length by taking one step forward.

Louis

Christains in Iraq are now brutlalized by their Muslim countrymen.

http://www.christiansofiraq.com/flee.html

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/antiir.html

http://www.danielpipes.org/article/2033

http://www.danielpipes.org/article/2033

http://www.byzantines.net/epiphany/chaldean.htm

Mulli

40, Hannity is on the phone. He says to tell you not to admit it is an "occupation."

LacardJoe67

As are most Iraqis...

__________________
If your sword's too short, add to its length by taking one step forward.

dreamcastrocks

Jimmy Carter's a muslim.

Mulli

As are most Iraqi's.

40yearfan

Did you ever realize that Jimmy Carter has the same initials as Jesus Christ?

Hannity is a very sincere young man, but he drives me right up the wall. He gets stuck on "talking points" and repeats them over and over and over---------

40yearfan

Hmmm, I might argue with you about the 1/3 part, but since I'm not in that group, it's not for me to say.