Clipmarks | willhelm's 'al qaeda' clips

Palin Backs Obama's stand on launching attacks in Pakistan on terrorists

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:47:18 GMT

clipped by: jklugman
clipper's remarks: Go Temple!

“If the United States has al Qaeda, bin Laden, top-level lieutenants in our sights, and Pakistan is unable or unwilling to act, then we should take them out,” Obama added.

“You don’t say that out loud,” McCain said. “If you have to do things, you have to do things, and you work with the Pakistani government.”

Palin’s apparent disagreement with McCain’s position on Pakistan came as the Alaska governor was picking up a couple of cheesesteaks at Tony Luke’s in South Philadelphia. She was approached by a man wearing a Temple University t-shirt, who later identified himself as Michael Rovito.

“So we do cross-border, like from Afghanistan to Pakistan, you think?” Rovito asked.

“If that’s what we have to do stop the terrorists from coming any further in, absolutely, we should,” Palin said.

Tags: john mccain, sarah palin, barack obama, pakistan, war on terror, war-on-terror, temple university

Zawahiri possibly killed

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:25:37 GMT

clipped by: willhelm

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

Al Qaeda’s second in command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, may be injured or even dead, according to a CBS News report based on an intercepted letter that urgently requests a doctor to treat Zawahiri.

Terrorism in North Africa "reinvogorated"

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:54:44 GMT

clipped by: willhelm

Clip Source: www.cfr.org

Terrorist activity in North Africa has been reinvigorated in the last few years by a local Algerian Islamist group turned pan-Maghreb jihadi organization: al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). A Sunni group that previously called itself the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), the organization has taken responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks in the region, declared its intention to attack Western targets, and sent a squad of jihadis to Iraq. Experts believe these actions suggest widening ambitions within the group's leadership, now pursuing a more global, sophisticated, and better-financed direction. Long categorized as part of a strictly domestic insurgency against Algeria's military government, AQIM claims to be the local franchise operation for al-Qaeda, a worrying development for a region that has been relatively peaceful since the bloody Algerian civil war of the 1990s drew to a close.

Europol Report (PDF)

Obama would still oppose the surge

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:40:13 GMT

clipped by: willhelm
clipper's remarks: OK. This clinches it. Obama is utterly incapable of rational leadership. The terrorists were wreaking havoc in Iraq and killing hundreds daily. Now there is relative calm. Iraq is turning around. al Qaeda is out of Iraq. al Qaeda describes the situation as lost and say they can no longer recruit in the region. Iran is no longer having their way with propping up the insurgency. Intelligence tells us we are winning the hearts and minds of the Middle East. We have basically won in Iraq.
However, Obama says he would still not support the surge after originally saying prior to the surge that he did not support the surge because it would have the "opposite effect" and increase violence.
He is saying now that we should have let the situation in Iraq fester, withdrawn troops, hand the terrorists a victory in Iraq, allow the violence in Iraq to continue and instead concentrate on the few Taliban incapacitated in the mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan. What a complete fool!

Clip Source: www.cbsnews.com

“Senator Obama was dead wrong about the surge, and to foolishly maintain he would oppose it again today calls into question whether he has the judgment and fortitude necessary to be President of the United States,” Boehner said Tuesday.

Lanny Davis: "We were wrong"

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:19:34 GMT

clipped by: willhelm
clipper's remarks: Thank You, Lannie. It is great to see there are still stand-up people on the left.

From article:

"Maybe another democracy, however imperfect, other than Israel in the Middle East could lead to more moderation, possibly other democracies? Democracies that could serve as bulwarks against al Qaeda-type of terrorist states?"

"And then in early 2007 came the Surge, which so many of us in the anti-war left of the Democratic Party predicted would be a failure, throwing good men and women and billions of dollars after futility. We were wrong."

"The surge did, in fact, lead to a reduction of violence, confirmed by media on the ground as well as our military leaders."

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

But then came my first moment of doubt.

I saw on TV in early 2005, in their first preliminary democratic elections, long lines of Iraqis waiting to vote under the hot desert sun with bombs and shrapnel exploding around them. Waiting to vote!

And then there was that indelible image -- an older woman shrouded in a carpet-like cape, smiling gleefully and holding her purple finger in the air for the TV cameras, purple with ink showing that she had voted.

Smiling! In the middle of war! With U.S. troops standing nearby!

Wow, I thought. Is it possible I was wrong?

