Debunking the myth of al Qaeda

NEWSWEEK ^ | Micheal Hirsh

[ikez78]

June 28, 2006 - The capture of Ibn Al-Shaykhal-Libi was said to be one of the first big breakthroughs in the war against Al Qaeda. It was also the start of the post-9/11 mythologizing of the terror group. According to the official history of the Bush administration, al-Libi (a nom de guerre meaning "the Libyan")

[ikez78]

NEWSWEEK reminds us all that al Qaeda wasn't a big deal until George Bush made it them a big deal and they had no links to al Qaeda. Of course he offers no substance, explanation or legitamite officials to support this brilliant "investigation"

[Perdogg]

Yet, OBL poses a more threat than Zarqawi did.

[Lancey Howard]

[MNJohnnie]

I am sorry but "Flush the Koran" Newsweak has the same level of Journalistic Credibility as the National Enquirer. Until there is some corroborating on the record reporting by real news organizations like Fox News, this is suspected to be a lie. Perhaps this twit can explain Kobar Towers, the two embassy bombings in Africa and the USS Cole attack during the 1990s?

[pcottraux]

Before 9/11, Osama bin Laden’s group was small and fractious.

Right. Because the USS Cole wasn't attacked. Neither was the US embassy. And thousands of Middle Easterners weren't massacred by bin Laden and his group, either.

[Rocko]

Before 9/11, Osama bin Laden’s group was small and fractious. How Washington helped to build into a global threat.

Kind of like trying to argue that by fighting it, the FBI was helping the KKK....

[keithtoo]

Whom Karl Rove would destroy, he would first make mad.

Touche' [pardon my French]

[Lancey Howard]

[P-40]

But there was substantial evidence showing that, up to 9/11, Al Qaeda could barely hold its act together, that it was a failing group, hounded from every country it tried to roost in (except for the equally lunatic Taliban-run Afghanistan).

He should share that evidence with the 9/11 Commission. They have a vastly different view of Al Qaeda and other similar groups.

[Lancey Howard]

[IncPen]

Screw Newsweek.

Some of us want to see our kids grow up.

[bybybill]

At the bottom of this article appears the following plea, "Subscribe to Newsweek".
After reading this trash, got ask why would I want to support this junk?

[Darkwolf377]

It was also the start of the post-9/11 mythologizing of the terror group.

If anyone needs any evidence we are winning the WOT and the left knows it, this sentiment is all you need.

Of COURSE we're beating Al Qaeda! They were never even a threat in the first place!

Funny, I don't recall reading this sentiment from 9-11 until we nailed Zarqawi. Just a coincidence. I sure hope the Dems push this "AQ is no threat" position, they'll sweep congress!

P.S.--So I guess now the "Bush's Iraq war is a distraction from the REAL threat--Al Qaeda!" idea is non-operational?

[Darkwolf377]

BTW, the author is another of those who mention that they "are neither Republican or Democrat" in some articles, though of course they just coincidentally come down against Bush all the time, except for their once a year 'The Dems are no better' BS.

[Smartaleck]

Let's see, Bush was duped by a Muslim, but you can believe the one I got this crap from????

[Darksheare]

Hmm.. perhaps they should look into who backed the first attack on the WTC, and who had their hands in a place called 'Mogadishu'.

[Paleo Conservative]

I am sorry but "Flush the Koran" Newsweak has the same level of Journalistic Credibility as the National Enquirer.

How dare you denigrate the National Enquirer. They broke the true Dick Morris foot fetish mistress story before any other "news organization".

[satchmodog9]

Important enough for Clinton and his minions to mention many times.

[Waco]

Myth Mike is the true myth.

[ikez78]

The worst part is about Zarqawi. Saying he was a nobody before the invasion and he was only in Northern Iraq are both lies.
He was responsible for cells in Europe and throughout the Middle East and spreading funds and weapons all around, not too mention building relationships with members of Saddam's regime.

Only in N. Iraq? No, the Senate Intel reported he was in Baghdad in 2002, as has numerous other press accounts. I can't possibly fully convey my disgust with this type of trash coming out.

Whenever their are errors on this topic they are ALWAYS one-sided. It's a clear example of what these people in the press WANT to be true and thus overlooking the factchecking part.

[MNJohnnie]

Hmmm My bad. Have to find a different comparision? Same news crediblity as the Terhan Times maybe?

[digger48]

Makes Richard Clarke a liar by their own terms then.

[Right Wing Assault]

Big enough deal to go on the cover, eh?

[jwalsh07]

Excellent post. Picture is worth a thousand words and a quadrillion idiot "journalists".

[texasmountainman]

If Bin Laden was no big deal, then why did President Clinton order the launch of 79 cruise missles against a terrorist camp to try to kill him?

[piytar]

Once again, Newsweek proves that they are as much the enemy of America as the NY Slimes and the rest of the MSM. Screw 'em all.

[ikez78]

letters@newsweek.com
Please let them know what you think of this article.

[ikez78]

or email them here
webeditors@newsweek.com

[nopardons]

And, of course, the FIRST bombing of the WTC, in '93, was no biggie either....after all, only 6 people were murdered and about a 1,000 were seriously injured. But al Qaeda was no threat at all. /sarcasm

[pcottraux]

Actually, Al-Qaida wasn't TOO big of a threat...before Bill Clinton took office.

[nopardons]

On the smallish potatoes side, but NOT benign either.

[operation clinton cleanup]

What does Newsweak expect these guys to say? How many murders on death row proclaim their innocence?

[Hugin]

But there was substantial evidence showing that, up to 9/11, Al Qaeda could barely hold its act together, that it was a failing group, hounded from every country it tried to roost in (except for the equally lunatic Taliban-run Afghanistan).

Yep. Just a bunch of bumbling fools who happened to get lucky on 9/11. And in the Cole attack. And the African embassy attacks. Then stopped getting lucky after Bush went after them. Funny how that worked out.

[AZLiberty]

The intelligence community generally agrees that the number of true A-list Al Qaeda operatives out there around the time of 9/11 was no more than about 1,000, perhaps as few as 500, most in and around Afghanistan.

Let's see ... It took 19 of them to bring down four airlines and the World Trade Center. Perhaps, Newsweak, we should try to get a handle on the other 981 of them before something similar -- or much worse -- happens.

[Cindy]

I'm not newsweek, so I'll just put these links here.
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