Bush Adviser Defends Anti-Terror Strategy

Frances Townsend Says U.S. Has "Constrained" Al Qaeda; Pakistan Calls Report Unsubstantiated

(CBS/AP)  President Bush's White House counterterrorism adviser said Wednesday that U.S. officials believe al Qaeda wants to launch "a mass casualty, spectacular event" in the United States but don't think it can do so.

"Make no mistake, they're determined to figure out a way," said Frances Fragos Townsend. "So we work every day to make sure that doesn't happen."

Townsend, who went on the morning news shows to discuss the threat of terrorism a day after the administration released a new National Intelligence Estimate, said, "The question is: Do they have all the capabilities they need to do it? And we don't think they have it yet."

The report concluded among other things that al Qaeda is using its growing strength in Pakistan and Iraq to plot attacks on U.S. soil, heightening the terror threat facing the United States over the next few years.

Prepared for President Bush and other top policymakers, the document lays out a range of dangers — from al Qaeda to Lebanese Hezbollah to non-Muslim radical groups — that pose a "persistent and evolving threat" to the country over the next three years.

The findings focused most heavily on Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, which was judged to remain the most serious threat to the United States. The group's affiliate in Iraq, which has not yet posed a direct threat to U.S. soil, could do just that, the report concluded. Al Qaeda in Iraq threatened to attack the United States in a Web statement last September.

In an interview Wednesday on The Early Show, Townsend told anchor Hannah Storm, "There's no question that there's a very determined enemy that wants to come back and do us harm. What this report tells us, the American people have to understand, is that al Qaeda is a determined enemy and we have to be equally determined to go after them."

But Townsend vehemently denied Storm's suggestion that the report indicates that nearly six years after the 9/11 attacks — after billions spent and thousands of American lives lost — Americans are not any safer than before the attacks.

"That's not what the report says. What the report tells us is that we have constrained al Qaeda's ability to act against us. That al Qaeda believes, based on billions of dollars that we've spent, that we are a more difficult and less vulnerable target for them."

Townsend also touted U.S. cooperation with Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and said the two countries continue to work closely together on the problem.

‘What were doing is working with our partner in Pakistan to either give them the capability or have them exert their own influence in the tribal areas,” Townsend said.

The Bush administration has promised $750 million in aid, but says fighting al Qaeda requires in Pakistan military action too, reports CBS News correspondent Richard Roth. But Pakistan insists it will never allow in foreign troops, as Musharraf made clear in a CBS News interview just three months ago.

“So let us handle our country ourselves. That is all. Nobody comes from outside. We are capable of doing it. We will handle it our way,” he said.

The White House now claims Musharraf is changing tactics — in response to a policy that hasn't worked.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the report is unsubstantiated and asked Washington to provide it with "actionable intelligence."

"We would firmly act to eliminate any al Qaeda hideout on the basis of specific intelligence or information," the Foreign Ministry's statement read.

"It does not help simply to make assertions about the presence or regeneration of al Qaeda in bordering areas of Pakistan. What is needed is concrete and actionable information and intelligence sharing," it said.

In the report, analysts argued that crumbling state control of Pakistan's border region allowed al Qaeda an increasingly comfortable hideout from which to plot attacks.

A briefing on the National Intelligence Estimate, prepared for President Bush and other top policymakers, said a peace deal in Pakistan's North Waziristan region lets al Qaeda set up terror training camps, improve international communications and bolster operations.

The Foreign Ministry said Pakistan was "determined not to allow al Qaeda or any other terrorist entity to establish a safe haven on its territory." It also reiterated that no foreign security forces would be allowed to pursue militants in Pakistan.

"We have deployed troops, established checkposts and done selective fencing. Any further action that needs to be taken against terrorist elements will be taken," the ministry said.

[forthepeopl1]

this is bushes way in saying something will happen to us,but we eaning cheney and bush rice rumsfeld haven't made up are mine yet what to do again to us americans.

i wouldn't believe anything from anyone in the whitehouse. no one..

[bluestardad]

SHE IS RELATED TO BAGHDAD BOB!

