Report: Iraq War Inspiring Terrorists

Declassified Intel Report Calls Iraq War A 'Cause Celebre' For Islamic Extremists

(CBS/AP)  A declassified government intelligence report says the war in Iraq has become a "cause celebre" for Islamic extremists, breeding deep resentment of the United States that is likely to get worse before it gets better.

In the bleak report, released Tuesday on President Bush's orders, the nation's most veteran analysts conclude that despite serious damage to the leadership of al Qaeda, the threat from Islamic extremists has spread both in numbers and in geographic reach.

"If this trend continues, threats to U.S. interests at home and abroad will become more diverse, leading to increasing attacks worldwide,' the document says. "The confluence of shared purpose and dispersed actors will make it harder to find and undermine jihadist groups."

The former director of the CIA’s National Counterterrorism Center, John Brennan, told CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric that intelligence community analysts are concerned that the conflict in Iraq is "fueling the fires of Islamic extremism inside Iraq and outside.

"There is just a ready propaganda tool that the Islamic extremists use by showing the footage of the continuation of the struggle inside Iraq," he said.

---

Read the declassified parts of the National Intelligence Estimate report here (.pdf)

---

Mr. Bush ordered a declassified version of the classified report released after several days of criticism sparked by portions that were leaked. Asked about the leaked portions Tuesday, Mr. Bush said critics who believe the Iraq war has worsened terrorism are naive and mistaken.

Mr. Bush, who is known for aggressively guarding government secrets, took the extraordinary step of declassifying part of the report to prove his point that a selective leak distorted the study, reports CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

Mr. Bush also said that the timing shows that the leak was motivated by pure politics, Axelrod adds.

"Here we are coming down the stretch in an election campaign and it's on the front page of your newspapers. Isn't that interesting?" Mr. Bush said at a news conference.

The intelligence assessment, completed in April, has stirred a heated election-season argument over the course of U.S. national security in the years following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Mr. Bush and his top advisers had said the broad assessment on global terrorism supported their arguments that the world is safer. But more than three pages of stark judgments warning about the spread of terrorism contrasted with the administration's glass-half-full declarations.

The report said:

The increased role of Iraqis in opposing al Qaeda in Iraq might lead the terror group's veteran foreign fighters to focus their efforts outside the country.

While Iran and Syria are the most active state sponsors of terror, many other countries will be unable to prevent their resources from being exploited by terrorists.

The underlying factors that are fueling the spread of the extremist Muslim movement outweigh its vulnerabilities. These factors are entrenched grievances and a slow pace of reform in home countries, rising anti-U.S. sentiment and the Iraq war.

Groups "of all stripes" will increasingly use the Internet to communicate, train, recruit and obtain support.

The assessment also lays out weaknesses of the movement that analysts say must be exploited if its spread is to be slowed. For instance, they note that extremists want to see the establishment of strict Islamic governments in the Arab world — a development they say would be unpopular with most Muslims.

"Exposing the religious and political straitjacket that is implied by the jihadists' propaganda would help to divide them from the audiences they seek to persuade," the report says.

It also argues that the loss of key leaders — Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahri and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — in "rapid succession" would probably cause the group to fracture.

Al-Zarqawi was killed in June, but the top two al Qaeda leaders have remained elusive for years.

The declassified summary of the report was only four pages long, Axelrod reports, and Democrats are clamoring to see its entire 30 pages.

©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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by cathaleen September 26, 2006 9:10 AM PDT

The government must think the American people are stupid. Since we have been attacked, we realize that it may happen again. We also know that the
govt can't protect us on all fronts. We still are, in spite of added security, a very open country. People enter this country illegally every day. We can't stop them all so obviously there will be some bad guys that get in.

We all have to stay vigilant.

