Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Jul 11, 8:15 PM EDT


Al-Qaida has rebuilt, U.S. intel warns

By KATHERINE SHRADER and MATTHEW LEE
Associated Press Writers?
 
WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. intelligence analysts have concluded al-Qaida has rebuilt its operating capability to a level not seen since just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, The Associated Press has learned.

The conclusion suggests that the network that launched the most devastating terror attack on the United States has been able to regroup along the Afghan-Pakistani border despite nearly six years of bombings, war and other tactics aimed at crippling it.

Still, numerous government officials say they know of no specific, credible threat of a new attack on U.S. soil.

A counterterrorism official familiar with a five-page summary of the new government threat assessment called it a stark appraisal to be discussed at the White House on Thursday as part of a broader meeting on an upcoming National Intelligence Estimate.

The official and others spoke on condition of anonymity because the secret report remains classified.

Counterterrorism analysts produced the document, titled "Al-Qaida better positioned to strike the West." The document focuses on the terror group's safe haven in Pakistan and makes a range of observations about the threat posed to the United States and its allies, officials said.

Al-Qaida is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," the official said, paraphrasing the report's conclusions. "They are showing greater and greater ability to plan attacks in Europe and the United States."

The group also has created "the most robust training program since 2001, with an interest in using European operatives," the official quoted the report as saying.

At the same time, this official said, the report speaks of "significant gaps in intelligence" so U.S. authorities may be ignorant of potential or planned attacks.

John Kringen, who heads the CIA's analysis directorate, echoed the concerns about al-Qaida's resurgence during testimony and conversations with reporters at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.

"They seem to be fairly well settled into the safe haven and the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan," Kringen testified. "We see more training. We see more money. We see more communications. We see that activity rising."

The threat assessment comes as the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies prepare a National Intelligence Estimate focusing on threats to the United States. A senior intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity while the high-level analysis was being finalized, said the document has been in the works for roughly two years.


From AP (http://www.ap.org/)

 

US intelligence agencies haven't been that reliable in the past, but I bet they are dead on this time.

I'm so afraid that I think I'll give up my personal freedoms willingly.

hahah great post  : ok:

Sadly, I believe it this time.  And it sickens me more than anything else the Bush admin has done/failed to do.  We HAD this mother fucker (OBL) in our cross hairs and let him go.  We had them on the run and hiding in caves in Afghanistan.   The world was on our side and al queda didn't have many friends.

we have spent BILLIONS and lost thousands and NOTHING has changed!?!??!

I am ready to vomit.  WHERE IS THE PUBLIC OUTCRY! WHERE ARE THE MARCHES ON WASHINGTON!!!

Who would have guessed that ignoring the people who attacked us on 9-11 would lead to this?

our economy needs war.
OBL and Al-Quaida must stay alive.

Yep, war always has been good for the economy!  : ok:

Nah, send out a few million more unsolicited pre-approved credit cards and watch the economy inflate to bursting point. Though I guess taking on trillions of dollars of debt at the national level does cut out the middle-man. 

Suspicious package responses are pretty impressive now though.....(Downunder anyway)

The city gets locked down, bomb squad and STAR force everywhere........

People can be incarcerated for years without charge.......

who knows, he might not even be alive, they might just be lieing to us to give motives to stay over in jihad land.