Posted on 07/11/2007 1:36:35 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda has become entrenched in a remote corner of Pakistan, and the United States fears a military strike could spawn new militant activity in the country, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.
Top intelligence analysts, appearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, said the militant network led by Osama bin Laden has become increasingly active in ungoverned sections of Pakistan near the Afghanistan border, where bin Laden himself is believed to be protected by local tribal leaders.
"They seem to be fairly well settled into the safe haven in the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan. We see more training. We see more money. We see more communications," said John Kringen, the CIA's director of intelligence.
Kringen and two other intelligence officials testified about global security threats facing the United States amid concerns about a potential new al Qaeda threat on U.S. soil following attempted attacks in Britain.
Al Qaeda remains the leading terrorist threat against the United States nearly six years after its members were driven from bases in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan by U.S.-led forces following the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
American officials warned in January that al Qaeda leaders had regrouped at camps in Pakistan, leading some political leaders to urge U.S. military action against the militant network's camps if Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf failed to act on his own.
"Sooner or later you have to quit permitting them to have a safe haven there. At the end of the day, when we have had success, it's when you've been able to get them worried about who was informing on them, get them worried about who was coming after them," Kringen said.
U.S. officials have avoided action that could harm Musharraf, whom officials described as a key U.S. ally who has aided in the capture of many al Qaeda members.
A secret 2005 mission to capture senior al Qaeda members in Pakistan's tribal areas was aborted at the last moment when Bush administration officials decided it was too risky and could jeopardize relations with Pakistan, according to a recent New York Times report.
But Thomas Fingar, deputy director of national intelligence for analysis, warned that U.S. intervention could stir into action Islamist militants currently involved in struggles against India over Kashmir.
"It is not too great an exaggeration to say there is some risk of turning a problem in northwest Pakistan into the problem of all of Pakistan," he said.
Musharraf government's weathered eight days of battles against Islamist militants from the Red Mosque in Islamabad where one cleric and 50 militants died in fighting that finally ended on Wednesday.
We should be kicking their a** every chance we get and let them constantly worry about WHAT WE MIGHT DO TO THEM!!!
A secret 2005 mission to capture senior al Qaeda members in Pakistan's tribal areas was aborted at the last moment when Bush administration officials decided it was too risky and could jeopardize relations with Pakistan, according to a recent New York Times report.
It is important to understand that it is NOT Pakistan that is our "ally", but Musharraf.
When Musharrafs goes - as he must, sooner or later - Pakistan is more likely to "ally" with al Qaeda.
And that will give al Qaada the weapons it hungers for.
- John
During WWII, we took Germany and Japan by breaking their will to fight. We did this, not by dropping the bomb, but by fire bombing their major cities. It worked then and can work now. Have we really lost our will to do what is necessary? Does it take another major event in this country to bring us together again?
In which case Pakistan should immediately become “The smoking, radioactive crater formerly known as Pakistan”
the prevailing attitude in America these days is that we haven’t had a major event? Who remembers 9/11?
Nobody. It’s like it never happened. That is why the nation is so weak-kneed on fighting this war.
So I guess the answer is, yes, it will take another major event, and maybe even another and another. Depressing.
the prevailing attitude in America these days is that we haven’t had a major event? Who remembers 9/11?
Nobody. It’s like it never happened. That is why the nation is so weak-kneed on fighting this war.
So I guess the answer is, yes, it will take another major event, and maybe even another and another. Depressing.
This is another great strategy just like with Iran /s
Instead of just dealing with the problem out of fear of “upsetting” some people.. we leave them alone in thier safe haven.. We give them more time to scheme their schemes , plan their plans, and implement them.
We give them time to install their terror networks in all our cities... we give them time to inflitate Pakistan military and society.
WE GUARANTEE THAT THEY THUS BECOME EXPONENTIALLY MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH IN THE FUTURE.
I am so sick of our incompetent government. Why are these people so freakin stupid.
Bush's actions plainly do not match his rhetoric.
Time about 35 hours from now
That was the America of old. Not today. We are so busy worrying about hurting people’s feelings we dont’ think about the people who will be hurt by these groups. Wake up America! These people want to KILL us and our children and our grnadchildren. They want to take over our country and take away everything we have worked hard for and oh yes...did I mention they want to KILL US???! THEY WANT TO KILL US DAMMIT! What about that do our politicians, media and lefties NOT understand about that????
"Oh, I am heartily tired of hearing about what Lee is going to do. Some of you always seem to think he is suddenly going to turn a double somersault, and land in our rear and on both of our flanks at the same time. Go back to your command, and try to think what are we going to do ourselves, instead of what Lee is going to do." -- Gen. Ulysses Grant
And I anticipate the attacks here will not be far behind, if their patterns hold true.
They are being planned for after Friday prayers - in several cities - expect to see in the media Pakistan to go on full alert sometime Friday morning.
Al Qaeda is entrenched everywhere and until we get members of the “religion of peace” to take some responsibility and some action besides sane people, the head of this snake will never be chopped off.
Their excuse is they are “intimidated” or they are “afraid of retribution”... Really. How hard is it to make a anonymous phone call or use those burkas they love to wear to denounce these psychopaths?
The problem is sane people are not putting enough pressure on the religion of peace, the sane keep making the mistake that members of the religion of peace are innocent bystanders when they are not.
If this was Christians and I overheard some Christian at my local church talking about blowing up some airport, that POS would be stomped by my 13” boot and dragged into the street before his next word. When`s the last time we heard any Muslim doing that? Eric Rudolph lived like an animal by himself in the wilderness going through garbage for years, but isn`t it funny that none of these Islamic psychopaths ever do? They always have tons of money, shelter, oh but it`s all “Osama supporting them” Yeah, my ass it is.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.