Reply to this comment

by negonerv September 26, 2006 9:35 AM PDT

Remember Martin Short's lawyer character on SNL? He could be caught in a lie on camera and he would still say with a glassy eyed smile "That's not true","I never said that". Our government's Sixteen spy agencies put out a report that says our invasion of Iraq has hurt the efforts against world terrorism. Then the administration's response is simply "Oh no, thats not true". Because they are the administration they get quoted everywhere, while the topic of Clinton's "tirade" is suddenly at the top. Then, before you know it, the topic of the sixteen agency report is swept neatly under the rug in the public psyche.

Reply to this comment

by clestes-2009 September 26, 2006 9:52 AM PDT

So the 16 intelligence agencies don't know what they are talking about and this Bush flunky does?

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 26, 2006 10:50 AM PDT

Similar to Viet Nam. Constant reports of the good news and wonderful things going on and how we are helping the Vietnamese people tremendously. It was always "Progress Progress Progress" and complaining about the liberal media reporting until one day we pulled out and everyone agrreed it was a disaster. (Anyone remember that Halliburton Oil was charged with war profiteering during the Viet Nam War? What a coincidence. I know, this'll draw conspiracy theory comments from the hard core Bushies, but it is a huge coincidence....)

Reply to this comment

by getcentered September 26, 2006 10:52 AM PDT

They will lie, cheat and steal in the name of political gains (votes).

They will lie, cheat and steal in the name of energy gains (oil).

They will lie, cheat and steal in the name of economic gains (boosting military spending).

They spit on the Ten Commandments, and will be punished by GOD.

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 26, 2006 10:54 AM PDT

remember the guy in Iraq that represented Hussein that kept reporting everything was going fine for the Iraqi army (oops, I meant insurgents) until they literally pulled Saddam's statue down behind him? we have our own guys like that.

Reply to this comment

by ronniehm September 26, 2006 12:30 PM PDT

Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat.
Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat.
Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat.

Reply to this comment

by shutupmurtha September 26, 2006 12:30 PM PDT

It is nice to hear the appreciation from the countries we are helping, why doesnt CBS cover the whole story from this press conference? ?? ? Well ABC desnt even have this story yet.

Wow that is suprising that CBS is not telling the whole story from this press conference. I guess there is a reason FOX is #1. Wether or not you think they are conservative or Liberal at least they tell the whole story. If you want the whole story go here.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,215786,00.html

Reply to this comment

by juliehg-2009 September 26, 2006 12:31 PM PDT

Yeah, right, whatever. Same old, same old; he really needs to get over himself!

Reply to this comment

by shutupmurtha September 26, 2006 12:32 PM PDT

RonnieHM, interesting, and very convincing argument.

"Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat.
Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat.
Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat."

hmmm, did you go to school 4 years at Berkly to reason like that.

And apparently you and the majority of the NON-MUSLIM world disagree.

Reply to this comment

by ronniehm September 26, 2006 12:35 PM PDT

That is the liberal argument from day to day, ShutupMurtha. I wish they'd pick one. Apparently the sarcasm was lost on you.

Reply to this comment

by shutupmurtha September 26, 2006 12:35 PM PDT

juliehg, another convincing argument. My brain is very stimulated by this liberal conversation. It is easy to make arguments with out factual support.

Let me try: Bush lied People Died

Reply to this comment

by shutupmurtha September 26, 2006 12:39 PM PDT

RonnieHM, oh ronnie its you whats up?

Did you think I would let you libs just sit around and work yourselves up into a conspiratorial frenzy while Foaming at the mouth with hatred for our president. What do you guys have to say about the words of Praise from the president of Afghanistan?
I am actually curious. You wont find it here, you will have to go to Fox for that (yeah I know the major outlet of the Vast Oil Munger, Muslim Hating, Wal-Mart Loving Right Wing Wack Job Conspiracy).

Reply to this comment

by slamkitty September 26, 2006 12:40 PM PDT

I will give you a hint ShutupMurtha...Fox News isn't Liberal. You Radical Right-wingers are going to be the downfall of this country. You and your ilk are the epitome of the arrogant ignorance that Aristotle wrote of. Why aren't you enlisted and serving your country?

