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You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War / How Bad Are Things In Iraq?

How Bad Are Things In Iraq?

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Bad enough that we are back to Osama:

President Bush, stressing that Americans face an ongoing threat from terrorists, shared intelligence on Wednesday asserting that Osama bin Laden was working in 2005 to set up a unit inside Iraq to hit U.S. targets.

Much of the information Bush cited in a commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy described terrorism plots already revealed, but he fleshed out details and highlighted U.S. successes in foiling planned attacks.

Bush said that intelligence showed that in January 2005, bin Laden tasked Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, his senior operative in Iraq, to set up the cell to use Iraq as a staging ground for attacks in the United States. Al-Zarqawi was killed in Iraq in June 2006 by a U.S. airstrike.

This information expanded on a classified bulletin the Homeland Security Department issued in March 2005. The bulletin, which warned that bin Laden had enlisted al-Zarqawi to plan potential strikes in the United States, was described at the time as credible but not specific. It did not prompt the administration to raise its national terror alert level.

OSAMA! BOO!

Reader Interactions

49Comments

  1. 1.

    Wilfred

    According to Debka, it went down like this:

    Osama, who everybody thought was dead, wasn’t. He told Zarqawi to lose the beard, learn some English fast, get some chinos and penny loafers (to look more American), get on a plane to Mexico City, cross the border to Arizona (not wearing the chinos and loafers, and not talking), go to the first Mosque he could find, get some other guys and commence to blowing shit up.

    That was the plan. But Zarqawi realized that if he left Iraq, the Americans would follow him home, i.e. back to America, not his real, actual home, which was in Jordan. So he stayed in Iraq and the terror level stayed the same.

  2. 2.

    ed

    I recall that the 9/11 attacks were planned somewhere other than Iraq. To believe that OBL would want to plan terrorist attacks on America from the middle of a civil war stretches credulity beyond the breaking point.

    Such attacks can be planned anywhere, as they involve quite limited numbers of people and financing. George Bush has been caught in so many lies, he has to hire staff to call Barney for him. More BS from the Deciderator.

  3. 3.

    cleek

    bin Laden tasked Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, his senior operative in Iraq, to set up the cell to use Iraq as a staging ground for attacks in the United States

    and Zarqawi’s all like “Dude, WTF? I got enough to do here! Don’t you have a couple-dozen #3’s you could give this to?”

  4. 4.

    S.W. Anderson

    Well gosh darn, how convenient, to be able to pull this out of its musty folder two years after the fact, when Bush desperately wants public support, or at least a more frightened public.

    Actually, this smacks of something cooked up by the same rectal neoplasms who gave us all that crap about WMD and an Iraqi A-bomb delivered by boat to the East Coast.

  5. 5.

    jg

    Fear! People want you dead, they hate you, they hate your way of life, they are planning to come here to kill you.
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    And the democrats are making it happen.

  6. 6.

    The Other Steve

    President Bush, stressing that Americans face an ongoing threat from terrorists, shared intelligence on Wednesday asserting that Osama bin Laden was working in 2005 to set up a unit inside Iraq to hit U.S. targets.

    Convenient fact left out…

    Osama would not be able to setup a unit inside Iraq if the Americans were not there.

  7. 7.

    RSA

    The bulletin, which warned that bin Laden had enlisted al-Zarqawi to plan potential strikes in the United States, was described at the time as credible but not specific.

    “All right. You’ve covered your ass, now.”

    It did not prompt the administration to raise its national terror alert level.

  8. 8.

    Zifnab

    Little known fact. After 9/11, Osama fled across the Pakistani border where he was frozen in carbonite and shipped to Iraq. Bush was about to capture him, but the Democrats distracted everyone by trying to kill Terri Shavio and Osama got away.

  10. 10.

    ThymeZone

    Does this mean he’s Wanted: Dead or Alive again?

    Those pathetic fools in our government don’t even realize that nobody listens to them any more.

    Bin Laden is the new Unibomber.

  11. 11.

    Dave

    Bush said that intelligence showed that in January 2005, bin Laden tasked Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, his senior operative in Iraq, to set up the cell to use Iraq as a staging ground for attacks in the United States.

    **cough**bullshit**cough**

  13. 13.

    tBone

    Does this mean he’s Wanted: Dead or Alive again?

    He’s seen a million faces, and he rocked them all.

    Maybe Bush watches American Idol, and the Bon Jovi episode reminded him that Osama was still out there.

  14. 14.

    tBone

    Oops, I Crapped My Pants!

    “I’m wearing them right now . . . and I just did.”

  15. 15.

