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Bush Touts Intelligence on al-Qaeda

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July 24, 2007 3:03 PM

ABC News' John Cochran reports: Before President Bush's address to the Charleston, S.C. Air Force Base on Tuesday, the White House touted the speech, saying it would include declassified intelligence showing that al-Qaeda in Iraq is connected to foreign al-Qaeda leaders, especially Osama bin Laden. 

But virtually all of the speech sounded familiar, leaving reporters wondering: where is this new intelligence?

One official explained that while the President may have made most of his points in earlier speeches and news conferences, he wanted to show this time that what he has been saying is backed up by intelligence analysts.   

So, Bush declassified some of the analysis he has received.  For example, he said intelligence analysts have tracked the entire history of al-Qaeda in Iraq.   From its inception, he said, al-Qaeda terrorists have pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden who is believed to be hiding in the mountains of Pakistan.

The president said intelligence shows there are three kinds of terrorists allied with al-Qaeda: those who maintain contact with al-Qaeda leaders but are not part of any particular group; those who collaborate with al-Qaeda to plot attacks; and those who "have formally merged with al-Qaeda."  He said al-Qaeda in Iraq belongs to the last group.  "Bottom line," said the president, "al-Qaeda in Iraq is run by foreign leaders loyal to Osama bin Laden."

Bush said Osama bin Laden and his deputies have tried to convince the world that al-Qaeda in Iraq is a separate group.  In the White House view, anyone who believes that is being duped.  The President said opponents of the war argue that fighting al-Qaeda in Iraq is "a distraction" from fighting Osama bin Laden and others responsible for the 9/11 attacks. 

Not true, says Bush, who says al-Qaeda in Iraq has the same goals as al-Qaeda elsewhere.  He said if the U.S. surrenders the future of Iraq to al-Qaeda, then it would use Iraq as a safe haven "to launch new attacks on our country."

Citing the declassified intelligence, the president said al-Qaeda is, more than any other group, behind the high casualty attacks in Iraq.  It stands out from other terrorist groups, he said, and is the "most dangerous" among "several Sunni jihadist groups in Iraq."

"Our military estimates that between 80 and 90 percent of suicide attacks in Iraq are carried out by foreign-born al Qaeda terrorists," said the President.

Still, he conceded, "it's true that today most of al-Qaeda in Iraq's rank-and-file fighters and some of its leadership are Iraqi."  But, Bush said, "to focus exclusively on this single fact is to ignore the larger truth."

Last week's National Intelligence Estimate emphasized the threat of a reconstituted al-Qaeda along Pakistani border with Afghanistan.  Today, the president tried to focus attention back on al-Qaeda in Iraq by connecting it to the terrorists hiding far away in Pakistan's mountains.

July 24, 2007 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (21)

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Isn't it interesting that the little bit of intelligence that backs up what he says (or what he claims backs up what he says) suddenly becomes declassfied as needed. But the vast majority of the intelligence that shows that he lied us into a war stays under lock and key until leaked years later when it can do no good.

Next he will be leaking the name of covert operatives of the CIA. No wait, he's already done that.

Posted by: Tammy Stickers | Jul 24, 2007 3:24:23 PM

If the threat is that large and included in the classsified portion of the report then why doesn't Bush do more. Let's bomb northern Pakistan and start using more firepower in Iraq.

Posted by: Jerry M | Jul 24, 2007 3:46:38 PM

If such evidence ever existed (AlQaeda and Iraq), Bush/Cheney would have pulled it out of the hat years ago. To try and pull this crap of a lie now is proof that Bush is not dealing with a full deck. The fact that this administration is chock full of lies and continues to lie repeatedly should trouble every US Citizen and they should be impeached!!!!

Posted by: JLW | Jul 24, 2007 3:49:28 PM

I'm with you on this one Tammy. It just amazes me how he declassifies information when his approval ratings slip or when he feels the heat. I'm not buying it anyhow....it's too convenient; and why now? We keep hearing for years now how close Iraqis are to taking over. I'm sick of hearing the same song and dance. NO MORE TIME!

Posted by: TamSam | Jul 24, 2007 3:51:10 PM

Intel reports that are deemed "unclassifed" are filled with conjecture and now much meat. If the US Public was made aware of more of the intel reports there would be wide spread panic in a lot of cities. Remember afetr 9-11 people started buying gums and wanted to take up arms agains Al Qaeda? What happened to those supporters? Maybe they have forgotten?