Reply to this comment

by shutupmurtha September 26, 2006 12:42 PM PDT

You guys are fine until a "Right Wingnut" comes in and ruins your Hatefest. Just curious, do you guys let this stuff ruin your day? Just relax a little, you know its not all bad you are living in the greatest country on earth, why not leave the hate and stress to the politicians (they get paid for it)? Anyway see you guys later.

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 26, 2006 12:43 PM PDT

the president of Afghanistan is praising Bush? did Bush put him in power?

Reply to this comment

by shutupmurtha September 26, 2006 12:44 PM PDT

Yeah dude, did you Jesus/God is a Radiacal Right Winger? Anyway get back to your hate fest im going out to lunch to help fule our thriving economy in this great NATION.

Reply to this comment

by jshudson2 September 26, 2006 12:56 PM PDT

Reuters: "U.S. drops to 6th in world competitiveness ranking"

Stop ShutupMurtha. You're destroying America. You have to stop now. Get help.

Reply to this comment

by omicronthree September 26, 2006 1:04 PM PDT

Oh boy, lot's of fun in here. Okay, for starters, yes Bush put Karzai in power. Go online and look up "puppet government". Secondly, Georgey boy said he would declassify "some" of the document. I bet those spinmeisters are burning through some black magic markers even as we speak. Now, as for you shutupmurtha, you're right this is a GREAT nation we have here. However, it is the average American that makes this nation great. The man/woman that goes to work and tries somehow to pay the bills. It is they and their children that are dying in these foreign lands while the disgusting, filthy, lying politicians hide their children from wars, and make speeches and cry fake crocodile tears in front of cameras over the graves of the soldiers. Make no mistake, I'm not just talking republican but, democrat as well. If we ever needed a revolution it's now! And I don't mean at the rigged, hanging chad, polls. I mean an armed revolt! Unfortunately, this will probably never come about, but maybe one day.....

Reply to this comment

by ronniehm September 26, 2006 1:05 PM PDT

Yeah, see Murtha? Our economy isn't doing well. There's cheap labor in China.

Reply to this comment

by one_american September 26, 2006 1:06 PM PDT

HOORAY FOR PRESIDENT BUSH!

CALLING THE BLUFF OF THE UNSCRUPULOUS LIBERAL MEDIA AND THIER POLITICALLY MOTIVATED LEAKS OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.

DEATH TO THE LIBERAL BIASED MAINSTREAM MEDIA!

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 26, 2006 1:09 PM PDT

speaking of inbred, ignorant, gun-toting right wing radicals that base the republican party....

Reply to this comment

by one_american September 26, 2006 1:09 PM PDT

HOORAY FOR PRESIDENT BUSH!

CALLING THE BLUFF OF THE UNSCRUPULOUS LIBERAL MEDIA AND THIER POLITICALLY MOTIVATED LEAKS OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.

DEATH TO THE LIBERAL BIASED MAINSTREAM MEDIA!

Reply to this comment

by edjohn66 September 26, 2006 1:12 PM PDT

Bush is only releasing parts of the Report to counter the NYTimes story and the Bill Clinton interview. In other words, Bush is clearly making a determination about what is and is not classified based solely on what political gain he can reap from it.

This from the president who was hysterical over "leaks" of information less than a year ago. Lets face it: this administration covers its blunders with the label of "classified" and yet is willing to declassify intelligence for cheap political gain.

Anyone else feel like they are living in the Soviet Union?

Reply to this comment

by one_american September 26, 2006 1:14 PM PDT

edjohn66 says: "Anyone else feel like they are living in the Soviet Union?"

Only when Bill Clinton was President.

Liberals are only a hair away from Communists.

Reply to this comment

by ronniehm September 26, 2006 1:19 PM PDT

"Anyone else feel like they are living in the Soviet Union?"
Quit being dramatic. I've been to the Soviet Union. It's nothing like the Soviet Union here.

