U.S.: Al Qaeda Rebuilding In Pakistan

State Department Report Says Terrorist Attacks In Neighboring Afghanistan Up 16 Percent

(CBS/AP)  Al Qaeda has rebuilt some of its pre-Sept. 11 capabilities from remote hiding places in Pakistan, leading to a jump in attacks last year in that country and neighboring Afghanistan, the Bush administration said Wednesday.

Attacks in Pakistan doubled between 2006 and 2007 and the number of fatalities quadrupled, the State Department said in its annual terrorism report. In Afghanistan, the number of attacks rose 16 percent, to 1,127 incidents last year.

The report says attacks in Iraq dipped slightly between 2006 and 2007, but they still accounted for 60 percent of worldwide terrorism fatalities, including 17 of the 19 Americans who were killed in attacks last year. The other two were killed in Afghanistan.

More than 22,000 people were killed by terrorists around the world in 2007, 8 percent more than in 2006, although the overall number of attacks fell, the report says.

The report once again identifies Iran as the world's "most active" state sponsor of terrorism for supporting Palestinian extremists and insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq, where it says elements of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps continued to provide militants with weapons, training and funding.

"In this way, Iranian government forces have been responsible for attacks on coalition forces," State Department counter terrorism coordinator Dell Dailey told reporters. Iranian forces are also giving weapons and financial aid to the Taliban in Afghanistan, he said.

About 13,600 noncombatants were killed in 2007 in Iraq, the report says, adding the high number could be attributed to a 50 percent increase in the number of suicide bombings. Suicide car bombings were up 40 percent and suicide bombings outside of vehicles climbed 90 percent over 2006, it says.

"The ability of these attackers to penetrate large concentrations of people and then detonate their explosives may account for the increase in lethality of bombings in 2007," the report says.

In Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, al Qaeda and its affiliates remain "the greatest terrorist threat to the United States and its partners" despite ongoing efforts to combat followers of Osama bin Laden and his top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, according to the report. It says Zawahiri has emerged as the group's "strategic and operational planner."

"It has reconstituted some of its pre-9/11 operational capabilities through the exploitation of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, replacement of captured or killed operational lieutenants, and the restoration of some central control by its top leadership, in particular Ayman al-Zawahiri," it says.

Dailey, however, stressed that al Qaeda is still weaker overall than it was before Sept. 11, 2001.

A primary reason for its resurgence was a cease-fire the Pakistani government reached with tribal leaders last year, the report says. That truce has since ended but Pakistan's new government is now renegotiating a similar agreement that some fear could have similar results and further undermine efforts to battle al Qaeda.

The earlier cease-fire and instability in the region appear "to have provided al Qaeda leadership greater mobility and ability to conduct training and operational planning, particularly that targeting Western Europe and the United States," the report says.

"Numerous senior al Qaeda operatives have been captured or killed, but al Qaeda leaders continued to plot attacks and to cultivate stronger operational connections that radiated outward from Pakistan to affiliates throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe," it says.

U.S. officials are increasingly concerned about the growing power of an al Qaeda affiliate in North Africa known as al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr. The so-called AQIM carried out numerous suicide bombings in 2007 using suicide operatives ranging in age from 15 to 64. This group which formerly focused its hostilities on Algerian government targets is now expanding its reach to Western targets. The U.N. headquarters in Algeria, for example, was bombed in December.

In Pakistan, the State Department recorded more than 45 suicide bombings in 2007, up from a total of just 22 such incidents between 2002 and 2006. Among those logged last year were the December attack that killed former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and an October attack on her homecoming parade that killed more than 130 people, the worst suicide attack in Pakistani history.

[lovegetpeace]

Folks,
Does anyone knows when America is going to bomb if not invade Iran and/or Pakistan? Our Master Israel is lately screaming fears. So, America must bleed Treasury and Blood in Iran and Pakistan ASAP.