Is it possible, I wondered, that Iraqis truly did want democracy and freedom and the right to vote and government of the people, just as we Americans do? And were willing to fight for it, with our help?

Wouldn't that be a good thing? Even a great thing?

Tags: liberals, iraq war, war on terror

Fear of Terrorism Lowest Since 9/11

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:45:52 GMT

clipped by: Wisco
clipper's remarks: More bad news for McCain.

"Sen. McCain's greatest strength is in foreign policy, particularly his reputation as the candidate best able to fight the war on terror," said Keating Holland, CNN's polling director.

"As the threat of a terrorist attack continues to recede in the mind of the American voter, the state of the economy and other domestic issues are likely to become even more important. That would be good news for Sen. Obama, since the Democrats currently beat or tie the Republicans on every issue except terrorism."

The piece also cites Bush's low approvals as a source of worry for Team McCain.

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

As Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama battle over who has the best approach to national security, a new CNN poll finds Americans' concerns about terrorism have hit an all-time low for the post-September 11 era.

According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Wednesday, 35 percent of Americans believe a terrorist attack somewhere in the United States is likely over the next several weeks.

The figure is the lowest in a CNN poll since the September 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people.

The latest CNN poll also indicates that the war in Iraq remains deeply unpopular. Three in 10 voters favor the war, while 68 percent oppose it. Similarly, a third of voters would like to see the next president keep the same number of troops in Iraq that are stationed there now. See how the poll numbers stack up »

Tags: news

The Gaza Power Struggle

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:58:12 GMT

clipped by: willhelm
clipper's remarks: And the basis for relentless Jihad against Israel.

Clip Source: www.memri.org

The June 2007 military coup in Gaza honed the differences, and intensified the tension, between Hamas, which is a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the jihadi Salafi groups in Gaza, which identify with Al-Qaeda and its goals. [1] The latter groups, which include Jaysh Al-Islam and Fath Al-Islam in Gaza, have persistently called on Hamas to declare Gaza an Islamic emirate, to impose shari'a law fully and exclusively, and to launch a relentless and uncompromising jihad against Israel.

Hamas' refusal to comply with these demands has triggered a power struggle, with Hamas trying to repress the Salafi groups as the groups attempt to evade being controlled by Hamas and to pursue their own agenda.

CIA: al Qaeda losing

Fri, 30 May 2008 21:28:53 GMT

clipped by: willhelm
clipper's remarks: ******** " essentially defeated" ****************
The USA is winning the hearts and minds of the Middle East. al Qaeda losing recruits.

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

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 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.

Senate's Wiretap Vote

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:37:14 GMT

clipped by: willhelm
clipper's remarks: "The defeat of these antiwar amendments means the legislation now moves to the House in a strong position. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is in the Dodd-Obama camp, but 21 Blue Dog Democrats have sent her a letter saying they are happy with the Senate bill. She may try to pass the restrictions that failed in the Senate, and Republicans should tell her to make their day. This is a fight Senator McCain should want to have right up through Election Day, with Democrats having to explain why they want to hamstring the best weapon -- real-time surveillance -- we have against al Qaeda."

Clip Source: online.wsj.com

"We lost every single battle we had on this bill," conceded Chris Dodd, which ought to tell the Connecticut Senator something about the logic of what he was proposing. His own amendment -- to deny immunity from lawsuits to telecom companies that cooperated with the government after 9/11 -- didn't even get a third of the Senate. It lost 67-31, though notably among the 31 was possible Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama. (Hillary Clinton was absent, while John McCain voted in favor.)

It says something about his national security world view, or his callowness, that Mr. Obama would vote to punish private companies that even the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee said had "acted in good faith." Had Senator Obama prevailed, a President Obama might well have been told "no way" when he asked private Americans to help his Administration fight terrorists.

Mr. Obama also voted against the overall bill, putting him in MoveOn.org territory.

Tags: election, issues, president

"Extraordinary Crisis"

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:42:01 GMT

clipped by: willhelm

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Al-Qaeda in Iraq faces an “extraordinary crisis”. Last year's mass defection of ordinary Sunnis from al-Qaeda to the US military “created panic, fear and the unwillingness to fight”. The terrorist group's security structure suffered “total collapse”.

Abu-Tariq, al-Qaeda leader

“There were almost 600 fighters in our sector before the tribes changed course 360 degrees . . . Many of our fighters quit and some of them joined the deserters . . . As a result of that the number of fighters dropped down to 20 or less.”