Reply to this comment

by one_american September 26, 2006 1:23 PM PDT

This report may be damning evidence against the Clinton Administration. I saw a CIA Analyst on CBS yesterday morning basically saying that Bill Clinton was lying about his efforts to kill Osama Bin Laden.

Of course, its not what CBS wanted to hear, so Harry Smith cut him off and made a jab at the President. Typical CBS.

Reply to this comment

by cathaleen September 26, 2006 1:23 PM PDT

Enough postering - just one bit of info to think about 2,790 of our children are dead and 20,000 are wounded. Now where can anyone find any good in that?

Reply to this comment

by ronniehm September 26, 2006 1:24 PM PDT

Children aren't allowed to join the military.

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 26, 2006 1:25 PM PDT

RonnieH, you and OneAmerican make a great team:
"Liberals are only a hair away from Communists."
that shows a lot of insight and rationality...

Reply to this comment

by one_american September 26, 2006 1:26 PM PDT

cathaleen:

Only people with common sense.

But thanks for trying.

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 26, 2006 1:26 PM PDT

They are still kids to their parents, Ronnie.

Reply to this comment

by shutupmurtha September 26, 2006 1:27 PM PDT

RonnieHM, Yeah I would feel like I was living in the Soviet Union, If i was at home writing comments all day collecting government handouts. And if we were living in a communist country you would not be allowed to spew the hatred that you spew. Dont you have any appreciation for your country? Dont you realize this is the best country in the world?? Why do you take this country for granted? Dont you realize thousands of our men and women have died so you can unlease your hate for this country. The fact that you have the right to say what you say speaks of greatness of America. Dont you think you ought to show a little respect to those who are fighting for YOUR survival?? Dont you think you at least owe them a little bit of appreciation? Or is that supporting the "Evil Right Wing Conspiracy"

Reply to this comment

by one_american September 26, 2006 1:27 PM PDT

rsoxfan1123:

Liberals don't have logic to draw from, so you just wouldn't understand.

Reply to this comment

by ronniehm September 26, 2006 1:27 PM PDT

I never said liberals are a hair away from communists. I was responding to some idiot that insinuated the America is a hair away from the Soviet Union. I've seen both. It's not.

Reply to this comment

by shutupmurtha September 26, 2006 1:30 PM PDT

Look at Chavez, Akmedenhajad, Bin Ladena and Al Queada. Do you REALIZE THEY USE DEMOCRATIC TALKING POINTS TO FUEL THEIR PROPAGANDA???? THEY USE WHAT DEMOCRATS IN AMERICA SAY TO JUSTIFY THEIR HATRED FOR OUR COUNTRY AND PRESIDENT. DO YOU SEE ANY THING WRONG WITH THAT?

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 26, 2006 1:31 PM PDT

RonnieH, there are increasing similarities though. granted we are a long way off, but government surveillence of phones and bank records, changing the Geneva Convention laws concerning torture etc., can seem like steps in that direction to some people.

Reply to this comment

by one_american September 26, 2006 1:32 PM PDT

Isn't it ironic that the very lifestyle of the Liberals is exactly what the terrorist despise most about America, and yet the Liberals don't want to fight to preserve it, only they want to fight the Republicans who want to fight the terrorists.

Reply to this comment

by shutupmurtha September 26, 2006 1:35 PM PDT

Ok, I will say that our freedom of speech has been challenged by Islamic extremism and the democrats. Islamofacists are telling the Pope to apologize for something he had every right to say, they are now censoring cartoons in finland, Comedy central has censored episodes of south park (by taking out Muhamoud's image), The dems tried to have the path to 9/11 taken off the air, and now people some far-left liberals want Chris Walace to apologize to Clinotn for asking him tough questions. But we are not close to communism or the soviet union because none of that was mandated by the government.

Reply to this comment

by ronniehm September 26, 2006 1:38 PM PDT

Sorry, rsoxfan, we are not becoming more like the Soviet Union. You'll have to come up with something better than a few programs which only hurt terrorists.