DEFENDING THE UNDEFENDABLE POLICIES OF A MAD MAN WHO SURROUNDS HIMSELF WITH STOOGES AND YES MEN BOBBLE HEADS THAT SAY JUST WHAT HE WANTS TO HEAR!

[donnie900]

Wow. Nice legs.

[forthepeopl1]

Make no mistake, they're determined to figure out a way," said Frances Fragos Townsend. "So we work every day to make sure that doesn't happen."

Townsend, who went on the morning news shows to discuss the threat of terrorism a day after the administration released a new National Intelligence Estimate, said, "The question is: Do they have all the capabilities they need to do it? And we don't think they have it yet."

The report concluded among other things that al Qaeda is using its growing strength in Pakistan and Iraq to plot attacks on U.S. soil, heightening the terror threat facing the United States over the next few years

like anyone believe anything the whithouse has to say..remember ALL THE WMD THAT THE WHITE HOUSE SAID WERE THERE..I WOULD BE LOOKING AT ALL OUR BORDER WERE THEY ARE COMMING IN AT RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE HERE AND THEY WILL MAKE A BIG SLASH SOON. THEN BUSH WILL COME OUT AND SAY I AM KING AND UNTIL WE HAVE THIS WAR OVER I WILL BE IN CHARGE..

WATCH IT WILL BE

[forthepeopl1]

SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE WORKS HARD EVEYDAY..HA HA UNDER SOMEONE DESK OR EVEN ON TOP OF THE DESK SHE IS JUST A PIG

[pepperp1]

SHE IS RELATED TO BAGHDAD BOB!

It is Bob, just with plastic surgey.

[micma-2009]

We have done exactly what Al Qaeda wanted us to do. It cost them less than a million dollars to pull off 9/11 and we have spent nearly a trillion to counter that, mostly on invading a country that had nothing to do with 9/11. The net effect is Al Qaeda is stronger and we are weaker. Heck of a job Bush!

[tuckerndfw]

I can think of a way.

Rent a truck, pack it with 55 gallon drums of gasoline, drive it down 5th Avenue in NYC at high noon (or any other comparable street in any American city) and detonate it.

That would be very spectacular. I suppose "al qaida" can't think of something that complicated.

The Bush administration tells more lies than they do anything else.

The "war on terror" is not preventing terrorist attacks, and, the Bush administration is keeping no one "safe."

[tuckerndfw]

Yessir, buddy, it requires years of planning, training and coordination to rent a truck and pack it with 55 gallon drums of chlorine, gasoline or nearly any other commonly available, potentially deadly substance, and detonate it in a crowded area.

Yep, that takes lots of planning and coordination.

If anyone is still buying into Bush administration's bullsh*t, he should be confined due to his demonstrated lack of intelligence.

[ramos937]

Ms. Townsend must have just arrived from another planet. Her statements are very worthy of Rumsfield, Wolferzic(?), Cheney and Rice. From her statements, one has to wonder if she actually read the report. I have. Despite qualifications, the report basically says that the terriorists are making every effort to attack the USA. And they plan to succeed. They have proven that they already have the means to do so.

You know, our people have performed very well in preventing attacks on US soil and deserve every credit. But as Mike Cheroff said one, "we can prevent 100 attacks, but let one happen and we would have failed". He is right. We will be attacked, the only thing is that we do not know where, when and the method of attack. I very much hope somebody has done a lot of planning to handle the situation after it happens.

[rharrin1]

The findings focused most heavily on Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, which was judged to remain the most serious threat to the United States.

But our decider said he doesn't think about bin laden he's not concerned.

that pose a "persistent and evolving threat" to the country over the next three years.

How did they come up with three years why not two or four years?

Make no mistake, they're determined to figure out a way," said Frances Fragos Townsend. "So we work every day to make sure that doesn't happen."

Sure they got our borders fixed.

[seven-pesos]

bush advisor defends failed terror policy.

ha,ha,ha.

the south defends bush.

murderous, white trash, redneck, phony christian, war making slave states of america still love bush.

that's the south for you, folks!