Posted by: Jerry M | Jul 24, 2007 3:55:42 PM

Impeach Bush? And that leaves Cheney.. Now that would be a great idea.. He can go hunting over in Iraq. Maybe he would have the guts to take out the bad guys with more force and less troops on the ground...

Posted by: Jerry M | Jul 24, 2007 3:58:20 PM

Never let the truth get in the way of a good argument

Posted by: DM144 | Jul 24, 2007 4:00:20 PM

Oh my how exciting that they found out all this "new" information about Al Quaeda, except I remember Bush once saying "he didn't think about Bin Laden too much". Guess when your at 25% in the polls your probably not too worried about what appearances are you continue to lie and distort, sad little man that he is.

Posted by: Sue Filutze | Jul 24, 2007 4:05:42 PM

Why do we even listen to this guy anymore?

Posted by: Eric | Jul 24, 2007 4:12:20 PM

The very fact that al Qaeda is now in Iraq means Bush's policy has failed miserably, and he's still shamelessly touting his intelligence and vetoing every proposal to change course?! He's worse than shameless, he's truly disgusting.

Posted by: xiaer | Jul 24, 2007 4:20:15 PM

Bush is "tied" to al queda.!!!

Posted by: InfinantPeace | Jul 24, 2007 4:20:30 PM

xiaer why is that, would it be better they be over here , like in 93 and taking flying lesson like they did during the Clinton years, or like the USS Cole in Yemmen, that was a failed policy...look at history, their all over, been that way for decades....

Posted by: Freddie | Jul 24, 2007 4:28:44 PM

Yeah, and Sadam had weapons of mass destructions. I have ocean front property on Oklahoma too.

Posted by: luherch | Jul 24, 2007 4:35:00 PM

Notice how Bush never mentions that Al Qaeda in Iraq is there because He set up a nice, live-fire training ground for them instead of focusing on Bin Laden in boring, forgotten Afghanistan? Dismal Failure the Little Man is......

Posted by: TomBob | Jul 24, 2007 4:35:53 PM

More lies. That's all I can say. Bush is no longer believable.

Posted by: marc | Jul 24, 2007 4:36:48 PM

hey liberals
lets implement your plan. Lets pull out of Iraq tomorrow and let the fun begin. Lets see hmm 3000000 dead iraqies, no problem, al-queda takes over baquba and launches sucide bombers to new york, no problem, Iran takes control of Iraq and changes the balance of power in the mid. east, no problem, and best of all the U.S.A. was defeated, no problem. The best part is you guys can say that you told everyone that Bush was an idiot, but wait, Everyone is worried about being killed and for some reason they are not listing to you any more. Whats up with that?

Posted by: harry g | Jul 24, 2007 4:43:18 PM

It's truly a myth that people continue to think that keeping soldiers in Iraq would prevent terrorists from coming over here. At the same time government says terrorists are establishing cells in US and are coming over.

This much is clear, Freddie and Bush want it both ways: they want to scare American people by saying terrorists are coming over so better don't change anything, at the same time they say we need to keep the troops in Iraq so terrorists won't come over.

Hello? you are contractdicting yourself. you think Americans are that stupid to not be able to see through your lies?

Posted by: xiaer | Jul 24, 2007 4:43:22 PM

Actually Bush has become a Buddhist-- He believes that if he repeats his mantra enough times, his pathetic performance as President will improve --- and then we will all believe the crock of crap, he and the rest of the Neo - Con Artists hve concocted. Seems their defense, and oil conglomerate ,need more cash-- so that's why they utilize Goebbel's propaganda tools to get the last desperate 25% to rally round the flag. Sad - Desperate -- and just plain pathetic.
Sign at Oval office door:
1) Whatever my President dictates is Truth!
2) Whatever my President says I will support!
3) Wherever my President orders I will follow!

Leave brain at door!!!

Posted by: windmaster12 | Jul 24, 2007 4:44:25 PM

It amazes me that this president went to Yale! It come down to the saying," it's not what you know, but who you know."

Posted by: at | Jul 24, 2007 10:17:09 PM

You would think that with this White House's previous antics, they would offer more than their word for what the intelligence says.

Posted by: Tammy Stickers | Jul 25, 2007 10:24:12 AM

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