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 26, 2006 1:40 PM PDT

Clinton was right in asking them how many republicans were asked that question. He was saying he was invited for a different prupose which was dismissed when he appeared and then he was asked quesitons implying he was responsible for 9/11. That is kind of a hit job.

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 26, 2006 1:40 PM PDT

citizens losing freedom is the theme, ronnie.

Reply to this comment

by ronniehm September 26, 2006 1:43 PM PDT

Which freedom did we lose? The freedom to finance terrorism or the freedom to chat with Usama? These are not freedoms.

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 26, 2006 1:44 PM PDT

Ronnie-we'd be safer if we dimissed the need for search warrants, put cameras in every car and house and monitered all phone conversations, but at what point do you stop goverment control? Our system of checks and baalnces was cerated to keep one corrupt man from being able to control our people. Line item veto, the president being able to declare a pre-emptive strike against a nation that is not bothering us without clearing it through congress first...hmm, there're some good ideas.

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 September 26, 2006 1:45 PM PDT

the freedom of knowing it is illegal for the governemnt to listen to our phone conversations and examine our bank records, ronnie. among others.

Reply to this comment

by garyg23 September 26, 2006 1:45 PM PDT

The twelve people who leaked information to the press on the NIE were top-level intelligence personnel who had access to that report. It's absurd to try to paint them simply as Democrats or as Bush said people who want to confuse Americans. These are people who see that we are making things far worse for ourselves and felt obliged to make it apparent that the baloney that the President has been spinning about Iraq being part of the larger war on terror is flat wrong. Iraq is exacerbating the terrorist threat to this country.

Reply to this comment

by cbs_oliver September 26, 2006 1:45 PM PDT

Your headline says "Bush To Declassify Iraq Report", but the story says "Mr. Bush announced that he was ordering -- PARTS -- of the report declassified". We can guess which PARTS - the PARTS that the GOP hacks crafted to fit their campaign needs, of course.

The leaks are propbably more accurate than anything we will ever see released publicly so long as the GOP is in power.

I mostly trust the regular non political intellengence folks - although with all the recent purges of the CIA and the FBI and other intelligence organizations there are not so many left who are politically aligned with the GOP anymore.

Just one more reason to end this disastrous reign of GOP rule

Reply to this comment

by ronniehm September 26, 2006 1:46 PM PDT

I didn't ask you which freedoms you suspect you'll lose.

Reply to this comment

by ronniehm September 26, 2006 1:53 PM PDT

Funny, CBS_Oliver, it was OK when someone only leaked PARTS of the report. Why the change of heart?

Reply to this comment

by September 26, 2006 1:56 PM PDT

I don't need the declassification of an intelligence report to verify what Americans already know. Iraq is a disaster...it has further flamed the hatred for America in Arab lands and has lost us respect and trust all over the world. This is obvious. A person can argue all day long that the night is day and day is night, but the facts remain!

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[cathaleen]

The government must think the American people are stupid. Since we have been attacked, we realize that it may happen again. We also know that the
govt can't protect us on all fronts. We still are, in spite of added security, a very open country. People enter this country illegally every day. We can't stop them all so obviously there will be some bad guys that get in.

We all have to stay vigilant.

[negonerv]

Remember Martin Short's lawyer character on SNL? He could be caught in a lie on camera and he would still say with a glassy eyed smile "That's not true","I never said that". Our government's Sixteen spy agencies put out a report that says our invasion of Iraq has hurt the efforts against world terrorism. Then the administration's response is simply "Oh no, thats not true". Because they are the administration they get quoted everywhere, while the topic of Clinton's "tirade" is suddenly at the top. Then, before you know it, the topic of the sixteen agency report is swept neatly under the rug in the public psyche.

[clestes-2009]

So the 16 intelligence agencies don't know what they are talking about and this Bush flunky does?

