Intel Report: Iraq Challenges "Daunting"

NIE: Inadequate Iraqi Forces, Sectarian Fighting Makes Situation Tough To Improve

(CBS/AP)  Iraqi leaders will be hard pressed to craft a lasting political settlement or improve their security capabilities in the next year and a half, the U.S. intelligence community concluded in a report that raises new uncertainty about the prospect for withdrawing American troops.

Months in the making, the collaborative assessment by 16 spy agencies says that growing and entrenched polarization between Shia and Sunni Muslims, inadequate Iraqi security forces, weak leaders, and the success of extremists' efforts to use violence to exacerbate the sectarian war all create a situation that will be difficult to improve.

The report, which is called a National Intelligence Estimate, or NIE, says the problem is not just a civil war. Rather, Iraq is spiraling toward implosion, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.

“The NIE does a very nice job of making clear the trajectory that Iraq is on,” says former CIA analyst Kenneth Pollard. “And that trajectory is straight down.”

"We think it is accurate," Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser, said in a briefing on the document, called a National Intelligence Estimate. "We would emphasize the ‘hard-pressed,' because we will be pressing them hard and the Iraqi people will be pressing the government hard."

Rep. Ike Skelton, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said it "demonstrates that the situation in Iraq is indeed dire and deteriorating. It saddens me that the pessimistic impressions I gained during my recent trip to Iraq are reinforced by the conclusions of the latest NIE."

The report said that "even if violence is diminished, given the current winner-take-all attitude and sectarian animosities infecting the political scene, Iraqi leaders will be hard-pressed to achieve sustained political reconciliation" any time soon.

It used much the same language about the prospects for Iraqi security forces, saying that despite recent improvements, they too "will be hard-pressed in the next 12-18 months to execute significantly increased security responsibilities" and take on Shiite militias.

In other developments:

A U.S. helicopter went down Friday in Iraq for the fourth time in two weeks, killing two soldiers on board, and America's top general acknowledged that its aircraft were increasingly in danger from ground fire. Witnesses and local police said two helicopters were flying together when gunmen opened fire, sending one of the aircraft crashing to the ground near Taji, an air base just north of Baghdad. Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Friday that clearly, "ground fire ... has been more effective against our helicopters in the last couple weeks." The comments marked the first time a military official has publicly acknowledged the recent crashes were caused by ground fire.

The Bush administration will ask for another $100 billion for military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this year and seek $145 billion for 2008, a senior administration official said Friday. The requests Monday, to accompany President Bush's budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, would bring the total appropriations for 2007 to about $170 billion, with a slight decline the following year.

U.S. forces said 18 insurgents were killed in fighting Thursday night and Friday after insurgents opened fire on the Americans from several positions in Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad, the military said. No civilian or U.S. casualties were reported, the military said.

The outgoing top U.S. general in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, diplomatically aired his differences with the commander in chief on Thursday, telling lawmakers that President Bush has ordered thousands more troops into Iraq than needed to tamp down violence in Baghdad.

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up Thursday in a crowded outdoor market in a Shiite city south of Baghdad, killing 45 people and wounding 150, police said. The attackers strolled into the Maktabat outdoor market in the center of Hillah about 6 p.m. as shoppers were buying food for their evening meals. Police said they thought one of the men appeared suspicious and stopped him. The bomber then detonated his explosives and the second attacker, who was walking behind him, set off his, police added.

Continued

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by skyk-2009 February 5, 2007 3:48 PM EST

We are asking an INCOMPETENT member of the Religous Reich to lead us out of a mess the likes of which we have never seen before. We are doing this INSPITE of the Will of the American People and a few want to still call this nation free. Now THAT is STUPID!

Reply to this comment

by skyk-2009 February 5, 2007 3:41 PM EST

Satan causes the lies and deceipt in this world, not GOD, NOT JESUS CHRIST. With this being said, when you accept Christ into your life Satan can no longer corrupt you with his lies, no matter how hard he tries. I can show you written proof of this from the constant insulting and cursing I have endured on here simply for proclaiming my faith in Jesus Christ.
Posted by singinrick at 12:12 AM : Feb 03, 2007

How can you PUKES claim to be "Christian's" and LIE like this. YOU you pathetic member of the most EVIL group to EVER set foot on this planet, you bring insults and curses ONLY when YOU attempt to force YOUR beliefs upon the rest of us! No nation on this Planet has MORE Religious freedom than you losers do but that's not enough. You feel it to be YOUR responsibility to READ the Bible and not only decide what it means to YOUR Slimy Butt. YOU want to decide what it means to ME and all other American's. That despite the RECORD of the Religious Reich, something you sleaze bags NEVER want to discuss. Why is that I wonder?