    Jake

    This all begs the question: If bin Laden (last known location, Afghanistan) is the root cause of all of the horrible icky things that have or might occur in the US, why the flaming fuck are we in Iraq?

    The bulletin … was described at the time as credible but not specific.

    Is this “Nigerian yellow cake” credible or “bin Laden determined to attack US with planes,” credible?

    Just wondering.

  16. 16.

    Zifnab

    Is this “Nigerian yellow cake” credible or “bin Laden determined to attack US with planes,” credible?

    Just wondering.

    Depends. Did Clinton say it?

  17. 17.

    Bubblegum Tate

    Clearly, the would-be Liberty University bomber is a part of this plot. You moonbats are too busy hating America to notice this, though.

  18. 18.

    ThymeZone

    Peronally, I think that they figured Bin Laden was determined to attack the US with yellow cakes.

    The plan was to deploy millions of spongy yellow cakes into convenience stores across America, and then wait for the collapse of our infrastructure.

    It was called the “Twinkie Manifesto.”

  19. 19.

    caustics

    Oops, I Crapped My Pants!

    Which, in this context, reminded me of this . Apologies to Jhonnen Vasquez.

  21. 21.

    Rome Again

    It was called the “Twinkie Manifesto.”

    I understand it was an explosive idea.

  23. 23.

    Jake

    It was called the “Twinkie Manifesto.”

    [Groan]

    Thymezone has JMD and he’s not afraid to use ’em!

  24. 24.

    croatoan

    It did not prompt the administration to raise its national terror alert level.

    That’s because the terror alerts accomplished their purpose: getting Bush reelected.

  25. 25.

    semper fubar

    Wow. I wish I known two years ago how scared I was supposed be be back then.

  26. 26.

    cleek

    at least Time mag isn’t buying Bush’s nonsense:

    In Iraq, meanwhile, where Zarqawi’s poisonous legacy continues to plague all efforts to end the violence, Bush’s revelation will most likely be received with little more than a shrug — as are most of the White House’s claims linking Iraq to the global war on terror. From the Iraqi point of view, al-Qaeda came to their country as a direct consequence of the U.S.-led invasion. Any communication between bin Laden and Zarqawi about operations elsewhere are of no more than academic interest.

    But there was never any evidence that Zarqawi had any ambitions beyond Iraq’s borders. The al-Qaeda bombings in Amman on Nov. 9, 2005, were an exception, but Iraqis attributed it to a personal grudge — Zarqawi was Jordanian, and had in his youth been jailed by the government. Even if Zarqawi was indeed planning other attacks outside Iraq, it certainly didn’t slow down his deadly campaign of bombings across the country.

  27. 27.

    gex

    How is pointing out to us that he, President Bush, has completely and utterly failed to catch this guy supposed to generate support for Bush’s policies? Keep supporting his approach, and this guy will still be around in 2008 plotting against us.

  28. 28.

    Zifnab

    How is pointing out to us that he, President Bush, has completely and utterly failed to catch this guy supposed to generate support for Bush’s policies?

    If Al Gore had been President, we would have REALLY never have caught him. Instead we’d be invading Global Warmistan. Is that what you want? Vote Republican.

  29. 29.

    Tsulagi

    Wait a minute! I know the rationale for Iraq goes through sort of a flavor of the month or year kind of thing, but I thought the “We’re fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here” was still in play.

    Didn’t our visionary Commander Guy set up Iraq as some gigantic bug zapper that irresistibly draws all jihadis there to their doom? What’s this shit about AQ using Iraq as a staging ground? Almost makes it sound like in the past 4+ years AQ and like groups have actually grown in Iraq using it as a huge training and vetting ground for extremist recruits. And that they don’t know it’s impossible to leave the Decider’s clever trap in Iraq to hit us… over here. Can’t be; someone slipped Decider Man the wrong text to read.

    Yeah, sounds like we’re on an AQ/Osama binge at the moment where a lot seems to be AQ “affiliated” or directed. Kind of funny in a way. In trying to scare the base and justify staying in Iraq, they’re sort of acknowledging AQ and their buds have been franchising all over the place during their watch.

    Totally fitting where he gave that little speech too. At the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. If you saw a report on 60 Minutes last Sunday, you’d have seen how the admin and Pub Congress brought their collective brilliance and competence to bear on a $24B modernization of the Coast Guard over the past five years for national security. Coast Guard would have been better off if they forgot they existed.

    Well, at least the CG can take comfort they weren’t singled out for special attention. Commander Guy brought that standard of brilliance to bear as in all things, and the Republican Congress the same level of oversight, to Iraq and the broader GSAVE. They’ve shown they’re smart and competent like that when they work as a team.