[lovegetpeace]

Folks,
On May 15, 1948, the American President advocated the creation of the State of Israel in the heart of the Muslim Middle-East. 2 years later, 4.5 millions Palestinians were forced out of their homes and lands without compensation.

I am not going to say that this is Terrorism but I will say America is bleeding Treasury and blood because of one dumb religious decision 60 years ago. This price keeps exploding as long as we continue UnConditional Support to Israel. I cannot believe we care much more about Israel than of ourselves.

2 weeks after 9/11, Osama Bin Ladin released his 1st video. In the video, he clearly listed the top 3 reasons for bombing the twin towers. The 1st reason was the US military base 60 miles from their Muslim''s holy Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The 2nd reason was the Palestine crisis. Now, Bush wants a State of Palestine. Osama is really winning BIG here.

On Osama Bin Ladin 2nd released video, Osama states that they will destroy America Economically and not Militarily. So far, Osama is really winning Big here.

According to our US State Department, Anti-Semitics is exploding around the world:
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1334791720080314?feedType=RSSfeedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

I just sit here and wonder why? Personally, I blame only the Zionists inside Israel and America.


!The Zionists of the world should fight this War on Terrorism!

[liberalme]

Oh my so many choices--so little time!!

Bin Laden is in Pakistan
Iran is minutes away from getting nukes

Pick one George hurry Iran--Pakistan hurry hurry--oh master Decider--tell us who will be saved? You alone decides who lives or dies oh master we beg you---just pick one!!

Freaking idiot!

[ponco seno]

U.S.: Al Qaeda Rebuilding In Pakistan



WHY? WHO TO BLAME?

[realpatriot1]

lovegetpeace,

Pushing the Palestinians off the land to make room for settling Jews was a mistake, but I think it had more to do with Allied politics than religion. Freed Jews had to be resettled, Euorpeans didn''t want to take them back in and Jews :1) Did not want to return to the anti-semitic atmosphere of Europe, and 2.) saw the opportunity for a Jewish homeland.

That injustice has fueled the conflict ever since. However, we can''t put that genie entirely back in the bottle and the only rational solution moving forward is a 2 state solution.

Working toward an independent Palestine living in peace with a secure Israel is what America wants. Bin Laden and other extremists want a Palestine that will serve as a base of attack aginst Israel.

We''ve come close to a lasting peace several times and in each instance extremists from one side or the other have sabotaged those efforts(assassinations of Sadat & Rabin, Sharon visiting the Dome of the Rock then setting off the intafada,Munich, etc.).

We need to be independent of Israel in order to be an hnest arbiter but we also need to continue to wage war against the leadership of Al Quaeda and other groups at the same time that we pursue agressively diplomacy.

Iraq is a diversion from that effort because the leadership conducting the war against us is centered in Pakastan.

[mrmazerati]

What''s with the "pointy finger" with all these Al Qaeda guys? Looks like they''re constantly trying to flip a nose goblin off of it.

[mudrose-2009]

Seems logical to me. Al-Qaeda needs nukes. Pakistan anyone? Maybe Effendi Snob-oma can do a pre-empt on Pakistan - this time I''m sure Nancy would give her blessings.

[inventagod2]

Learn from history, Dubya!

Previous Afghan invasions which failed:
Persia - Darius the Great. Failed.
Greece - Alexander the Great. Failed.
Scythians, the Sassanians, the Hephthalites (or White Huns), and the Turks (or Gvkt|rks) Failed.
The Mongols - Ghengis Khan. Failed.
The British. Failed.
The Soviet Union. Failed.

Had Bu$h not been partying so hard in college, he may have learned this.
Going AWOL in the reserves didn''t help either...

So here we are.

Failing...