Reply to this comment

by davey214 February 4, 2007 5:15 AM EST

Also, even though you might disagree with GB on Iraq right now, you need to see the bigger picture. The US (GB specifically) gave his word to many in that area that we would see this thru to victory. If the US abandons them now they would all be slaughtered - those who trusted the US. Not too good for world opinion, but even worse for one's conscience. The Americam public (and the politically opportunistic Democrats) are now giving GB a fair and honest exit strategy - he's giving it his best, last try before bringing the troops home and telling the Iraqis we did our best but the problem was all YOUR fault. The Republicans know what they need to do before November 08.

Reply to this comment

by davey214 February 4, 2007 5:05 AM EST

Many people worry about a civil war in Iraq, but it seems to me that having one's enemies fighting each other is a blessing. America, put your money into 100% energy independence ASAP and make the middle east irrelavent. The business of America is business - wasnt that the wisdom of the first George. The Republicans will eventually come to this view - they are slow to get the truth (as opposed to the other side of the aisle, who never get it).

Reply to this comment

by radiob-2009 February 3, 2007 10:07 AM EST

bildooreilly
tried the links, they didn't work.

Reply to this comment

by exusmcsgt February 3, 2007 9:38 AM EST

This is a war initiated by those who cannot see and fought by those who can.
Posted by heetseeker at 06:00 AM : Feb 03, 2007

To paraphrase you, heetseeker, I would say that this war was initiated by those who wouldn't fight and is fought by those who will.

Reply to this comment

by heetseeker February 3, 2007 9:00 AM EST

"Liberals D*** Liberals"

What is the National Intelligence Estimate? Is it not the informed and critically evaluated judgment of the US Intelligence Community and the most authoritative assessment of the Director of National Intelligence? Nonsense! It is the informed view of traitors! They clearly do not back the President's "New Way Forward" nor our troops in harms way.

The commentary above is my take on the default position of anyone who challenges the administration's rosy view of all things Iraq. If you disagree you are a liberal. If you are a liberal then you are unpatriotic. If you are unpatriotic, you are emboldening the enemy. If you are emboldening the enemy then you are a traitor. Why should we listen traitors?

The problem is these "traitors" are popping up everywhere. They are Generals in the military,
Republicans in the Senate & Congress and high-ranking officials in our intelligence community. Could it possibly be that these people are right and the administration is wrong?

Statements of protest: "you are emboldening the enemy", statements of hope: "the insurgency is in its last throes" and statements of pretence: "we are winning in Iraq" are not policies. Rather they are statements of denial. Iraq has now become a monument to arrongance, an entalglement from which we cannot easily extricate ourselves. It is profligacy with blood and treasure on a grand scale.

This is a war initiated by those who cannot see and fought by those who can.

Reply to this comment

by staff2--2008 February 3, 2007 5:49 AM EST

TIME TO PUT OUR PRESIDENT ON TRIAL FOR WAR CRIMES...

Reply to this comment

by johnshaft4 February 3, 2007 5:06 AM EST

Is the Kenneth Pollard referenced in the above quote any relation to great 'American' Zionist Mossad 'Hero' Jonathen Pollard? You know, cut out of the same Israeli Likud Party war propaganders/liars William Kristol's and convicted liar Michael 'the yellow cake/yellow belly' Ledeen? These 'great Americans' along with Wolfowitz, Wurmser, Feith, Abrams, Daniel 'the pig' Pipes, Perle, willsoon have their smiling faces is the Jew Hall of Deceit/Espionage along with fellow great Jew/Zionist 'Americans' Ethel and Julios Rosenberg. See 'traitors' A Bomb Russia... Screw Israel and you what to the Jews...

Reply to this comment

by johnshaft4 February 3, 2007 4:57 AM EST

Yo, Stephen 'psuedo wannabe' National (In)Security Advisor...I've got your "Daunting", right here, right now...Come and get YOUR love...

