The Osama Disconnect

IBD ^ | September 14, 2007

[Kaslin]

War On Terror: A respected security think tank warns that al-Qaida's high command has retained the ability to plan and carry out another 9/11. The White House says the terror group is "impotent." Which is it?

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While the U.S. and its allies are kicking al-Qaida's offspring in Iraq, they've "failed to deal a death blow to al-Qaida" central, concludes the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies in a new report. "The organization's ideology appears to have taken root to such a degree that it will require decades to eradicate."

The findings echo those contained in the latest National Intelligence Estimate, cobbled together by 16 U.S. intelligence agencies.

"Al-Qaida is and will remain the most serious terrorist threat to the homeland, as its leadership continues to plan high-impact plots," they said in the NIE's key judgments. "We assess the group has regenerated key elements of its homeland attack capability, including a safe haven in the Pakistan tribal areas, operational lieutenants and its top leadership."

That sobering judgment hit the president's desk before Osama bin Laden's latest video hit the airwaves, putting rumors of his death to rest. The tape, the first in three years, shows the terror kingpin in relative good health and comfortable surroundings.

The White House downplayed his comeback. "This is a man on the run, from a cave, who's virtually impotent other than these tapes," said White House terror czar Fran Townsend. She may be right. But these tapes are powerful recruiting tools, and any one of them could translate into a bombing somewhere in the West.

[rusureitflies?]

“The tape, the first in three years, shows the terror kingpin in relative good health and comfortable surroundings.”
Yes, but he’s dead.

[Shazolene]

He didn’t say Al Quaeda is impotent - but that OSAMA is impotent. There’s a difference.