  30. 30.

    grumpy realist

    John, your post has more editorial truth than 99% of the MSM punditry out there commenting.

    After a while, one starts wondering if the Coyote really does want to catch the Roadrunner. Maybe he just likes ordering stuff from Acme….

  31. 31.

    Rome Again

    Wait a minute! I know the rationale for Iraq goes through sort of a flavor of the month or year kind of thing, but I thought the “We’re fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here” was still in play.

    Shhhh! You’re not supposed to remember that!

  32. 32.

    empty

    After a while, one starts wondering if the Coyote really does want to catch the Roadrunner. Maybe he just likes ordering stuff from Acme….

    That’s just scary.

  34. 34.

    Rome Again

    After a while, one starts wondering if the Coyote really does want to catch the Roadrunner. Maybe he just likes ordering stuff from Acme….

    I think you might be right.

  35. 35.

    Tsulagi

    After a while, one starts wondering if the Coyote really does want to catch the Roadrunner. Maybe he just likes ordering stuff from Acme…

    LOL Well put, grumpy.

    He also likes the rebates from Acme.

  36. 36.

    Oregonian

    Isn’t it odd that Bush released this two-year-old intelligence on the day that Monica testified? It’s almost like he wanted to change the subject or something.

  37. 37.

    Wilfred

    Maybe Bush is a spoof. This is from his speech today:

    “Here in America, we are living in the eye of a storm,” he said. “All around us, dangerous winds are swirling and these winds could reach our shores at any moment.”

    Ask not for whom the wind breaks, it breaks for thee.

  38. 38.

    JWeidner

    Ask not for whom the wind breaks, it breaks for thee.

    Ah, but whom amongst us hath broken the wind? That is the question…

  39. 39.

    grumpy realist

    Rebates? REBATES? Rebates, foo. Kickbacks under the table, that’s what ol’ Wiley hitched up for.

    And all the royalties from the Roadrunner cartoons. If he ever caught him, the whole shindig would have to shut down. This coyote definitely knows where his bread is buttered.

  40. 40.

    jg

    grumpy realist Says:

    After a while, one starts wondering if the Coyote really does want to catch the Roadrunner. Maybe he just likes ordering stuff from Acme….

    I started out with a typical ‘the object of war…blah blah blah’ answer but as I thought about the quote something occurred to me. Since the Simpsons weren’t the first animated show to lampoon government, is the whole coyote chasing the roadrunner while simutaneously making ACME rich a commentary on the military industrial complex?

  41. 41.

    Wilfred

    More Bush:

    “Hear the words of Osama bin Laden: He calls the struggle in Iraq a `war of destiny,'” Bush said. “He proclaimed `The war is for you or for us to win. If we win it, it means your defeat and disgrace forever.'”

    Nah nah nah-nah nah (armfarted).

  42. 42.

    jake

    “All around us, dangerous winds are swirling and these winds could reach our shores at any moment.”

    And every Irony-O-Meter in New Orleans will fuse in 5…4…3…

  43. 43.

    Beej

    jake, jake, jake,

    How could you? I just got a new computer and now my lovely new keyboard is covered with a mixture of cheesecake and diet pepsi. This is going to cost me money!

  44. 44.

    Zombie Santa Claus

    Scoff all you want, moonbats; but if Bush catches Osama on January 18, 2009, history will vindicate him. If he travels to Pakistan and catches him personally in March of 2009, he’ll be even MORE vindicated. If he then singlehandedly tracks down and kills every insurgent in Iraq, he’ll officially become the greatest hero in American history.

    I can feel the national vindication juices flowing already.

  45. 45.

    yet another jeff

    Vindication juices? Has Rude Pundit used the phrase “vindication bukakke” yet or is that one an original?

  46. 46.

    Larry

    “Here in America, we are living in the eye of a storm,” he said. “All around us, dangerous winds are swirling and these winds could reach our shores at any moment.”

    He’s right, this enemy is silent, but deadly.

  47. 47.

    Zombie Santa Claus

    “Vindication juice” would also be a good name for a band, I think. Or at least an album. Also, some form of erotic massage cream. Once he leaves the White House (and the closet), Bush could become its celebrity sponsor.

    Ho ho ho, bitches!

  48. 48.

    Zombie Santa Claus

    He’s right, this enemy is silent, but deadly.

    When ferreting out the traitors amongst us, we must always bear in mind the immortal adage: He who smelt it, dealt it.

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  1. […] grumpy realist, in comments at Balloon Juice says, about Bush and his 6 year failure to get rid of bin Laden: After a while, one starts wondering if the Coyote really does want to catch the Roadrunner. Maybe he just likes ordering stuff from Acme… […]