Is Iraq A Terrorist "University?"

Exclusive: Intelligence Details Training Grounds For Jihadist Fighters, And How They Are Branching Out

(CBS)  With U.S. forces putting the pressure on al Qaeda strongholds and the military admitting top leaders have escaped, intelligence agencies have come to an ominous conclusion: Al Qaeda fighters who slip away are ready to expand their fight to Europe and the Gulf, CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar reports.

A letter from al Qaeda's No. 2, intercepted last month, urged foreign fighters to take their campaign of terror beyond Iraq's borders.

The jihadi veterans of Iraq are battled-hardened survivors of the world's toughest urban guerilla fighting, against some of the world's best soldiers.

"If you survive that, you're able to do anything, essentially," said Thomas Sanderson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Sanderson, an expert in global terror threats, is preparing to publish a year-long study tracking foreign fighters. CBS News took a look at the report.

"You have that impact that says 'I survived that all of those factor, all of those groups that were arrayed against me,' and that gives you a sense of infallibility and lethality," Sanderson said.

In an audiotape posted on the Internet, one insurgent leader describes it this way: If Afghanistan was a school, says Abu Omar al Baghdadi, Iraq is a university of terrorism.

"They've been able to learn how to miniaturize bombs, how to surveil, how to countersurveil, how to snipe, how to escape," Sanderson said. "How to use safe houses, how to disguise themselves."

And how to move around the region with ease. Intelligence sources tell CBS News that under pressure from the United States, the route in through Syria is now largely closed. In some cases jihadists are using European airports with direct flights to northern Iraq.

The trip out now takes survivors to neighboring Arab states, North Africa and Europe.

The impact is spreading.

In Lebanon, al Qaeda veterans from Iraq held off U.S.-equipped Lebanese special forces for a month.

In Algeria, a bombing campaign carried out by local Islamists allied with al Qaeda used techniques imported from Iraq. Intelligence agencies call Algeria the "gateway" to Europe.

French intelligence acknowledges tracking about 30 people they know have left France for Iraq. A dozen are dead, a dozen more in custody. The rest have vanished, and the French admit they do not know where they are.

But they do know they're part of a new generation of terrorists. In the words of one analyst, they are "rock stars" to their followers — trained in war, committed to destruction … and some of them may be headed our way.

[donnie900]

Well, in all honesty, I think thats what Bush and Cheney want it to be. I mean, they've been beat'n up that country now for 15 years. They wanna draw the fire away from their friend in Pakistan, and make Iraq a hotbed of chaos. So they can go test their fancy weapons, free of consequence.

I'm not really upset with all the money we've given those people. Its not my money but, for the hell we've put them thru? For the past decade and a half? I'd say we owe them more than that.

I wouldn't doubt it if everything those people said about Saddam Hussein and Iraq was all a lie. All .. propaganda.

[mattcbsmatt]

THE EPIC BATTLES OF explosive diarrhea POO POOS
I am in such a state of fear or terror I messed my pants with explosive diarrhea am I a Suicide bomber
Threatens to fire more explosive diarrhea
TRAINED IN THE ART OF explosive diarrhea :)

[long_rider]

Thankx chimp, Americas love what you have done for us, keep up the good work.

The September deadline for the effectivness of the "surge" plan( Ha! Ha!) is rapidly approaching. The White House propaganda machine (news media) will be working overtime to support the chimps so called plan.

Mean while our troops keep dying, for nothing but an oil contract with Iraq, and we keep spending money on who knows what in Iraq.

I think the chimp should run for a third term. Don't worry, he will probably write a new law making it legal. Go for it chimp, ruin this country, we Americans don't care.

[prinzowhales]

honest_news-- We supported Saddam in his war of aggression against Iran. Our ambassador, April Glaspie, advised him that any action he took against Kuwait would be viewed as purely an 'inter-Arab matter.' We sold him the gas and the precursors for his production that he used on the Kurds. We lied about his possession of WMDs, his attempts to gain nuclear materials and his connections with al Qaeda--We even lied about his fleet of 'death drones'.

Before we arrived on the seen there was no 'al Qaeda' in Iraq.

The most dangerous terrorists in the world receive their marching orders from Washington, London and Tel Aviv. If you want to fear someone, fear them.

[feelfree1]

For those who haven't noticed, this CBS article is pure garbage from start to finish.

Here is a related article:

"Everyone we fight in Iraq is now "al-Qaida"

"It's a curious thing that, over the past 10 - 12 days, the news from Iraq refers to the combatants there as "al-Qaida" fighters. When did that happen?"

