[antimedia] antimedia: Discerning Texan has a nice summation....

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Posted by antimedia:
Discerning Texan has a nice summation....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1159328257.shtml


   ....of the [1]issues surrounding the recent selective parsing of the
   NIE from six months ago. The [2]now declassified (pdf) report casts
   quite a different picture from the distorted view leaked by anonymous
   partisan sources within the government.
   The report is only four pages long, so read it for yourself, but
   here's the key issue. Claims were recently made that the report stated
   that the war in Iraq has increased terrorist recruiting worldwide.
   This is so obviously a Democratic meme that any clear thinking
   individual would have smelled a rat early on.
   Here's how the report deals with the subject.

     United States-led counterterrorism efforts have seriously damaged
     the leadership of al-Qaâida and disrupted its operations; however,
     we judge that al-Qaâida will continue to pose the greatest threat
     to the Homeland and US interests abroad by a single terrorist
     organization. We also assess that the global jihadist
     movementâwhich includes al-Qaâida, affiliated and independent
     terrorist groups, and emerging networks and cellsâis spreading and
     adapting to counterterrorism efforts.

     ⢠Although we cannot measure the extent of the spread with
     precision, a large body of all-source reporting indicates that
     activists identifying themselves as jihadists, although a small
     percentage of Muslims, are increasing in both number and geographic
     dispersion.
     ⢠If this trend continues, threats to US interests at home and
     abroad will become more diverse, leading to increasing attacks
     worldwide.
     ⢠Greater pluralism and more responsive political systems in
     Muslim majority nations would alleviate some of the grievances
     jihadists exploit. Over time, such progress, together with
     sustained, multifaceted programs targeting the vulnerabilities of
     the jihadist movement and continued pressure on al-Qaâida, could
     erode support for the jihadists.

   I don't know why this stuff gets classified. It's pretty much common
   sense, isn't it?
   Odd how the leakers didn't mention that the report states that
   bringing democracy to the mideast (just what do you think "Greater
   pluralism and more responsive political systems" means?) would
   alleviate some of the grievances that fuel the jihadist movements.

References

   1. http://discerningtexan.blogspot.com/2006/09/regarding-that-nie-leak.html
   2. http://www.odni.gov/press_releases/Declassified_NIE_Key_Judgments.pdf