Al Qaeda has been revitalized by the Democrats’ majority in both houses of Congress:
DUBAI, Nov 10 (Reuters) – The leader of Iraq’s al Qaeda wing on Friday gloated over forcing outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to flee the Iraqi battlefield and said his group would not rest until it blew up the White House.
Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, said in a purported audio recording posted on the Internet that the group has 12,000 armed fighters and 10,000 others waiting to be equipped to fight U.S. troops in Iraq.
“I swear by God we shall not rest from jihad until we … blow up the filthiest house known as the White House,” he said.
The Democrats’ victory at U.S. Congressional elections on Tuesday were a step in the right direction, the speaker said.
“I tell the lame duck (U.S. administration) do not rush to escape as did your defence minister … stay on the battleground,” the speaker said. “The American people have taken a step in the right path to come out of their predicament … they voted for a level of reason.”
The authenticity of the tape could not be verified.
“The (U.S.) enemy if now wobbly. Today they are loading their gear to flee,” the speaker said.
The American people who voted for the Democrats need to understand what they voted for. And it’s not just al Qaeda in Iraq that’s happy.
Let’s begin with Iran first:
TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday called U.S. President George W. Bush’s defeat in congressional elections a victory for Iran.
Bush has accused Iran of trying to make a nuclear bomb, being a state sponsor of terrorism and stoking sectarian conflict in Iraq, all charges Tehran denies.
“This issue (the elections) is not a purely domestic issue for America, but it is the defeat of Bush’s hawkish policies in the world,” Khamenei said in remarks reported by Iran’s student news agency ISNA on Friday.
“Since Washington’s hostile and hawkish policies have always been against the Iranian nation, this defeat is actually an obvious victory for the Iranian nation.”
And this is what the leaders in Syria think:
Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) – Iran and Syria say that a Democrat-controlled Congress and the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld could relieve the pressure on them, officials from those countries said.
Both Iran and Syria have been under pressure from the U.S. — Iran, for its refusal to abandon its nuclear program; and Syria for its alleged involvement in the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
[snip]
[Syrian Information Minister Dr Mohsen] Bilal noted that incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposes the war in Iraq. “This lady has made the word of the American people audible,” he said. “And this is very comfortable.”
Syria, the backbone of Hezbollah, is comfortable with the American people’s decision? This isn’t good, folks.
Brian at Iowa Voice, who notes that Israel is very concerned about the new Democratic majority, writes this:
I said the other day that we’re in for two years of defeat and retreat, exactly like we saw in the wake of Vietnam. That sentence was quoted over at the uber-lib Daou Report as “hate speech” (since when is the truth considered hate?).
Modern-day Democrats (and to a large extent, the people who voted for them) need to crack open a history book and see just what America was like in the mid-1970s up until Reagan restored the pride and dignity of this country.
We were held hostage by oil exporting nations, seeing gas and energy prices go through the roof. You think this summer was bad? Just wait. We had gas lines. We had inflation in the double-digits. We had interest rates that make today’s credit cards look like a bargain. Unemployment was high. A recession. American citizens were held hostage for 444 days by a rogue nation that knew it had nothing to fear from the United States. The Soviet Union was screwing us on our disarmament treaties, were outbuilding and outspending us in the military department, and knew that we were too wounded to do a damn thing about it.
America, it was believed, was finished. That was the heyday of the Democratic Party. Those were the days of one-party government that led to real disaster. Democrats today complain about Republicans holding all the reigns, but they tend to forget that their party held all the branches far more often than we ever did, and they did far more damage to this country than Bush ever could.
To add more to this returning nightmare, we get word that Democrats have invited anti-Vietnam war activist and hero George McGovern back to help them do to Iraq what they did to Vietnam:
LINCOLN, Neb. – George McGovern, the former senator and Democratic presidential candidate, said Thursday that he will meet with more than 60 members of Congress next week to recommend a strategy to remove U.S. troops from Iraq by June.
If Democrats don’t take steps to end the war in Iraq soon, they won’t be in power very long, McGovern told reporters before a speech at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“I think the Democratic leadership is wise enough to know that if they’re going to follow the message that election sent, they’re going to have to take steps to bring the war to a conclusion,” he said.
McGovern will present his recommendations before the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a 62-member group led by Reps. Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee.
“The best way to reduce this insurgency is to get the American forces out of there,” McGovern said. “That’s what’s driving this insurgency.”
And from what al Qaeda’s leader said in the new tape, the terrorists are planning on following our troops back home to finish the job.
By the way, Glenn Reynolds just received a book in the mail that argues that the threat of terrorism is overblown. As Glenn asks, “isn’t that what Larry Johnson was arguing in the summer of 2001?
And Jane Galt is already having buyer’s remorse because the Democrats want to socialize medicine? Boy does she have a rude awakening coming. She’s got a lot more to worry about than just socialized medicine.