[skyk-2009]

Folks in the area I grew up in IF your enemy is gaining in strenght while you are supposedly fighting them, then you are LOSING!! I don't buy into any spin one way or the other on this... it's just plain LOSING!!

[name_verify]

DNC News Update

Pelosi pajama party fails to deliver milk and cookies.

Bill's surge all over Monica's face.

Shock and awe. Shock and awe. Shock and awe.

[nyckate]

Latest NIE report:

"The United States currently is in a heightened threat environment," especially from al Qaeda.


CONCLCUSION: BUSH FAILED AMERICA - AGAIN

[gkc99]

Curious how the Bushit admin is always fear mongering about another attack but has done not a single thing to secure our borders.

Muslim immigration is at an all time high, on student visas, tourist visas, etc., but Bushit does nothing.

Only 1% of the cargo entering the US is inspected, and Bushit tries to turn over control of our ports to Muslims.

It's almost like Bushit WANTS another attack--could it be? One fascist uses other fascists to advance fascist goals?

[nyckate]

Bush Family Motto:

Lie, lie again, when caught lie some more - then spin the lies and repeat them often enough so that the morons who voted for you chant it like a mantra.

It worked didn't?

Bush Family doesn't care about America - they care about the Bush Family Trust.

[jetranger7]

OK, This Fran Townsend is a Bush Loyalist to the Hilt ! As I remember a News Report back in 2002, she was with Bush most of the Time when he was running for president on the campaign trail, and traveled with him everywhere he went back in 2000. She is extremely Loyal to Bush, and has been a friend of the Bush Family for many years according to the report, but the report also stated she lacks Qualifications for the position she holds now too !The report also showed her, Being Bushs Cheerleader at a news conference by yelling and chanting and shes the one who gets everybody clapping, everytime Bushs lips move. As I remember it right, there was Discussion that it was her, in 2003, that came up with the Banner on board that Aircraft carrier that read "Mission-Accomploshied". Shes nothing more than a Bush Cheerleader, and a mouth piece for the Corrupt-Fraudulent Republican Cabool. Shes as Dangerous as Cheney is. She contridicts her own words a lot, later when asked. To think that Sean Hannity of "Faux" News believes everything she says too, should tell you something, of course Hannity is a Big Joke and Disgrace to Cable news networks anyway !This Country is in Trouble if Fran Townsend is the White House Security Advisor, and Advisor to Bush ! Whats her Credibility, What makes her so Unique and Super Qualified ? Has any news investigators really checked her credentials, or was she just givin the job, because she was a Bush Cheerrleader during his Campaign for President back in 2000!

[ghostcommand]

How the Gop/Bush Fear Machine works--First, Bush gives a speech on terrorism which now mentions our children, Condi Rice adds her supporting two cents worth, some Generals chime in, Chertoff adds his "gut feeling" we will be attacked this summer, an old updated Bin Laden video appears at just the right moment, The National Intelligence estimate in part helps support the message, Frances Townsend of Homeland Security chirps,the lockstep, rubber stamping supporters in the House and Senate repeat the message, and the right wing brown shirt press carries the message to every public nook and cranny in the USA. Have these people no shame? The Big Lie does not build anything--The Big Lie destroys everything.

[nyckate]

JetRanger7 -- Rumor has it Townsend is on 'short list' to replace Alberto Gonzales if he has to go -- she's out here now selling her soul to be AG.

[SIDNEYWILLIAMSMD]

Those that do not wish to believe in Al Qaeda's threat to America are so eaten up with political animosity that should a terrorist blow up their family, they would swear it was the Republican National Committee, not Al Qaeda doing it. Absolutely incredible. Hope the barbarians do not attack anytime soon on American soil. But remember they started this war, with the first battles in NY, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC. Now they were kicked out of their Afganistan hideout, and have regrouped in Iraq and Pakistan, Somalia, and elsewhere. So many assh@les and so little time to take care of them. Even the Ethiopian Army and the Lebanese Armies are getting in on the kill. Will take some time, maybe years to subdue this movement.

