April 05, 2004
Iraq War Has Helped Spread bin Laden's Message
I am sadly disappointed by this, but not completely surprised. I don't have much to add that I haven't already said. I'll just cite part of the Washington Post article.
The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq has accelerated the spread of Osama bin Laden's anti-Americanism among once local Islamic militant movements, increasing danger to the United States as the al Qaeda network is becoming less able to mount attacks, according to senior intelligence officials at the CIA and State Department. At the same time, the Sunni Triangle has become a training ground for foreign Islamic jihadists who are slipping into Iraq to join former Saddam Hussein loyalists to test themselves against U.S. and coalition forces, these officials say. Islamic militant organizations in places such as North Africa and Southeast Asia, which were previously focused on changing their local country leadership, "have been caught by bin Laden's vision, and poisoned by it . . . they will now look at the U.S., Israel and the Saudis as targets," a senior intelligence official said last week. "That is one manifestation of how bin Laden's views are expanding well beyond Iraq," he said.-
As so many predicted. I wonder if George and Tony discussed this possibility at dinner.
-
Al Qaeda, the Movement
-
This outcome seemed to be friggin’ obvious before the invasions. Is anyone, including the Bushies, even surprised? It appears that we are truly in a long, drawn out, expensive "quagmire" with no escape. It's like the old Clash song, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?". "If I go there will be trouble, if I stay it will be double..." If we bail now there will be a vacuum that will give rise to a totalitarian Islamic state that will make Afghanistan look like a Disney movie. In the mean time, we are NOT winning the hearts and minds of Iraqis. We now have to kiss and make up to the UN and other moderate world leaders who were against the war and bring in a multilateral coalition that will at least give the semblance of world approval to the rebuilding of this poor country. Then we have to find a way to offer Iraqis (and other radicalized Arabs) an alternate vision of the US where we aren't imperialist thugs and then back that up with deeds. Much more Carrot, a lot less stick. We need to talk the talk AND walk the walk...
-
"While officials of the FBI and the Justice Department of the US were telling citizens this week to prepare for possible terrorist attacks over the summer (although Thursday there appeared to be some confusion among US officials over those warnings), a well-known strategic think tank and two human rights organizations were questioning the direction and value of the US-led war on terror. They alleged that the war was actually leading to increased terrorism around the world."
-
The Iraq Effect: The War in Iraq and its Impact on the War on Terrorism
-
Al Qaeda Is Getting Stronger - Richard Engel Says “It’s All About Iraq”