[sgtrds]

Of course they''re building power in Pakistan! Bush''s goal was never to get rid of them in the first place. All they were and are to the Neocons are boogie-men to try to frighten the American people into more and more wars for profit. The goal is continual warfare with the American people paying war contractors huge mounts of money to conduct them. this is about money and power and nothing else. it never had anything to do with fighting terrorism. It''s all one big bloody profitable game to them

[mudrose-2009]

Had Bu$h not been partying so hard in college, he may have learned this.
Going AWOL in the reserves didn''''t help either...

So here we are.

Failing...

Posted by Inventagod2

Had Clintoon not been playing with himself, perhaps Bush wouldn''t have had to take care of business.

[randynason]

As long as we''re there, we''ll be creating more Al Qaeda and other, assorted insurgents defending thier countries. They despise our dysfunctional, condescending, power-hungry and inept government almost as much as I have come to hate it. Have you eaten any Iraqi civilians for lunch today, Mr. Rabid Pink Monkey-In-Chief? Wash them down with a barrel of oil, why don''cha?

[notblue]

Isn''t the guy pictured the Democratic majority leader in the senate? Glasses are the same, message is the same, the beard is new that''s what threw me.

[tfheringer]

What we need to do over there in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan I would say we do not have the stomach for it. This war can only be won, when all of them are dead. I am not suggesting that we go and do this, but there is nothing else that will work. We are going to be over there for at least 25 years if not longer, putting out brush fires.

[sgtrds]

As long as we''''re there, we''''ll be creating more Al Qaeda and other, assorted insurgents defending thier countries. They despise our dysfunctional, condescending, power-hungry and inept government almost as much as I have come to hate it. Have you eaten any Iraqi civilians for lunch today, Mr. Rabid Pink Monkey-In-Chief? Wash them down with a barrel of oil, why don''''cha?

Posted by RandyNason at 01:06 PM : Apr 30, 2008

George W. Bush and the Neocons are the single best thing that has ever happened for Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. They''ve worked so well together that one begins to wonder whose payroll Bush is on, ours or theirs.

[mudrose-2009]

Isn''''t the guy pictured the Democratic majority leader in the senate? Glasses are the same, message is the same, the beard is new that''''s what threw me.
Posted by notblue

Yeah, it''s Harry''s night job. Sorta the same way he handles his day job too. Hahahaha!

[arrestbush1]

This story is ***.

[mudrose-2009]

George W. Bush and the Neocons are the single best thing that has ever happened for Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. They''''ve worked so well together that one begins to wonder whose payroll Bush is on, ours or theirs.
Posted by SgtRDS

Hamas is so excited about Effendi Snob-oma they are hoping he''ll win the election so they can sit down with him and Jimmah Carter and renogitate nothing.

[aaabee-2009]

Afganistan
Iraq
Iran
Now Pakistan too? Republicans oughtta love this....

[checkthepast]

The battle wasn''t started 60 years ago.
The beginning of islamic faith came by murder and siege 1300 years ago with attacks on Medina, Ceasaria, Jerusalem, and on and on.... The Jewish and Christian faiths were birthed from this land that was entirely not in dispute for thousands of years prior to the lunacy that began "by revelation" in 624 A.D.

[aaabee-2009]

Isn''''t the guy pictured the Democratic majority leader in the senate? Glasses are the same, message is the same, the beard is new that''''s what threw me.
Posted by notblue at 01:13 PM : Apr 30, 2008

LOL. You are so talented. Fun to bust on safe enemies, isn''t it? Wheeeeeeeeee.

[yongamerica]

Pakistan has always been recognized as a terrorist hot bed. All those that think this is new news has been ignorant or asleep for the past seven years.

[mudrose-2009]

Why don''''''''t you pick up a map of the region and study it. And the congress approved the war so the only thing that''''''''s fkked up is your brain.

Posted by mudrose

U mean the Republican rubber stamp congress at the time??? Yes u are correct.
Posted by fedupwithit1
Did the rubber stamp need 2/3 of the vote?