[wogerwabbit]

Once again, another political hack in a position she is totally unqualified to occupy spews the party line. How the hell can we win a war when the highest levels of our government can't even identify the enemy correctly. When this all shakes out and the truth is known (and it will eventually be known), we should execute these traitors as a lesson for future American governments not to sacrifice our military on the political alter.

[nyckate]

doctorwho4 - Good Christ - what an idiot you are ...

NOBODY has said AQ is not a threat to America - problem is that in 6 years Bush has done NOTHING protect us - we are as report shows NOT safer now than we were then.

Bush keeps failing America and you idiots keep talking in the language known as BUSHIT.

Sheesh -- when you keep talking in Faux Talking Points you show yourself to be a total idiot.

[nyckate]

doctorwho4

In your stupidity you have failed to note that AQ and Taliban are BACK in Afghanistan and in control of many of the areas there -- and they've had another record breaking year of poppy growth.

Any idea how much terrorism that kind of money can buy?? Are you really THIS Stupid?

[name_verify]

DNC NEWS UPDATE

Okra Winprey says send your check payable to Barak The Magic Negro.

[sjc_1]

What the heck does this person know about terrorism?
What are her credentials? I know that Richard Clark had great credentials, experience and ability and resigned in disgust after 9/11, because Rice and the rest refused to take any action against Al Qaeda BEFORE 9/11.

If this person has all the credentials of Brown at FEMA we are in deep trouble. This group has appointed their friends of friends based on their fund raising ability more than their ability to do the job.

[clemenhagen1]

"The findings focused most heavily on Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, which was judged to remain the most serious threat to the United States."

Isn't it interesting how the Bush administration has ramped up the use of the term "al Qaeda" lately - virtually everything associated with Iraq gets labeled the doings of al Qaeda. The "al Qaeda" to whom they refer, al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, DID NOT EXIST prior to the invasion; they serve as a unique phenomena directly connected to the failed occupation of Iraq. They possess no direct link to the Osama bin Laden network that perpetrated 9-11 nor do they have any prior connection to Saddam's regime. The above quote, from the article, merely reflects the reality that the longer we stay immersed in a disastrous occupation of Iraq, the longer our real enemy has to regroup and plan another attack.

Where does the money and suicide recruits come from to perpetuate al Qaeda in Mesopotamia? Predominately Saudi Arabia...the same brand of Saudi extremism which supplied 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9-11. Between the Saudi connection and the money laundering for al Qaeda that flowed from Saudi Arabia through the United Arab Emirates (the same UAE to which Halliburton recently decided to relocate company headquarters) the media ramains complicitly silent.

[feelfree1]

Re: "President Bush's White House counterterrorism adviser said Wednesday that U.S. officials believe al Qaeda wants to launch "a mass casualty, spectacular event"

Many people think that the foudering and pittiful Bush cabal will orchestrate another major "terrorist" attack on U.S. soil, in a desperate attempt to cling to power.

They appear to be softening us up for just such an event.

[rafterman1]

===Many people think that the foudering and pittiful Bush cabal will orchestrate another major "terrorist" attack on U.S. soil, in a desperate attempt to cling to power. They appear to be softening us up for just such an event.===

Naw, I still don't buy that. As much as I hate Bush and the neocons, I doubt even these guys would do that. The look of complete bewilderment on Bush's face when told of the 9-11 attack on camera in that school proved that to me. Bush isn't that good of an actor. Plus, the dumba$$ just stayed there reading that book. If it was pre-planned, I think they would have put on a better show, showing a strong, decisive Bush by leaving immediately to take command. Instead, we saw the real Bush in a crisis - confused and lacking in any leadership.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by Rafterman1 at 10:16 PM : Jul 18, 2007

I am with you on that Raft, shrub is smart but not that smart. He is still trying to sneak the NWO in here even though he's been told that we know what he is doing. He 'is' a good salesman though, he won't quit.

