Speaking today at his Senate confirmation hearing, top Obama Administration aide and would-be director of the National Counterterrorism Center Matthew Olsen insisted today that al-Qaeda is “in many ways weakened” and is now on the defensive, even though it remains a “significant and present danger.”
Olsen is set to replace Michael Leiter, but his nomination is facing a bumpy road as Rep. Frank Wolf (R – VA) is accusing him of misleading Congress during his tenure as general counsel for the National Security Agency.
Olsen’s claims about al-Qaeda might prove another bone of contention, however, as the State Department has issued a new warning which is in direct contradiction to his claims, warning Americans worldwide to remain “vigilant” and even saying that in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death the risk of al-Qaeda attack is actually on the rise.
Of course claims of al-Qaeda being on its heels are nothing new, and officials have been making similar claims for nearly 10 years now. Since then, of course, these claims are always intersperced with claims of a growing threat justifying some escalation or other. It is simply rare to see both appearing on the same day.
al-Qaeda is on its heels – really? The most powerful military on planet Earth is losing the war in Afghanistan to men living in caves.
<simply rare to see both appearing on the same day.> I'm sure Pavlov both beat and fed his dogs on the same day.
Ten years spent bombing people who live in mud houses and we've finally "weakened" them. How long until the Taliban are defeated? Twenty years? Thirty years? Forty years?
Surely we don't expect our government leaders to actually talk to each other and compare notes? If that were the case then 9/11 surely wouldn't have happened – except for those who already knew what was going to happen.
Al-Qaeda is a bogeyman created by the US government in order to carry out its plans to control Central Asia and thereby rule the world.
Zbigniew Brzezinski explained the strategy in his book “The Grand Chessboard”.
There is no Al-Qaeda, please stop lying to us already, you are as big a joke as the Bush Admin
yet more proof they don't know how to fight this sort of war. they instead talk like they are fighting world war one all over again. in the sort of war where an enemy can go underground and appear dormant until launching an attack, such talk is just silly
Besides Al-Qaeda and the Taliban there are many more people that the US calls terroroists just for defending there country.The US won't win in 100 years you can't6 be wrong and strong.Thats why people like the taliban give there lives because they are right not perfect far from it but never had anything to do with 9/11 or 7/7 both were inside jobs to gain support for the illegal; wars that never end.Attack Iran then you will make whats happening now look like a party.People that still think Bin Laden was involved in 9/11 need to wake the F up and read the truth not what the newqs like CNNN and Fox tell you because they are the 4TH branch of the government and lie.Witch is another thing they are doing that is against the American constitution freedfom of press has prity much disapeard.Along with freedom of speach just look at the facts even from long ago such as the government involvment of the deaths of people like JFK,Robert Kennedy,DR Martin Luther King,Malcom X and many more.The GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CORRUPT FOR A LONG TIME AND IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE.Its time American citizens including the military take there country back before WW3 withch may be just around the corner.An attack on Iran will result in WW3 so wake up.
I'm not an American citizen I live in Woindsor ontario right across the river fron Detroit Michigan.I would do what ever nessasary to to replase the people that are corrupt in the government that is probably at lkeast 90 persernt and put a government in that will follow the constitution.The lightest punnishment for straying from the law would result in losing there job immedietly.The most sevcer would be life in prison and if the state has the death penilty that would be onb the table also.There are many if it was that way that would be in jail for life or dead and wouyld weed out corruption because they would no ;longer have a pass to break the laws they swore to uphold that Americans have foughtr and died for millions of them.Nothing could be more disreaspectfull than not following the constitiution that they died to uphold.
Yes, the threat from Terrorism(tm) is greater than ever, but please don't let it stop you from going about your daily business like you always do. You know, stuff like going to work in an office building, or sending your kids to a summer camp. Those men dressed in police uniforms will always be there to protect you… right?
On the run? See how well this is all working? Another excuse to ramp up the war, raid the treasury, intensify Homeland Security/TSA harassment and groping of citizens and lionize our Fearless War Chief. Yeah!