[lefeaoux]

What we need to do over there in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan I would say we do not have the stomach for it. This war can only be won, when all of them are dead. I am not suggesting that we go and do this, but there is nothing else that will work. We are going to be over there for at least 25 years if not longer, putting out brush fires.

Posted by tfheringer at 01:13 PM : Apr 30, 2008


I think you are absolutely correct except for one thing; we DO have the stomach to wipe this vermin off of the face of the earth! It is Liberal America and the liberal world opinion that stops us. The people in the Mideast have been fighting non-stop throughout recorded history and they will NEVER stop until they either win and destroy ALL Christians -or- we wipe them out! Do I WANT us to wipe them out? No, of course not ... but that IS the only way to stop them.

[bombadil4]

Oh please--there will always be some "development" or "new intelligence" over there to scare us into thinking we need to feed the insatiable maw of our already bloated military-industrial complex. All the warring parties in the arab world play us like a fiddle because they know we are hopeless bunglers who have no understanding of their "culture" or their motives. Many other "stupid white men," be they British, Russian, American, etc. have thought they could influence events over there or profit from them. What they all had in common was that sooner of later they got their a$$es kicked. Rudyard Kipling of course knew that way back in the 19th century when he wrote:
"At the end of the fight, a tombstone white
with the name of the late deceased.
And this epitaph drear--a fool lies here
Who tried to hurry the East."

[jjp735i]

Al Qaeda Rebuilding In Pakistan? What, Bush just finding this out? It''s pretty much been talked about for the past few years. Oh that''s right, Bush does know about it, he just does not want to go in and get them.

[mudrose-2009]

LOL. You are so talented. Fun to bust on safe enemies, isn''''t it? Wheeeeeeeeee.
Posted by AaaBee

They''re the only kind the Lefties like. Safe.

[edward1975-2009]

Our military has ben used as a private security force since arriving. If we are not going to take the fight to the enemy, with the full resources available to us, what the heck are we doing there. We can no longer sit on our hands as brave men and women from our military die, all the while waiting for this fractured government to put aside tribal thinking and come together for the sake of THEIR nation and people. The time has come for them to step up.

[mbcsmith]

Time to END the war on Terror by actually fighting where the enemy is located.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by mjlewis6 at 01:30 PM : Apr 30, 2008


Here''s a clue. AL-QUAIDA IN IRAQ.

[lefeaoux]

Oh please--there will always be some "development" or "new intelligence" over there to scare us into thinking we need to feed the insatiable maw of our already bloated military-industrial complex. All the warring parties in the arab world play us like a fiddle because they know we are hopeless bunglers who have no understanding of their "culture" or their motives. Many other "stupid white men," be they British, Russian, American, etc. have thought they could influence events over there or profit from them. What they all had in common was that sooner of later they got their a$$es kicked. Rudyard Kipling of course knew that way back in the 19th century when he wrote:
"At the end of the fight, a tombstone white
with the name of the late deceased.
And this epitaph drear--a fool lies here
Who tried to hurry the East."

Posted by bombadil4 at 01:35 PM : Apr 30, 2008

YOU are just an over-educated idiot who knows absolutely NOTHING about the TRUE nature of things in the Mideast! You want to know what''s REALLY going-on over there? Talk to a returning vet who has been there, and not one of the liberal, crybabies who just joined the military for the benefits and didn''t really want to do his/her job over there! THEY will tell you how it really is over there!

[bubbadgret1]

Any ceasefire or Peace Talks is an opportunity for Terrorist to reorganized, resupply, and Strengthen their Forces. These are the tactics use by All Islamic Terrorist groups. PEACETALKS and CEASEFIRE is the Islamic TERRORIST Greatest Ally. Be it in Lebanon, Gaza, West Bank, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Philippines, Thailand, and many other countries involved against Islamic Terrorism in their respective countries....

[lefeaoux]

Al Qaeda Rebuilding In Pakistan? What, Bush just finding this out? It''''s pretty much been talked about for the past few years. Oh that''''s right, Bush does know about it, he just does not want to go in and get them.