[feelfree1]

ToolMangler, Rafterman1,

There are several good films on this topic. Here is one that is only 21 minutes long:

http://video.google.ca/videosearch?q=%22third+stage%22

Why not watch it, so that you at least have some material to ridicule me with?

I would be happy to supply you with URLs for other more comprehenisve films if you like.

I am not so hard headed that I will not consider your perspective.

If there is a reasonable explanation for the discrepancies, won't you share it with me?

[lucasnico]

Bush, down in the ratings again....time to play the fear card!!

There are no republicans left..... only conservatives who have no place to go.

[menofoz]

Where's gut feeling Chertoff?

[hungry1968]

Frances Townsend? What happened to Stephen Hadley?

Oh - I got it! They're using the Faux News idea. On Faux and Friends in the morning, they show several bimbos showing lots of leg. That's all the republicans care about - getting laid.

[menofoz]

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/july2007/180707oldfootage.htm

Proof Bin Laden Tape Is 5-Year-Old, Re-Released Footage
Why did IntelCenter, the middleman between "Al-Qaeda" and the media, a group that has government and Pentagon ties, re-release old footage and why did the media report it as new when it had already aired twice before?
Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet
Wednesday, July 18, 2007


A videotape that was heralded as "new" footage of Osama bin Laden by many quarters of the press has been conclusively proven to be more than 5 year old re-released footage, leading to questions about why the government and the media continue to act as willing propagandists for the terrorists while striking fear into Americans by claiming an attack is inevitable.

[menofoz]

The Associated Press ran the tape as a top story on Saturday under the headline "Bin Laden Appears in New al-Qaida Video".

Euro News, the propaganda arm of the European Union broadcast in dozens of countries around Europe, described the footage as "apparently new".

"Possible New Message From Osama Bin Laden," reported ABC News, noting that "a brief clip of an older-looking Osama bin Laden is contained in a new al Qaeda videotape," when in reality the graying in Bin Laden's beard was exactly the same as when he appeared in a 2001 videotape, while also wearing the exact same jacket.

The footage was not new and any small amount of cursory research would have verified that fact, and yet the media went full board with the story, creating the illusion that it was new, while rabid Neo-Cons lauded the tape as another reason for keeping U.S. troops in Iraq while fearmongering about upcoming terror attacks at home.

The footage first appeared in May 2002, having been released by a Pakistani security official to the Al-Ansaar Islamic news agency, based in Birmingham, England. This CBS video clip clearly shows the same footage as the apparent "new" tape.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/july2007/180707oldfootage.htm

[rharrin1]

They're using the Faux News idea. On Faux and Friends in the morning, they show several bimbos showing lots of leg. That's all the republicans care about - getting laid.
Posted by hungry1968 at 11:01 PM : Jul 18, 2007

They are using a new approach as shown in the past they only like young boys.

[nearl4511]

Fran is a typical loyal spinner, and what all Bush advisors eventually become. They are not capable of independent thought.

The rest of us don't believe in the Boogey man.

[j-whitman]

Advisor Fran Townsend defended every thing Bush has done. She even defended his Air National Gaurd lack of record..... Any wonder why all the White House advice was wrong for 6 years ??

[trillion1]

A terror policy which creats more terrorists. Interesting concept.

[boatdocster]

Ms. Townsend came to the White House from the U. S. Coast Guard, where she had served as Assistant Commandant for Intelligence. Prior to that, Ms. Townsend spent 13 years at the U. S. Department of Justice in a variety of senior positions, her last assignment as Counsel to the Attorney General for Intelligence Policy. Ms. Townsend began her prosecutorial career in 1985, serving as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, New York.

In March of 1998, Ms. Townsend was appointed Counsel for Intelligence Policy, managing matters related to national security policy and operations for the Department of Justice. In this capacity she headed the office of Intelligence Policy and Review, an office that provides legal advice and recommendations to the Attorney General and the Department of Justice regarding national security matters, reviews executive orders, directives and procedures relating to the intelligence community, and approves certain intelligence-gathering activities, especially those matters related to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

[boatdocster]

I have a lot of great friends in the Coast Guard but that is NOT the first service I would look to for prosecuting international terrorists.