[rsoxfan1123]

Similar to Viet Nam. Constant reports of the good news and wonderful things going on and how we are helping the Vietnamese people tremendously. It was always "Progress Progress Progress" and complaining about the liberal media reporting until one day we pulled out and everyone agrreed it was a disaster. (Anyone remember that Halliburton Oil was charged with war profiteering during the Viet Nam War? What a coincidence. I know, this'll draw conspiracy theory comments from the hard core Bushies, but it is a huge coincidence....)

[getcentered]

They will lie, cheat and steal in the name of political gains (votes).

They will lie, cheat and steal in the name of energy gains (oil).

They will lie, cheat and steal in the name of economic gains (boosting military spending).

They spit on the Ten Commandments, and will be punished by GOD.

[rsoxfan1123]

remember the guy in Iraq that represented Hussein that kept reporting everything was going fine for the Iraqi army (oops, I meant insurgents) until they literally pulled Saddam's statue down behind him? we have our own guys like that.

[ronniehm]

Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat.
Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat.
Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat.

[shutupmurtha]

It is nice to hear the appreciation from the countries we are helping, why doesnt CBS cover the whole story from this press conference? ?? ? Well ABC desnt even have this story yet.

Wow that is suprising that CBS is not telling the whole story from this press conference. I guess there is a reason FOX is #1. Wether or not you think they are conservative or Liberal at least they tell the whole story. If you want the whole story go here.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,215786,00.html

[juliehg-2009]

Yeah, right, whatever. Same old, same old; he really needs to get over himself!

[shutupmurtha]

RonnieHM, interesting, and very convincing argument.

"Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat.
Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat.
Bush is hyping the threat.
Bush is denying the threat."

hmmm, did you go to school 4 years at Berkly to reason like that.

And apparently you and the majority of the NON-MUSLIM world disagree.

[ronniehm]

That is the liberal argument from day to day, ShutupMurtha. I wish they'd pick one. Apparently the sarcasm was lost on you.

[shutupmurtha]

juliehg, another convincing argument. My brain is very stimulated by this liberal conversation. It is easy to make arguments with out factual support.

Let me try: Bush lied People Died

[shutupmurtha]

RonnieHM, oh ronnie its you whats up?

Did you think I would let you libs just sit around and work yourselves up into a conspiratorial frenzy while Foaming at the mouth with hatred for our president. What do you guys have to say about the words of Praise from the president of Afghanistan?
I am actually curious. You wont find it here, you will have to go to Fox for that (yeah I know the major outlet of the Vast Oil Munger, Muslim Hating, Wal-Mart Loving Right Wing Wack Job Conspiracy).

[slamkitty]

I will give you a hint ShutupMurtha...Fox News isn't Liberal. You Radical Right-wingers are going to be the downfall of this country. You and your ilk are the epitome of the arrogant ignorance that Aristotle wrote of. Why aren't you enlisted and serving your country?

[shutupmurtha]

You guys are fine until a "Right Wingnut" comes in and ruins your Hatefest. Just curious, do you guys let this stuff ruin your day? Just relax a little, you know its not all bad you are living in the greatest country on earth, why not leave the hate and stress to the politicians (they get paid for it)? Anyway see you guys later.

[rsoxfan1123]

the president of Afghanistan is praising Bush? did Bush put him in power?

[shutupmurtha]

Yeah dude, did you Jesus/God is a Radiacal Right Winger? Anyway get back to your hate fest im going out to lunch to help fule our thriving economy in this great NATION.

[jshudson2]

Reuters: "U.S. drops to 6th in world competitiveness ranking"

Stop ShutupMurtha. You're destroying America. You have to stop now. Get help.