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman February 3, 2007 3:37 AM EST

Rick,,,,, That's talking about Bush, He insults us --

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad"

"UN AMERICAN" "UN PATRIOTIC" "EMBOLDENING THE ENEMY"

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman February 3, 2007 3:34 AM EST

Conservative News DRUDGE REPORT -- Still has no article on NIE.... MEDIA BIAS THERE SINGINRICK ??

Reply to this comment

by bildooreilly February 3, 2007 3:00 AM EST

That's the deal, if you try to be like Jesus you'll soon have a big crowd wanting to crucify you, if you want to be the devil they'll all come after you as well... people are pretty screwed when it comes to being truly godlike.

Reply to this comment

by bildooreilly February 3, 2007 2:57 AM EST

Also singinrick, Jesus was a normal man that discovered his true innerself, kind of like Jimi Hendrix, and we all have the power to do all of the same things Jesus did... but watch out good chance you'll end up crucified... or murdered like Jimi...

Reply to this comment

by bildooreilly February 3, 2007 2:56 AM EST

Read Isaiah 14:12 Singin Rick, Lucifer is the morning star. It's the brightest star in the sky that rises in the east trying to rise above the SUN of God, but is defeated every day.

It all goes back to the old egyptian Horus/Set Good/Evil Light/Darkness stuff..

Now singin rick, after you read that part of the bible, you should know that the masons always do their rituals facing east, and their womens group is the Ladies Of The Eastern Star...

I even saw where Al Sharpton was speaking at the "Church Of The Eastern Star" awhile back, because all these politicians in both parties are masons. Including George W. Bush whose father is one of the grand poobahs of the whole deal.

Wake up singinrick...

Reply to this comment

by bildooreilly February 3, 2007 2:43 AM EST

An article in Britain's Daily Mail newspaper(www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=322226&in_ page_id=1770) read in part, "We traced hostinganime to the computer servers of Everyone's Internet, a Houston-based firm that boasts it is the %u2018world's largest dedicated hosting company,' providing space to one million web sites. The company's chief financial officer, Roy Alvin Marsh III, 45, is a flamboyant Texan whose influential friends include President Bush's Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England, Sharon Bush, the President's former sister-in-law, and her daughter, fashion model Lauren Bush. The firm's chief executive is his 44-year-old brother, Robert Marsh."

Reply to this comment

by bildooreilly February 3, 2007 2:41 AM EST

Islamist Terror Via the American Internet
... such Websites operating with the collusion of U.S. Internet companies, knowingly ... Domain/Nameserver provider: Everyone's Internet in Houston, Texas: ...www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/1188788/posts - 37k - Cached - More from this site
Terror Forum Sows Seeds of Jihad
... rising tide of terror-related websites say it wouldn't come ... I've seen the whole little game play out in Houston at Everyones Internet more than once. ...www.wired.com/news/privacy/1,68214-0.html - 19k - Cached - More from this site
FrontPage magazine.com :: Islamist Terror Via the American Internet by Lee Kaplan
... such Websites operating with the collusion of U.S. Internet companies, knowingly ... Domain/Nameserver provider: Everyone's Internet in Houston, Texas: ...www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=14586 - 57k - Cached - More from this site
Terror Forum Sows Seeds of Jihad
... the rising tide of terror-related websites say it wouldn't come as ... .uk was being hosted by Everyones Internet, a service provider based in Houston, ...www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,68214,00.html - 33k - Cached - More from this site
Global Politician
Hosting Terror: 'Everyone's Internet' Promotes Online Terror Sites. Jeremy Reynalds - 6/19/2005 ... and pro-terrorist websites and eGroups that exist. ...globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=902&cid=11&sid=64 - 45k - Cached - More from this site

Reply to this comment

by bildooreilly February 3, 2007 2:35 AM EST

A couple years ago some folks on the internet discovered that all the "al qaida" websites are hosted on a server in houston at the company Everyones Internet owned by a buddy of Bush named Robert Marsh... do a little reasearch... it's all a scam...

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman February 3, 2007 2:33 AM EST

Sining off,, Much more news tomorrow

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman February 3, 2007 2:32 AM EST

Radio,, He uses Palestinain Media Watch also, A Zionist fake news network.