Before that she was a paper pusher at Justice. Another highly loyal Bushie but with very dubious credentials for the job. She sure can spew the party line of GOP BS with a vengeance. Seems like she should be on FOX NOISE.

[ovation56]

Simplemind2, I was going to reply to your post, but when I saw how you labeled yourself, you saved me the trouble. Thank you.

[randalds]

"What the report tells us is that we have constrained al Qaeda's ability to act against us. That al Qaeda believes, based on billions of dollars that we%u2019ve spent, that we are a more difficult and less vulnerable target for them."

Frances Townsend, White House counterterrorism adviser

She is nuts. Insane. Wacko. Crazy. No wonder Bush likes her. Our government gutted the Bill of Rights, wasted 3600+ plus troops lives on the wrong war, wounded 25,000 more troops, spent half a trillion dollars (so far) and the best it can come up with is that we've spent so much money that we've fooled al-Qaeda into thinking we're safer? That is complete madness!!!

[randalds]

Naw, I still don't buy that. As much as I hate Bush and the neocons, I doubt even these guys would do that. The look of complete bewilderment on Bush's face when told of the 9-11 attack on camera in that school proved that to me. Bush isn't that good of an actor. Plus, the dumba$$ just stayed there reading that book. If it was pre-planned, I think they would have put on a better show, showing a strong, decisive Bush by leaving immediately to take command. Instead, we saw the real Bush in a crisis - confused and lacking in any leadership.



Posted by Rafterman1 at 10:16 PM : Jul 18, 2007

I gotta agree 100%. I hate Bush's guts more then just about any human alive (and rightfully so...the mouthy little pri*ck!), but I think it gives him too much credit for him to be part of some grand conspiracy. The sawed off little Napoleon want to be just isn't up to it.

[feelfree1]

www.zeitgeistmovie.com

[david1737]

Bottom line the Bush Admin. continues both train and fight the same enemy in Iraq. This at an enormous cost in both blood and treasure. Remember this War has cost thousands of lives, and hundreds of billions of dollars. Remember the terrorist stated policy is to drive us to economic ruin.

[randalds]

Bottom line the Bush Admin. continues both train and fight the same enemy in Iraq. This at an enormous cost in both blood and treasure. Remember this War has cost thousands of lives, and hundreds of billions of dollars. Remember the terrorist stated policy is to drive us to economic ruin.
Posted by david1737 at 01:32 AM : Jul 19, 2007

Yeah but that's standard operating procedure for republicans. Reagan did the same thing by providing weapons (including chemical and biological ones) to Iraq at the same time he was selling arms to Iran. That's not a conspiracy. It's just their sick and demented way of conducting business. It's all about the money for them and scr*ew the troops and the tax payers. They don't care now any more or less then they ever did about America or it's people, just what they can scr*ew out of us. They aren't loyal to this country, it's people or it's principles. All they worship is money and power and they'll gladly sell us, our soldiers and our nation to turn a profit. They have no patriotism, no heart and no soul. They're not Americans. They are international business people, oil thieves and arms dealers first, foremost and last. Bush, Cheney and their ilk don't give enough of a sh*it about America to launch a conspiracy against us when they can just steal from us like they ar already. They care only about themselves and their immediate circle of mega rich friends and laugh at us behind our backs, since they're already back there anyway.

[besscannon-2009]

Is it possible that all this propaganda is so they can set up something we will think is ALqueda so Bush can keep his war going?

[feelfree1]

RandalDS,

%u201CAll they worship is money and power and they'll gladly sell us, our soldiers and our nation to turn a profit.%u201D

%u201CThey are international business people, oil thieves and arms dealers first, foremost and last. Bush, Cheney and their ilk don't give enough of a sh*it about America to launch a conspiracy against us when they can just steal from us like they (are) already.%u201D

###

%u201CConspiracy (crime), agreement between two or more natural persons to break the law at some time in the future%u201D

###

www.zeitgeistmovie.com