[omicronthree]

Oh boy, lot's of fun in here. Okay, for starters, yes Bush put Karzai in power. Go online and look up "puppet government". Secondly, Georgey boy said he would declassify "some" of the document. I bet those spinmeisters are burning through some black magic markers even as we speak. Now, as for you shutupmurtha, you're right this is a GREAT nation we have here. However, it is the average American that makes this nation great. The man/woman that goes to work and tries somehow to pay the bills. It is they and their children that are dying in these foreign lands while the disgusting, filthy, lying politicians hide their children from wars, and make speeches and cry fake crocodile tears in front of cameras over the graves of the soldiers. Make no mistake, I'm not just talking republican but, democrat as well. If we ever needed a revolution it's now! And I don't mean at the rigged, hanging chad, polls. I mean an armed revolt! Unfortunately, this will probably never come about, but maybe one day.....

[ronniehm]

Yeah, see Murtha? Our economy isn't doing well. There's cheap labor in China.

[one_american]

HOORAY FOR PRESIDENT BUSH!

CALLING THE BLUFF OF THE UNSCRUPULOUS LIBERAL MEDIA AND THIER POLITICALLY MOTIVATED LEAKS OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.

DEATH TO THE LIBERAL BIASED MAINSTREAM MEDIA!

[rsoxfan1123]

speaking of inbred, ignorant, gun-toting right wing radicals that base the republican party....

[one_american]

HOORAY FOR PRESIDENT BUSH!

CALLING THE BLUFF OF THE UNSCRUPULOUS LIBERAL MEDIA AND THIER POLITICALLY MOTIVATED LEAKS OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.

DEATH TO THE LIBERAL BIASED MAINSTREAM MEDIA!

[edjohn66]

Bush is only releasing parts of the Report to counter the NYTimes story and the Bill Clinton interview. In other words, Bush is clearly making a determination about what is and is not classified based solely on what political gain he can reap from it.

This from the president who was hysterical over "leaks" of information less than a year ago. Lets face it: this administration covers its blunders with the label of "classified" and yet is willing to declassify intelligence for cheap political gain.

Anyone else feel like they are living in the Soviet Union?

[one_american]

edjohn66 says: "Anyone else feel like they are living in the Soviet Union?"

Only when Bill Clinton was President.

Liberals are only a hair away from Communists.

[ronniehm]

"Anyone else feel like they are living in the Soviet Union?"
Quit being dramatic. I've been to the Soviet Union. It's nothing like the Soviet Union here.

[one_american]

This report may be damning evidence against the Clinton Administration. I saw a CIA Analyst on CBS yesterday morning basically saying that Bill Clinton was lying about his efforts to kill Osama Bin Laden.

Of course, its not what CBS wanted to hear, so Harry Smith cut him off and made a jab at the President. Typical CBS.

[cathaleen]

Enough postering - just one bit of info to think about 2,790 of our children are dead and 20,000 are wounded. Now where can anyone find any good in that?

[ronniehm]

Children aren't allowed to join the military.

[rsoxfan1123]

RonnieH, you and OneAmerican make a great team:
"Liberals are only a hair away from Communists."
that shows a lot of insight and rationality...

[one_american]

cathaleen:

Only people with common sense.

But thanks for trying.

[rsoxfan1123]

They are still kids to their parents, Ronnie.

[shutupmurtha]

RonnieHM, Yeah I would feel like I was living in the Soviet Union, If i was at home writing comments all day collecting government handouts. And if we were living in a communist country you would not be allowed to spew the hatred that you spew. Dont you have any appreciation for your country? Dont you realize this is the best country in the world?? Why do you take this country for granted? Dont you realize thousands of our men and women have died so you can unlease your hate for this country. The fact that you have the right to say what you say speaks of greatness of America. Dont you think you ought to show a little respect to those who are fighting for YOUR survival?? Dont you think you at least owe them a little bit of appreciation? Or is that supporting the "Evil Right Wing Conspiracy"

[one_american]

rsoxfan1123:

Liberals don't have logic to draw from, so you just wouldn't understand.

[ronniehm]

I never said liberals are a hair away from communists. I was responding to some idiot that insinuated the America is a hair away from the Soviet Union. I've seen both. It's not.