Reply to this comment

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[skyk-2009]

We are asking an INCOMPETENT member of the Religous Reich to lead us out of a mess the likes of which we have never seen before. We are doing this INSPITE of the Will of the American People and a few want to still call this nation free. Now THAT is STUPID!

[skyk-2009]

Satan causes the lies and deceipt in this world, not GOD, NOT JESUS CHRIST. With this being said, when you accept Christ into your life Satan can no longer corrupt you with his lies, no matter how hard he tries. I can show you written proof of this from the constant insulting and cursing I have endured on here simply for proclaiming my faith in Jesus Christ.
Posted by singinrick at 12:12 AM : Feb 03, 2007

How can you PUKES claim to be "Christian's" and LIE like this. YOU you pathetic member of the most EVIL group to EVER set foot on this planet, you bring insults and curses ONLY when YOU attempt to force YOUR beliefs upon the rest of us! No nation on this Planet has MORE Religious freedom than you losers do but that's not enough. You feel it to be YOUR responsibility to READ the Bible and not only decide what it means to YOUR Slimy Butt. YOU want to decide what it means to ME and all other American's. That despite the RECORD of the Religious Reich, something you sleaze bags NEVER want to discuss. Why is that I wonder?

[davey214]

Also, even though you might disagree with GB on Iraq right now, you need to see the bigger picture. The US (GB specifically) gave his word to many in that area that we would see this thru to victory. If the US abandons them now they would all be slaughtered - those who trusted the US. Not too good for world opinion, but even worse for one's conscience. The Americam public (and the politically opportunistic Democrats) are now giving GB a fair and honest exit strategy - he's giving it his best, last try before bringing the troops home and telling the Iraqis we did our best but the problem was all YOUR fault. The Republicans know what they need to do before November 08.

[davey214]

Many people worry about a civil war in Iraq, but it seems to me that having one's enemies fighting each other is a blessing. America, put your money into 100% energy independence ASAP and make the middle east irrelavent. The business of America is business - wasnt that the wisdom of the first George. The Republicans will eventually come to this view - they are slow to get the truth (as opposed to the other side of the aisle, who never get it).

[radiob-2009]

bildooreilly
tried the links, they didn't work.

[exusmcsgt]

This is a war initiated by those who cannot see and fought by those who can.
Posted by heetseeker at 06:00 AM : Feb 03, 2007

To paraphrase you, heetseeker, I would say that this war was initiated by those who wouldn't fight and is fought by those who will.

[heetseeker]

"Liberals D*** Liberals"

What is the National Intelligence Estimate? Is it not the informed and critically evaluated judgment of the US Intelligence Community and the most authoritative assessment of the Director of National Intelligence? Nonsense! It is the informed view of traitors! They clearly do not back the President's "New Way Forward" nor our troops in harms way.

The commentary above is my take on the default position of anyone who challenges the administration's rosy view of all things Iraq. If you disagree you are a liberal. If you are a liberal then you are unpatriotic. If you are unpatriotic, you are emboldening the enemy. If you are emboldening the enemy then you are a traitor. Why should we listen traitors?

The problem is these "traitors" are popping up everywhere. They are Generals in the military,
Republicans in the Senate & Congress and high-ranking officials in our intelligence community. Could it possibly be that these people are right and the administration is wrong?

Statements of protest: "you are emboldening the enemy", statements of hope: "the insurgency is in its last throes" and statements of pretence: "we are winning in Iraq" are not policies. Rather they are statements of denial. Iraq has now become a monument to arrongance, an entalglement from which we cannot easily extricate ourselves. It is profligacy with blood and treasure on a grand scale.

This is a war initiated by those who cannot see and fought by those who can.

[staff2--2008]

TIME TO PUT OUR PRESIDENT ON TRIAL FOR WAR CRIMES...

[johnshaft4]

Is the Kenneth Pollard referenced in the above quote any relation to great 'American' Zionist Mossad 'Hero' Jonathen Pollard? You know, cut out of the same Israeli Likud Party war propaganders/liars William Kristol's and convicted liar Michael 'the yellow cake/yellow belly' Ledeen? These 'great Americans' along with Wolfowitz, Wurmser, Feith, Abrams, Daniel 'the pig' Pipes, Perle, willsoon have their smiling faces is the Jew Hall of Deceit/Espionage along with fellow great Jew/Zionist 'Americans' Ethel and Julios Rosenberg. See 'traitors' A Bomb Russia... Screw Israel and you what to the Jews...