Posted by jjp735i at 01:36 PM : Apr 30, 2008


Of course Bush has known about it LONG before any of us did! Don''t blame Bush for our lack of action in the Mideast ... that would be just stupid! Bush can and absolutely would kick-A over there if all the liberal, crybaby, bleeding heart, make peace not war, pansies in the world would wake up to the reality and urgency of the nature of things over there and LET HIM!

[sgtrds]

Here''''s the solution. One plane, one gigantic bomb one flight plan. Hit the red button, let it drop.. Fly away.. Be done with this sh*t already.

Posted by guyfrompa45 at 01:46 PM : Apr 30, 2008

That''ll work, as long as the bomb is dropped on Bush.

[mudrose-2009]

Of course Bush has known about it LONG before any of us did! Don''''t blame Bush for our lack of action in the Mideast ... that would be just stupid! Bush can and absolutely would kick-A over there if all the liberal, crybaby, bleeding heart, make peace not war, pansies in the world would wake up to the reality and urgency of the nature of things over there and LET HIM!
Posted by LeFeaoux

Well, if they ever get a veto proof Congress, the Dems will just have a field day with America. They will relegate all wars to the U.N. for police action and when they hit our borders then they''ll all stand on the steps of Congress and sing Kumbia. Or maybe Pewlosi and Jimmah can go back to Syria and pave the roads over there.

[aaabee-2009]

Do I WANT us to wipe them out? No, of course not ... but that IS the only way to stop them.Posted by LeFeaoux at 01:32 PM : Apr 30, 2008

Nooo, sounds like you don''t really want to wipe them out.

Couple of questions:

What percentage of "them" are we talking about killing?

All of "them"?

Just the radical element?

What percentage of the population IS the radical element?

What percentage of civilian deaths is allowed to stomp the radical element out from among those civilians?

If we do wipe the radical element out, but "they" still practice their religion, who''s to say that the next generation doesn''t come up with the same radical ideas? Do we wipe out the religion too?

So really, we need to wipe out "All of Them", is what you are saying, all the brown-skinned Muslim people who worship Alah, because there will never stop being a threat there of radicalism?

What about others you are scared of...

What about liberals, since they don''t think like you?
Do I WANT us to wipe them out? No, of course not ... but that IS the only way to stop them.Posted by LeFeaoux at 01:32 PM : Apr 30, 2008

What about ethnic minorities because they don''t look like you? Do I WANT us to wipe them out? No, of course not ... but that IS the only way to stop them.Posted by LeFeaoux at 01:32 PM : Apr 30, 2008

Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses?
Do I WANT us to wipe them out? No, of course not ... but that IS the only way to stop them.Posted by LeFeaoux at 01:32 PM : Apr 30, 2008

[bluestardad]

MORE BUSHIT STRAIGHT FROM THE CRAWFORD RANCH!

[lefeaoux]

America needs to "get-over" it''s ignorance of Muslims and the Muslim religion. They ALL believe as Al Queida does (misspelling INTENTIONAL) despite the fact that they deny it. The ONLY difference between Al Queida and a "normal" Muslim is this: Al Queida ACTS on their beliefs while the "normal" Muslims just keep their mouth shut and leave it to the extremists to do their dirty work for them. Why can''t Americans understand that?

[lefeaoux]

AaaBee, it has absolutely NOTHING to do with being "afraid" of them. This has to do with the fact that they ALREADY attacked us on our own soil, killed in excess of 6,000 Americans after that ONE attack was all over and done with and that they will NEVER stop attacking us now ... not even if we left the Mideast and vowed to leave them alone. You pansy liberals just don''t get it. It would be GREAT if the world worked the way you all WISH it did, but it doesn''t!!!

Take off your "rose-colored" glasses and see the situation for what it really is!!!