Nathan at Church and State notes that the Dems are lying;
Democrats duped half the country into believing we should get out of Iraq. Now, they are singing, “Stay the course” praises:
President Jalal Talabani said Thursday that he had been assured by Democrat congressional leaders during a recent visit to Washington that they had no plans for a quick withdrawal of U.S. forces.
One of them (a Democrat leader) told me that any early withdrawal will be a catastrophe for the United States and the world,” Talabani, speaking from his northern hometown of Sulaimaniyah, told the Dubai-based Al-Jazeera satellite broadcaster.
This is so if they fail, while in power, they can simply blame Bush. Nice work, Dem’s. Start your majority off by being exposed as liars before and after the election. Talabani didn’t speak until after the election.
Update: Here’s video from Fox News courtesy of LGF:
Others blogging:
Stop the ACLU
Sister Toldjah
Red State American
The Political Pit Bull
Webloggin
Heralder,
Honest question (you’re one wizbanger I can count on for a thoughtful answer). When terrorists contradict Republicans, the right calls it “propaganda” and “media manipulation”. When terrorists validate Republicans, the right says “we told you so”.
Is it possible that the right is being foolish when it uses isolated terrorist quotes to validate partisanship?
Doesn’t that leave us open to all kinds of manipulation from our enemies?
And isn’t it also plausible that blind, divisive partisanship (not you, but most wizbangers) is even more detrimental to effective security than periodic shifts in party preeminence?
Americans signed their own death warrant by voting blue on Tuesday. Rob
First honest sentence Rob has ever posted. Just take a wait and see attitude. Oh, I forgot, that’s what the dim’s did in the 90′ and we know the result of that tactic.
Still smiling and laughing about the election. I’ll have to wait until after Jan to see the reaction of the few dim’s that actually work and pay taxes when they figure out cancelling the tax cuts added 22% to their tax bill and the dim’s have vowed to raise the tax rate even more.
I’ll bet one of their first tax increases will be on SS benefits since they’ve figured out the last raise hit mostly the rich and us poor folks only had to shell out a few additional dollars. They want more and more to satisfy the Nazi/Communist manifesto statement ‘we’re going to take from you for the common good’. Who besides rich dim’s are the common good?
ROFL and will bust a gut when the tax increases hit home on the idiot voters. That will make a cold blustery day seem like the 4th of July, warm and sunny inside anyway.
question to anyone who wants to answer:
Let’s assume that the Democrats do not have the answer to this Iraq war. And since it seems like a large portion of the American people aren’t happy with the way that the present administration is handling the war, what IS the answer? If Republicans have the answers, then why are so many Americans unhappy with the way things are going???
I’m not baiting. I’m just asking. I may opinions, but I dont pretend to have all the answers by any means.
Brian is a known intellectually dishonest liberal spinner. He knows exactly what I mean and I presented the facts to show why he has been intellectually dishonest. So he is trying to divert attention from the actions of the Dems listed above. I noted that Brain never refuted those facts but try to divert attention to other peripheral issues. He is simply too dishonest.
Ryan,
This is a failure of communication. I said from the very beginning that the major mistake of the Bush adm was the underestimation of the depth of the moral corruption of the left and the dems party. Bush underestimated that the left and their propaganda MSM would be willing to undermine AMerica and provide free propaganda for the terrorists to defeat Bush and the reps. The war on terrorism and the war in Iraq specifically also involves PR and communication. Bush was simply didn’t plan adequately for the PR war that the left is willing to wage on behalf of the terrorists to discourage the American electorate on the prospect of the war. During WW2, the press and the opposition Reps were fully behind the country. Now on day 1, the MSM and the dems were working for American defeat.
Ok, so you think that the Left has been a part of the problem, and that is relating to the past.
Do you really think that people on the left are willing to wage a PR war on the behalf of TERRORISTS??? Really?
But back to the original question:
What I’m asking is this: What’s the answer NOW? Where do we take this?
Like with Clinton it is time to put the public back to sleep and get on with the Democrats socialist/communist agenda. Freedoms, who said anything about those, the nanny state will provide all you need, the line is over their.
The problem as I see it, the next terror attack is very likely to be nuclear, and very likely to be aimed at Israel. Then the mess will be huge. How long to the next Hezbo war? You need only walk the timeline of the effectiveness of the Clinton administration in fighting terror. Will likely take the terrorist 10 years or so, but it’s obvious to everyone except a donk that talking to these people will just get you blown up. It worked well with NK, will work equally well with Iran.
ryan: I think the American people don’t know the truth in Iraq, only the lies being put out by the drive by media. Unfortunately Bush has done a dismal job in pr for the war. War is a performance art, at home and on the battlefield. BTW, the donks plan for Iraq is Bush’s plan for Iraq, there are no options — victory or defeat. Defeat and the terrorist win, even the dumbest American can see the danger in that, well, maybe not the Murtha brain dead crowd, but that’s what it is.