[johnshaft4]

Yo, Stephen 'psuedo wannabe' National (In)Security Advisor...I've got your "Daunting", right here, right now...Come and get YOUR love...

[j-whitman]

Rick,,,,, That's talking about Bush, He insults us --

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad"

"UN AMERICAN" "UN PATRIOTIC" "EMBOLDENING THE ENEMY"

[j-whitman]

Conservative News DRUDGE REPORT -- Still has no article on NIE.... MEDIA BIAS THERE SINGINRICK ??

[bildooreilly]

That's the deal, if you try to be like Jesus you'll soon have a big crowd wanting to crucify you, if you want to be the devil they'll all come after you as well... people are pretty screwed when it comes to being truly godlike.

[bildooreilly]

Also singinrick, Jesus was a normal man that discovered his true innerself, kind of like Jimi Hendrix, and we all have the power to do all of the same things Jesus did... but watch out good chance you'll end up crucified... or murdered like Jimi...

[bildooreilly]

Read Isaiah 14:12 Singin Rick, Lucifer is the morning star. It's the brightest star in the sky that rises in the east trying to rise above the SUN of God, but is defeated every day.

It all goes back to the old egyptian Horus/Set Good/Evil Light/Darkness stuff..

Now singin rick, after you read that part of the bible, you should know that the masons always do their rituals facing east, and their womens group is the Ladies Of The Eastern Star...

I even saw where Al Sharpton was speaking at the "Church Of The Eastern Star" awhile back, because all these politicians in both parties are masons. Including George W. Bush whose father is one of the grand poobahs of the whole deal.

Wake up singinrick...

[bildooreilly]

An article in Britain's Daily Mail newspaper(www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=322226&in_ page_id=1770) read in part, "We traced hostinganime to the computer servers of Everyone's Internet, a Houston-based firm that boasts it is the %u2018world's largest dedicated hosting company,' providing space to one million web sites. The company's chief financial officer, Roy Alvin Marsh III, 45, is a flamboyant Texan whose influential friends include President Bush's Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England, Sharon Bush, the President's former sister-in-law, and her daughter, fashion model Lauren Bush. The firm's chief executive is his 44-year-old brother, Robert Marsh."

[bildooreilly]

Islamist Terror Via the American Internet
... such Websites operating with the collusion of U.S. Internet companies, knowingly ... Domain/Nameserver provider: Everyone's Internet in Houston, Texas: ...www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/1188788/posts - 37k - Cached - More from this site
Terror Forum Sows Seeds of Jihad
... rising tide of terror-related websites say it wouldn't come ... I've seen the whole little game play out in Houston at Everyones Internet more than once. ...www.wired.com/news/privacy/1,68214-0.html - 19k - Cached - More from this site
FrontPage magazine.com :: Islamist Terror Via the American Internet by Lee Kaplan
... such Websites operating with the collusion of U.S. Internet companies, knowingly ... Domain/Nameserver provider: Everyone's Internet in Houston, Texas: ...www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=14586 - 57k - Cached - More from this site
Terror Forum Sows Seeds of Jihad
... the rising tide of terror-related websites say it wouldn't come as ... .uk was being hosted by Everyones Internet, a service provider based in Houston, ...www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,68214,00.html - 33k - Cached - More from this site
Global Politician
Hosting Terror: 'Everyone's Internet' Promotes Online Terror Sites. Jeremy Reynalds - 6/19/2005 ... and pro-terrorist websites and eGroups that exist. ...globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=902&cid=11&sid=64 - 45k - Cached - More from this site

[bildooreilly]

A couple years ago some folks on the internet discovered that all the "al qaida" websites are hosted on a server in houston at the company Everyones Internet owned by a buddy of Bush named Robert Marsh... do a little reasearch... it's all a scam...

[j-whitman]

Sining off,, Much more news tomorrow

[j-whitman]

Radio,, He uses Palestinain Media Watch also, A Zionist fake news network.