[ontheleft]

Bush can''t even secure our own borders to prevent terrorists (and illegal aliens) from entering this country. What makes anyone think he can be any more successful fighting terrorism over there?

[noloyalisti]

Good old Bush Cheney and the GOP. Speading terror and recruiting for Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas and other freedom fighters throughout the world.

Let''s Swiftboat Obama so we can get McBush for the corporate media and oil corporations. Way to go!!!

[aaabee-2009]

This has to do with the fact that they ALREADY attacked us on our own soil" Posted by LeFeaoux at 02:02 PM : Apr 30, 2008

It was a simple enough question, lefeaoux.

WHO IS THEY!

[ontheleft]

To Bush, Afghanistan and Pakistan are just a distraction from the war for oil going on in Iraq that is about to spread to Iran. All in the name of fighting terrorism.

[antoniof123]

Well, don''t your all feel safer now that the neo cons have been spreading hate, violence, death, famine, war, and so much more evil through out the world.

They keep talking about how god is on their side I hope that when god does judge he lets me watch. I want to watch them as they fall down the shute.

[lefeaoux]

Bush can''''t even secure our own borders to prevent terrorists (and illegal aliens) from entering this country. What makes anyone think he can be any more successful fighting terrorism over there?

Posted by ontheleft at 02:02 PM : Apr 30, 2008

OF COURSE he can, the Liberals won''t let him because they WANT the Hispanic vote and they know that turning a blind eye on illegal immigration will get them that vote ... and IT DID!!! Get your facts straight ... who is it vetoing all of Bush''s bills regarding illegal immigration? Who is it that sponsors "Sanctuary Cities"? I''ll give you a hint ... it ISN''T the conservatives!

[speakinup]

LeFeaoux - don''t bother ********** with facts, he''s already made up his mind.

[sgtrds]

No kidding. Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism and the Bumpkins screech Fear! Invade! Help! Jesus is in Danger!

Posted by FloydZepp at 02:06 PM : Apr 30, 2008

ROTFLMFAO!

[lefeaoux]

No kidding. Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism and the Bumpkins screech Fear! Invade! Help! Jesus is in Danger!

Posted by FloydZepp at 02:06 PM : Apr 30, 2008

Are you that ignorant??? Do you know who we are even fighting over there? We AREN''T fighting Iraq braniac ... we are fighting Al Queida. We are liberating Iraq. Learn the difference. Saddam was hit because he refused to comply with UN sanctions ... end of story! Al Queida turned this war into what it is now and you are a blithering idiot if you cannot realize that!

[speakinup]

LOOK OUT SgtRDS is on the floor doing something with his A$$.




FUGGIN TERRORIST LOVER.





SUPPORT THE TROOPS !!!

[venkata4--2008]

"Good old Bush Cheney and the GOP. Speading terror and recruiting for Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas and other freedom fighters throughout the world.

Let''s Swiftboat Obama so we can get McBush for the corporate media and oil corporations. Way to go!!!

Posted by noloyalisti at 02:03 PM : Apr 30, 2008"
Well noloyalisti , to fight the terrorism we need to create one like on Iraq first. So invading Iran to create more terrorism. And another 2 billion per quarter profit to Halliburton. Added to that unlike Iraq(only 25 million population before war and Iran 50 million population) Pakistan has 150 million population. Pakistan neither have oil nor natural gas so it is off the limits. Now we have 20% world reserves in Iraq and can 10% of Iran''s too. If this Prez. & VP start war with Iran then next president will not have any option except continuing it.

[sgtrds]

SUPPORT THE TROOPS !!!

Posted by speakinup at 02:11 PM : Apr 30, 2008

As a Vietnam veteran I think you for that sentiment. You''re welcome.

[lefeaoux]

I can''t help but to laugh my a$$-off every time I see the BS these clueless liberal pansies write in here. I laugh because someday, they will either be dead or running back to US to protect their spineless A$$es!