Here is a question, why hasn’t Bush made anything of the nuclear material brought out of Iraq and even the New York Times admitted Iraq was about a year out when sanctions were lifted to having their first bomb. At least do a damn phot op showing the material and explain the danger. That’s what I meant by dismal pr.
Bill,
So then, what IS the truth in Iraq?
Answering your question: Well, it seems that if Bush had that info he should definitely have promulgated it. Where did you read about this?
I noted that Brain never refuted those facts but try to divert attention to other peripheral issues. He is simply too dishonest.
Hmm, nope, don’t see anything you wrote that is vaguely related to what I said. When you post something that’s relevant to what I’m talking about, I’ll be happy to refute it. When you state what exactly it is that you think I’m spinning, I’ll explain it. When you keep using the phrase “intellectually dishonest” incorrectly, I’ll laugh at you for being a buffoon.
Bush underestimated that the left and their propaganda MSM would be willing to undermine AMerica and provide free propaganda for the terrorists
Now THAT is funny! Right now Wizbang has THREE articles repeating some lame propaganda coming from the terrorists, and demanding the Democrats respond to them, thus providing even more media play. The Dems are ignoring terrorist propaganda. It’s the RIGHT that’s keeping the propaganda alive!
I said from the very beginning that the major mistake of the Bush adm was the underestimation of the depth of the moral corruption of the left and the dems party. Bush underestimated that the left and their propaganda MSM would be willing to undermine AMerica and provide free propaganda for the terrorists to defeat Bush and the reps. The war on terrorism and the war in Iraq specifically also involves PR and communication. Bush was simply didn’t plan adequately for the PR war that the left is willing to wage on behalf of the terrorists to discourage the American electorate on the prospect of the war.
That’s it, LoveAmerica Immigrant? That’s the answer to why the American people (except for the minority here) have abandoned the Bush administration on every count? If I claimed Bill Clinton never did ANYTHING wrong but underestimate the Right wing pr engine and not have strong enough pr himself, that would be as bone-headed a remark as yours.
One of the reasons Democrats ask questions is because they would rather find the right answer to a problem than simply assume blind dilligence is strength. It’s not. If you’ve ever built anything in your life, be it a house or a war, you’d know it’s a trial of errors and solutions. EVERY OTHER PRESIDENT IN OUR HISTORY that has governed during war followed that logic. Numbnuts in office now doesn’t – probably because he’s been told his entire life that his opinion is always right (and he’s had daddy and his friends to bail him out of every failure so he’d never have to REALLY examine them).
There are alot of smart people who post on this blog who undermine their intelligence with blind denial. NOTHING is black and white like the idiot in office has been telling you for the last 6 years. Most intelligent people know this. For some reason, this idiocy has become the operating procedure for the country. Good riddence to it.
Do democrats have all the answers? No, and I’d be equally deranged to suggest they do. All they DO have is the want to correct mistakes – and, yes, there have been a mountain of mistakes from this administration, so many it’s overwhelming.
Stubborness is weakness. Denial is weakness. The people who hate us most will always fear us more if they know we’re correcting our mistakes and thinking sharply. Republicans in office haven’t done that in years – and they’ve been fleecing the country at every turn. These are the reasons your opinions are antiquated.
And, just to be clear (since many on this blog with take the word “the” and try to find alternate meaning to what is actually said) Bush admitting to mistakes now is, well, very convenient. And too late. You adjust your strategies as you go – because this moron decides to admit to a mistake or two 4 YEARS LATER is useless. It’s helpful, but still not quick enough. If someone’s coming at me with a gun and I’ve got a knife, how long is it going to be before I realize I should pull the gun out of my pocket instead. By Bush’s schedule. The guy would’ve filled me full of holes before I’d finally say, “okay, maybe I shoulda used a gun. My bad.” Quick reactions are what’s needed by people protecting us. Not politics and stubbornness.
mattyd:
I just saw your question:
That’s a good point. However, what exactly do you mean by contradict? Things that immediately come to mind are actual propaganda, like the kind displayed by Hezbollah, and faked photography. In any case I can think of, terrorists contradict all American values, except maybe those of the extreme far left.
Even in this case, where were saying “I told you so” it’s still propaganda…but the alarming thing is it’s not contradicting American values. Actually, that’s not entirely correct…it certainly is contradictory to our values, but it runs along the same platform espoused by a certain contingent of Democrats. I’m using the example of the convergent goal for both Al-Qaeda and Democrats, though for different reason.
That said, I do believe the is some degree of hypocrasy. I’ll admit to that on my part. I mean, I’ve always written off the New York Times because of it’s shotty reporting, but find myself linking to it when it reported on Saddam’s nuclear research.