[shutupmurtha]

Look at Chavez, Akmedenhajad, Bin Ladena and Al Queada. Do you REALIZE THEY USE DEMOCRATIC TALKING POINTS TO FUEL THEIR PROPAGANDA???? THEY USE WHAT DEMOCRATS IN AMERICA SAY TO JUSTIFY THEIR HATRED FOR OUR COUNTRY AND PRESIDENT. DO YOU SEE ANY THING WRONG WITH THAT?

[rsoxfan1123]

RonnieH, there are increasing similarities though. granted we are a long way off, but government surveillence of phones and bank records, changing the Geneva Convention laws concerning torture etc., can seem like steps in that direction to some people.

[one_american]

Isn't it ironic that the very lifestyle of the Liberals is exactly what the terrorist despise most about America, and yet the Liberals don't want to fight to preserve it, only they want to fight the Republicans who want to fight the terrorists.

[shutupmurtha]

Ok, I will say that our freedom of speech has been challenged by Islamic extremism and the democrats. Islamofacists are telling the Pope to apologize for something he had every right to say, they are now censoring cartoons in finland, Comedy central has censored episodes of south park (by taking out Muhamoud's image), The dems tried to have the path to 9/11 taken off the air, and now people some far-left liberals want Chris Walace to apologize to Clinotn for asking him tough questions. But we are not close to communism or the soviet union because none of that was mandated by the government.

[ronniehm]

Sorry, rsoxfan, we are not becoming more like the Soviet Union. You'll have to come up with something better than a few programs which only hurt terrorists.

[rsoxfan1123]

Clinton was right in asking them how many republicans were asked that question. He was saying he was invited for a different prupose which was dismissed when he appeared and then he was asked quesitons implying he was responsible for 9/11. That is kind of a hit job.

[rsoxfan1123]

citizens losing freedom is the theme, ronnie.

[ronniehm]

Which freedom did we lose? The freedom to finance terrorism or the freedom to chat with Usama? These are not freedoms.

[rsoxfan1123]

Ronnie-we'd be safer if we dimissed the need for search warrants, put cameras in every car and house and monitered all phone conversations, but at what point do you stop goverment control? Our system of checks and baalnces was cerated to keep one corrupt man from being able to control our people. Line item veto, the president being able to declare a pre-emptive strike against a nation that is not bothering us without clearing it through congress first...hmm, there're some good ideas.

[rsoxfan1123]

the freedom of knowing it is illegal for the governemnt to listen to our phone conversations and examine our bank records, ronnie. among others.

[garyg23]

The twelve people who leaked information to the press on the NIE were top-level intelligence personnel who had access to that report. It's absurd to try to paint them simply as Democrats or as Bush said people who want to confuse Americans. These are people who see that we are making things far worse for ourselves and felt obliged to make it apparent that the baloney that the President has been spinning about Iraq being part of the larger war on terror is flat wrong. Iraq is exacerbating the terrorist threat to this country.

[cbs_oliver]

Your headline says "Bush To Declassify Iraq Report", but the story says "Mr. Bush announced that he was ordering -- PARTS -- of the report declassified". We can guess which PARTS - the PARTS that the GOP hacks crafted to fit their campaign needs, of course.

The leaks are propbably more accurate than anything we will ever see released publicly so long as the GOP is in power.

I mostly trust the regular non political intellengence folks - although with all the recent purges of the CIA and the FBI and other intelligence organizations there are not so many left who are politically aligned with the GOP anymore.

Just one more reason to end this disastrous reign of GOP rule

[ronniehm]

I didn't ask you which freedoms you suspect you'll lose.

[ronniehm]

Funny, CBS_Oliver, it was OK when someone only leaked PARTS of the report. Why the change of heart?

I don't need the declassification of an intelligence report to verify what Americans already know. Iraq is a disaster...it has further flamed the hatred for America in Arab lands and has lost us respect and trust all over the world. This is obvious. A person can argue all day long that the night is day and day is night, but the facts remain!