"Until a few days ago, the combatants in Iraq were "insurgents" or they were referred to as "Sunni" or "Shia'a" fighters in the Iraq Civil War. Suddenly, without evidence, without proof, without any semblance of fact, the US military command is referring to these combatants as "al-Qaida".

"Welcome to the latest in Iraq propaganda."

www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/index.html

[roach9703]

The analysis is flawed. First of all in Europe and America, one has an infrastructure of civilization while in Iraq one does not. In Iraq one has layer upon layer of double agency and deceit. In Afghanistan, nearby Pakistan is a terror haven with a leader who will go in any direction where power lies.
However, the biggest challange we have is to rebuild our Western World on the principles of decency and the Rule of Law.

[feelfree1]

MCVet,

Good posts. You appear to be getting under the skin of the neo-Nazis. Well done!

I just watched a very good film last night that you might be interested in. Here is a shortened URL for the film 'Zeitgeist':

http://tinyurl.com/ywofke

[jegibbons]

What exactly is a "MCVet"???
Couldn't be someone who has eaten 500 happy meals at McDonald's?

BOMBASTIC negative name calling in postings indicates someone who is PROFOUNDLY UNHAPPY, delusional, suffering from MEGLO-MANIA.

Definitely never a word of anything that is ever sympathetic to the US Military.

I have not a clue why he would want to identify himself as a vet??? Maybe it makes him feel MACHO? Definitely not able to play well with others.

He's not FAMILIAR with the CBS'S rules of engagement. Constantly referring to other posters, who he disagrees with as NAZIS. This is stated as a definite no, no!!!

Anyway, like other hate-filled Bush bashing Neanderthals
NEVER LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY OF A GOOD ARGUEMENT!

[honest_news]

"If we continue to listen to Nazi's like this loser, we are truly doomed."

"...we do not have the tax base to continue the Fascist drive to "give" the entire world a dictatorship like ours."

"Anyone who can't see and understand that these nazi's are getting the living c-r-a-p kicked out of them and that the ENTIRE WORLD is against them, just isn't looking."

"...lets just continue to attack your neighbor and fellow citizen, it's worked so good for the nazi's to this point hasn't it?"

"We have young men in uniform that are serving their FOURTH Tour in Iraq trying to make the fascist dream come true."

"Sieg Heil Bush!!"

Posted by MCVet


My oh my... tut-tut-tut. I think we all know who the bitter one is here -- three "Nazis", two "Fascists" and a "Sieg Heil!" thrown in for good measure. Name-calling much?

ROFLMAO!!!

People who insist on vile comparisons to make their point only manage to reveal the limits of their own intellect... sparky.

ROFLMAO!!!

[mcvet]

Not according to liberals, the NeoCommies have been saying for four years now that "There is no alQaeda in Iraq."

This story goes against the NeoCommies talking points.

...


Posted by processor2 at 09:51 AM : Jun 23, 2007

No you pathetic NAZI!! God but you losers are the worst. The PEOPLE who have been right about this mess from day ONE have said there WERE NO Al Queda BEFORE you fuhrer attacked which was TRUE. I can't see how more lies by you wacked out losers is going to change the facts. IF I were leading the enemy and you losers put our best and brightest out in the streets of Bagdad you damned right I'd send people there. Where in this world would I have a better chance of killing them than in the streets of Bagdad? Look you fools have LOST the War on Terror and NOTHING has gotten any better in over 5 years with you clowns leading. Maybe it's time we turned it over to those who actually HAVE fought Terrorist and who have actually WON a war. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[mcvet]

This "analysis" is absurd -- the ultimate mea culpa and self-flagellation. The notion that by fighting a foe you only strengthen him is pure self-defeatism.

Spineless, feckless second-guessing and hand-wringing.
Posted by honest_news at 11:22 AM : Jun 23, 2007

You sound real bitter there sparky. In case you didn't notice the MAN who planed and ordered the attack on this nation isn't in IRAQ AND Saddam was NO THREAT to this nation. If we continue to listen to Nazi's like this loser, we are truly doomed. We are alone in the world today, not a friend on the planet. Our Standard of living has dropped to the bottom of the G-7 nations which simply means we do not have the tax base to continue the Fascist drive to "give" the entire world a dictatorship like ours. Anyone who can't see and understand that these nazi's are getting the living c-r-a-p kicked out of them and that the ENTIRE WORLD is against them, just isn't looking. But hey, let's not address the issues here, lets just continue to attack your neighbor and fellow citizen, it's worked so good for the nazi's to this point hasn't it? ROFLMAO We have young men in uniform that are serving their FOURTH Tour in Iraq trying to make the fascist dream come true. Wonder how many tours they are willing to put them through... I mean it's going on FIVE years since the Fuhrer told us "mission accomplished". ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush!!