“The Islamic State of Iraq [al-Qaeda] is faced with an extraordinary crisis, especially in al-Anbar province

“The morale of the fighters went down and they wanted to be transferred to administrative positions rather than be fighters. There was a total collapse

“We were mistreated, cheated and betrayed by some of our brothers who used to be part of the Jihadi movement, therefore we must not have mercy on those traitors until they come back to the right side

Pelosi Doublespeak

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:58:51 GMT

clipped by: willhelm
clipper's remarks: What is the evidence that the surge hasn't worked?

Has anyone heard about the al Qaeda letter describing their condition in Iraq as a crisis?

The citizens of Iraq are ratting out the terrorists. They were afraid we would pull out and we have shown we will not. They trust us and they are helping make the difference. Also, recent reports throughout the Middle East are that the people of the Middle East are beginning to reject the militant ideology of al Qaeda. They are no longer indifferent and they are backing the US.

Clip Source: www.politico.com

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said twice Sunday that Iraq “is a failure,” adding that President Bush’s troop surge has “not produced the desired effect.”

The speaker hastened to add: “The troops have succeeded, God bless them.”

al Qaeda Losing Support in Muslim World

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:17:27 GMT

clipped by: willhelm

Clip Source: strata-sphere.com

“There seems to be a greater indication on the part of people within Islam to question the vision of al-Qaeda and the future that they’re holding out,” CIA Director Gen. Michael V. Hayden told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence during a hearing on worldwide threats. He said al-Qaeda’s leaders are “being forced to enter into a frankly open dialogue . . . with the body of believers.”

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell told the panel that “the brutal attacks unleashed by al-Qaeda in Iraq and the other al-Qaeda affiliates against Muslim civilians have tarnished al-Qaeda’s self-styled image as the extremist vanguard.” He told the panel that “al-Qaeda has had difficulty in raising funds and sustaining themselves” over the past year since the Saudi government began arresting alleged al-Qaeda terrorists following attacks in that country.

Tags: terrorism, war on terror, al qaeda, winning

American Atrocities in Iraq

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:31:52 GMT

clipped by: willhelm

Clip Source: www.thereligionofpeace.com

She survived an al-Qaeda assassination attempt. Her family did not.
Now this little Iraqi girl is being cared for by the Americans. (Gebhardt)

Tags: military, comparison, iraq, terrorism

Large increase in the amount of lost or stolen nuclear material

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 03:26:27 GMT

clipped by: willhelm

Clip Source: www.nationalpost.com

A record number of low-level radioactive materials, the kind terrorists could fashion into dirty bombs, have gone missing in Canada this year

News of the jump in thefts and lost material coincides with an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting in Europe at which nuclear counter-terrorism specialists were told this week of an almost fourfold increase in nuclear smuggling since 2006, a further indication al-Qaeda-inspired radicals may be trying to obtain radioactive material for a bomb.

officials are also worried about nuclear material in millions of radioactive sources, typically in measuring and analytical equipment used in medicine, industry, agriculture and research, that could be extracted and spewed into the air using conventional high explosives. The primary intent would be to panic a population rather than inflict mass causalities.

As of Wednesday, 26 radioactive sources have been reported lost and stolen so far this year in Canada, compared to 15 last year

Tags: terrorism

A voice in the wilderness of the Democratic Party

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:31:11 GMT

clipped by: willhelm
clipper's remarks: "Senator Lieberman also indicated, “…there is something profoundly wrong—something that should trouble all of us—when we have elected Democratic officials who seem more worried about how the Bush administration might respond to Iran’s murder of our troops, than about the fact that Iran is murdering our troops."

The Democratic Party has been hijacked by materialists and radical far-left (Moveon.org) groups. Lieberman has been left standing virtually alone.

Clip Source: strata-sphere.com

“Iraq has become the singular litmus test for Democratic candidates. No Democratic presidential primary candidate today speaks of America’s moral or strategic responsibility to stand with the Iraqi people against the totalitarian forces of radical Islam, or of the consequences of handing a victory in Iraq to al Qaeda and Iran. And if they did, their campaign would be as unsuccessful as mine was in 2006. Even as evidence has mounted that General Petraeus’ new counterinsurgency strategy is succeeding, Democrats have remained emotionally invested in a narrative of defeat and retreat in Iraq, reluctant to acknowledge the progress we are now achieving, or even that that progress has enabled us to begin drawing down our troops there.”

Tags: democrats, politics