Certainly it’s possible.
Honestly, I’m not as worried about manipulation by our enemies, on the right. Why? Well, Al-Qaeda, despite their bluster, does not want us to stay in Iraq. The longer we stay, the more of them die, and the more the country (slowly) becomes stable. I don’t see them cunningly tricking war supporters into bugging out early, where I do see them with the ability to intimidate anti-war advocates into leaving (or at least reinforcing their belief that it’s a good idea).
It’s more than plausible matty. We cannot stand if we are divided.
I don’t think were to the point of it being actually physically detrimental to our government though. When you have two (simplified, I know there are technically more) political parties with competing beliefs on how to run the country, you’re going to have disagreement. That’s perfectly fine too. Impassioned debate is good, our founding fathers didn’t exactly all get along.
Well, Al-Qaeda, despite their bluster, does not want us to stay in Iraq. The longer we stay, the more of them die, and the more the country (slowly) becomes stable.
Those assertions have no basis in reality. As we’ve killed oh so many AQ, there are more of them now than there ever were before. And Iraq, by the Pentagon’s own estimates, is getting less stable, not more stable. The AQ leadership doesn’t care how many foot soldiers we kill, since that helps them recruit more. And as the wingnuts keep saying, AQ members want to die, so why should them dying discourage them at all?
SPIN: When the news story is “AQ happy about Bush firing Rumsfeld” and the Wizbang article is “AQ happy about Dem win”
Your contention is that one (Rumsfeld’s resignation) has little or nothing to do with the other (how AQ views the Dems win), therefore the the title of this thread is somehow misleading. Fine, that’s you BIG beef. Your big “gotcha”, I suppose. Whatever. It’s a small and insignificant. F*** me, for even attempting to correct your feckless and insignificant point regarding some kind of alleged attempt at spin.
The greater point in all this, and what makes you so completely stuck on stupid is that you don’t connect the dots between how AQ, Iran, Syria and every other terrorist in between view a Dem win and Rumsfeld resignation as a defeat for America. The terrorists and their terroirst-supporting governments are emboldened by both of these events, and that is all that matters. Period.
Dude, have a glass of milk, eat a sandwich, do some freakin’ thing to calm down. You’re the one who’s inflating one comment I made into some big huge thing that you feel you need to beat to death, along the way expanding it into things that I never said just so you can feel justified venting all over me.
Sure, I can connect the dots on lots of things. That doesn’t mean that it’s honest to take one dot and give it the headline from several dots away.
How about this… “Republican wins in 2000-2004 result in death of 3000 Americans”. That’s true, and there are obvious dots connecting them. But it’s a ridiculous spin.
The terrorists and their terroirst-supporting governments are emboldened by both of these events, and that is all that matters. Period.
I’m sure they’ll be happy to know that you care about them, are giving them lots of media play, and are achieving their goal of turning what they say into a wedge to divide America. I tend to not give much attention to empty rhetoric.
Dude, have a glass of milk, eat a sandwich, do some freakin’ thing to calm down.
This….this….is like discussing something with a stubborn young kid who constantly responds with flip remarks like “chill, dude” and comes across with the attitude of “no it’s not…you’re wrong…”
So, calmly, as I have been all along, I am done with you, Brian. This doesn’t make you right, it doesn’t mean you know what you’re talking about, or that I am conceeding any point to you whatsoever on this matter. I’m just bored with you and find any further conversation with you utterly pointless and worthless.
dems are terrorists and should be shot on site. Thats my belief and I aint shittin.
It’s a line from Midnight Run. Something you might think to watch to lower your blood pressure.
As for “no it’s not…you’re wrong…”, that describes only what you’re doing. I’m at least providing the logical connection between the facts, what I stated, and how I got there. You seem to be looking right past anything related to my point, and trying only to reassert the meme that Al Qaeda loves the Democrats. That may be, but (a) I don’t care, and (b) that doesn’t mean that everything Al Qaeda says and does can be spun into a headline that it’s a result of being emboldened by the Dems. Especially when it’s directly referring to an action taken by Bush himself!
So, calmly, as I have been all along
Ha! That’s calm for you? You’ve done everything but draw me a picture of the big vein in your forehead throbbing.
If you can’t respond in a way other than obscenities and name-calling, then perhaps you should be focusing on your personal problems first before worrying about Al Qaeda.
In the meantime, I’m pleased you’ve decided to give up. (Yes, the Dems emboldened me!) I couldn’t understand why you got worked up into a lather in the first place. I didn’t say half the things you are so irate about, you apparently misunderstood another chunk, and you just completely ignored the rest. And while I didn’t and don’t disagree with some of the things you said, they are completely off-point, so I agree that there’s no value in pursuing this.