[honest_news]

"We invaded Iraq, evoking fundamentalism from young and old Muslims all over the world and thus helped al Qaeda's recruitment efforts so much that they gained the sheer numbers necessary to transform themselves from a bunch of bandits with only localized representation into a true global organization with both breadth of membership and depth of skills.%u201D

Posted by rhs648


This "analysis" is absurd -- the ultimate mea culpa and self-flagellation. The notion that by fighting a foe you only strengthen him is pure self-defeatism.

Oh woe are we -- if only we hadn't bothered Saddam, if only we'd allowed him to pursue his funding of terrorist groups and gassing the Kurds and attacking our allies and destabilizing the region, we wouldn't be facing a hardened terrorist faction now. It's all our fault -- we created our own Frankenstein's Monster because we had the gall to get involved. Better to isolate ourselves in a cocoon of timidity rather than have the temerity to take action against a tyrant.

Spineless, feckless second-guessing and hand-wringing.

[neoconrcrazy]

your a disgrace to this great nation you traitorous rat, wolofowitz !!!
Posted by usadvisor101

boy oh boy, do i agree with that!

Our government is full these "appointees"; zoellick just got wolfie's job - abrams the "scourge of central america", negroponte, "hit man of el salvador & nicaragua"

zelikow said in 2002:

"Why would Iraq attack America or use nuclear weapons against us? I'll tell you what I think the real threat (is) and actually has been since 1990 -- it's the threat against Israel,"
"And this is the threat that dare not speak its name, because the Europeans don't care deeply about that threat, I will tell you frankly. And the American government doesn't want to lean too hard on it rhetorically, because it is not a popular sell."

Yeah, not a popular sell - but lying us into iraq on the basis of wmd and al-qaeda - that was real popular.

[toldyouso21]

Well..if Iraq IS a terrorist university--we only have ourselves, our illegal invasion and our destruction of the Iraqi people to blame.

No Iraqis involved in 9/11 or even noted in any other attack outside of their own country before 2003. Very little evidence of Al Qaeda there before then, either. Hindsight is always 20/20 if people will only look. But since Bush and the rest of the neo cons keep their heads firmly planted up their own azzes--they will never see the light.

[hungry1968]

Not according to liberals, the NeoCommies have been saying for four years now that "There is no alQaeda in Iraq." This story goes against the NeoCommies talking points.
Posted by processor2 at 09:51 AM : Jun 23, 2007

Correction - we've been saying right along that there were no Al Qaeda fighters in Iraq BEFORE George Bush turned it into a haven for Islamic radicals. Say whatever you want about Saddam Hussein, (and you're probably right about him), but he hated bin Laden and Al Qaeda, and wouldn't have permitted them in the country. Any force that could create instability under his regime was VERY STRICTLY controlled / eliminated. It wasn't until President Bush liberated all of the terrorists in Iraq, and provided them with safe haven, that all the problems started there.

[samrensho]

Of course it is. Paid for by Bush and the rest of the loonies in the administration.

[processor2]

CBS HEADLINE
Is Iraq A Terrorist "University?"


Not according to liberals, the NeoCommies have been saying for four years now that "There is no alQaeda in Iraq."

This story goes against the NeoCommies talking points.

...

[bluestardad]

NOTICE THAT NOW AL QAEDA IS ALL OVER THE NEWS AND IN IRAQ IT IS A MIND FORNICATION TO GET PEOPLE TO IN SOME KOOL-AID DERANGED WAY TO JUSTIFY WHY BUSH HAS STARTED THIS UNJUST WAR ON A COUNTRY THAT DID NOT ATTACK US AND WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THOSE WHO DID!

STEP AWAY FROM THE KOOL-AID!

[grumpas]

IS IRAQ A TERRORIST "UNIVERSITY"?

Of coarse it is and headmaster Bush is about to graduate the class of 2003!

[drummer94]

This story should not suprise anyone. George "accomplished" the feat of turning folks that didn't care for us into folks who are foaming at the mouth to kill,well, probably anyone. I will not be shocked when the firsr idiot straps some tnt on theirselves and takes out som civvies. They will see Allah all right just before he pushes the "down" button.