A new NIE report shows that the Al Qaeda that attacked us on 9/11 is growing stronger while we are bogged down in Iraq:
A new National Intelligence Estimate presents a sobering analysis of terrorism threats to the United States, concluding that Al Qaeda has reconstituted its core structure along the Pakistani border and may now be a stronger and more resilient organization today than it appeared a year ago, according to three U.S. intelligence officials familiar with the draft document.
Newsweek
The Edwards campaign responded to the report yesterday:
"Today's report that Al Qaeda has rebuilt its operating capability to a level unseen since just before 9/11 is an unsettling reminder of the failures of President's Bush's 'War on Terror' doctrine. Months ago, John Edwards stepped up as the only major candidate to call the 'War on Terror' doctrine what it is -- a sledgehammer that the Administration uses to beat down their domestic political opponents, a bumper sticker to distract from a host of policies that have compromised our moral leadership of the world, and a military doctrine that has badly backfired against terrorism -- as today's report reveals.
"The report proves that a real effort to arrest the spread of terrorism is needed to replace the Administration's bumper sticker. John Edwards has proposed a bold new 'smart power' anti-terror strategy that would shut down both the effects of terrorism and its root causes. As president, John Edwards will apply the full extent of our security apparatus to protect our vital interests, to take measures to root out terrorist cells, and to strike swiftly and strongly against those who would do us harm. He will also launch a sweeping effort to eliminate the conditions that generate instability, radicalism, and violence toward the U.S. and our allies."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
This is key: George Bush has embraced a "a military doctrine that has badly backfired against terrorism." Put bluntly, Bush has used the so-called GWOT as a sledgehammer to smash political dissent at home, often by unconstitutional and illegal means, and yet he has failed in his supposed aim of eradicating "terror," let alone in bringing justice for those who lost their lives on 9/11. Osama Bin Laden still is free almost six years after the evil attack he engineered. Meanwhile, Americans are dying in an endless war in Iraq. And Republicans in Congress uphold this delusional President.
Where I come from, we call that failure. Not just Bush, but the Republican Party has failed this nation. They are unfit to lead.
Today, in his press conference, Bush once again tried to hide behind 9/11 to cover up his failure in addressing our real enemies, while bogging us down in the Iraq quagmire:
Mr. Bush asserted, as he has many times before, that the United States must prevail in Iraq, or risk having terrorists attacks again, as they did on Sept. 11, 2001. The president’s critics have accused him of falsely implying a link between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks with such language, but Mr. Bush has said he is simply recognizing the global dimensions of the war on terror.
New York Times
That is just one of Bush's many attempts to use Al Qaeda to justify his failed war.
Bush lied to get us into the war in Iraq. He and his immoral minions repeatedly conflated Hussein and 9/11, even though Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11. They brought us into war on lies and continue the death based on more lies. As expected by all unbiased observers, their so-called "surge" has failed, yet they continue in their delusional enterprise of empire.
John Edwards confronted Bush's lies, perhaps in more diplomatic language than mine, although "delusional" is a nice touch. He is not mincing words here:
"The president's remarks today defending his Iraq policy without regard to actual facts border on the delusional. The president claimed that the same people attacking U.S. troops today are the ones who perpetrated 9/11. It must be nice to live in a world where your actions have no consequences. There was no group called Al Qaeda in Iraq before the president's disastrous mismanagement of the war gave them a foothold, a fact the president flagrantly ignores. After being discredited again and again, the president is still trying to link Iraq and 9/11 - a rationale for the war that virtually everyone except Dick Cheney has now recognized was false.
"The president needs to stop pretending and start taking responsibility for the results of his failed strategy: There are more terrorists. Al Qaeda is resurgent and restored to full strength. And that's according to the Bush Administration.
"We need a real strategy against terrorism, like the one I have offered. We need to take Al Qaeda in Iraq as seriously as we take terrorism anywhere. As president, I will apply the full extent of our security apparatus to protect our vital interests, to take measures to root out terrorist cells, and to strike swiftly and strongly against those who would do us harm. I will also launch a sweeping effort to eliminate the conditions that generate instability, radicalism, and violence toward the U.S. and our allies."
Edwards Statement On President Bush Remarks On Iraq
As he noted in his statement, John Edwards has a plan to address terrorism without bumper sticker slogans. Here's a link to an overview of the Edwards Plan:Edwards Evening News Roundup: The GWOT Bumper Sticker Edition
Bush is a complete failure. It is time for Congress and the American people to stand up to him. On Iraq, as with the so-called GWOT, John Edwards has it right:
"It is more important than ever for people all across the country to let Congress know that we expect them to act decisively to end the war in Iraq. Congress should no longer facilitate the President's stubborn allegiance to his failed strategy. It's not enough to talk a good game any more. It is time to act. The one way to support our troops and bring them home is for Congress to exercise its constitutionally mandated funding power, force an immediate drawdown of 40,000 to 50,000 troops and require withdrawal of all troops within about a year."
Edwards Statement On The War In Iraq
Let's start standing up to this delusional President by getting out of Iraq. Congress must exercise its constitutionally mandated funding power and set a timetable for redeployment ASAP. That is a necessary first step to actually having a smart policy against actual terrorists who are threats, instead of a policy based on a false metaphor.
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