CIA Director for Intelligence John Kringen
Posted on 07/12/2007 6:00:27 AM PDT by TexKat
Washington : The Al Qaeda network continues to build its base in the "ungoverned spaces" of Pakistan and is as strong as it was in 2001, says a classified document cited by CNN and public testimony.
"We actually see the Al Qaeda centres being resurgent in their role in planning operations," John Kringen, head of the CIA intelligence directorate, told the House (of Representatives) Armed Services Committee Wednesday.
"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."
The five-page document cited by CNN reflected findings that will be part of the next National Intelligence Estimate to be released later this summer, CNN said, quoting anonymous sources.
Responding to Kringen's comments and reports on the document, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid said in a statement that he was not surprised "that Al Qaeda has been able to reorganize and rebuild ... given President Bush's stubborn dedication to keeping our overextended military mired in an Iraqi civil war".
Reid, who is leading Democratic efforts in the Senate to bring an early end to the war in Iraq, said in a statement it was a "travesty" that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden remained at large six years after the US terror attacks.
He blamed the situation on the White House's "flawed strategy" of fighting an unwinnable war in Iraq while letting the real enemy in Afghanistan and Pakistan go free.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff caused a stir earlier this week with remarks in a newspaper interview that he had a "gut feeling" Al Qaeda was poised to carry out an attack on US soil this summer.
Chertoff back-pedalled Wednesday, saying he had "no single piece of intelligence" that was worrisome. He cited the recent attempted attacks in London and Glasgow as reasons to worry about more attacks.
The White House said Wednesday there was "no credible intelligence" suggesting a possible terrorist attack against the US this summer.
To add to unease about a terrorist attack, a US government agency - the Government Accountability Office - released a report Wednesday that showed how easy it was to obtain official licenses to buy and handle radioactive materials needed to build a so-called dirty bomb, media reports said Thursday.
4GW ... It is time to get crackin and either elimenate this hub or suck it for intel to locate & destroy their cells.
Anybody know if any agency is offering a bounty on terrorists?
I am having a less than normal income year and I want to make some quick cash and a little adventure.
“the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan” still have a president. Musharaf had better start doing more.
Do you have any experience shooting prairie dogs? If I wanted to assemble a team I would need a long range shooter with a light caliber rifle.
I’m more of a long range shooter with a high calibre rifle.....but I can be convinced othewise if it means going after varmints.
Lol!
Bomb blasts in Pakistan in wake of mosque assault
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - At least seven people, including three policemen, were killed in two separate blasts in northwest Pakistan on Thursday, one of them a suicide bomb attack on a senior government official.
On Thursday, a suicide bomb attack on the office of the top government official in the North Waziristan tribal region killed two people, a witness wounded in the blast said.
And if I was assembling a team I would desire someone with R/C aircraft experience for recon. I have a little bit of that and I know we can make our own UAV from off the shelf hardware, even if it uses a cellphone camera mounted in the fuselage it would be an asset.
An Afghan warlord fighting US and NATO forces condemned the Pakistani army raid on the Red Mosque and called on Muslims there to revolt against the US-backed government.(AFP/File/Massoud Hossaini)
Afghan warlord urges Islamist revolt in Pakistan
"We strongly condemn the brutal killing of innocent students by the Pakistani army in the Red Mosque," said the spokesman for Hekmatyar, the one-time leader of the anti-Soviet Hezb-e-Islami and a former prime minister.
"Musharraf martyred the students to please Bush."
Zarghon said Muslims were now left with no choice but to fight the "infidel powers" and their puppet governments, like Musharraf's.
"Today all Muslims around the world are oppressed by infidels, at the top the US. The Islamic movements started by Muslims around the world will result in real Islamic governments, in Palestine, in Pakistan, in Afghanistan.
"This is an imposed crusade war by Bush and his allies, but gone are the days they have dreamt of. Muslims now will unitedly stand for their rights."
I think we called it the “Redneck Special Operations Team”...
Very hush hush operation...
When it was learned that Al Qaida was what really killed Dale Earnhardt...
It was on...
Bump for that!
Oh my, the big one!
Actually the north west part of Pakistan has always been off limits to the Pakistan govt. The people there have allegiance only to tribal war lords and the death cult of Islam. They do not believe in the concept of a nation state or a President. They do not follow any of the laws of Pakistan and essentially run their own affairs. They are fierce suicidal fighters so Pakistan figured out a long time ago that the best way to deal with them is to let them be autonomous. They are appeased by the Pakistan govt in return for peace and it is perhaps the most difficult and inhospitable terrain in the world. It would be suicidal for American troops to go in there, the best option would be to flatten it with daisy cutters.
Thanx for the links.
Musharaf could make this his defining moment. It could be just what the Dr (Zawahiri) didn’t order.
I hope so.
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