Bush on defensive over intelligence report

[Human Torch]

By Steve Holland 13 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An intelligence report showing an upsurge in Islamic militancy put the White House on the defensive on Wednesday in an election-year debate over whether President George W. Bush has made America safer.

Bush ordered the release of parts of the National Intelligence Estimate on Tuesday to try to stamp out a political fire after a leaked portion said the
Iraq war had increased Islamic extremism.

But a key judgment revealed in the declassified version said intelligence experts believed activists identifying themselves as jihadists "are increasing in both number and geographic dispersion."

The report, prepared in April, also said the Iraq war has become the "cause celebre" for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement." The White House has scrambled to try to get the upper hand, briefing reporters twice to try to explain the report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060927/pl_nm/security_usa_dc_1

[truthisfreedom]

1. hah! rove is way off his game.

[lebkuchen]

2. Bush on the defensive is Bush at his worst

Keep the pressure on. The retired generals are helping to do that. If Rummys stays on, the dems will win back congress...my prediction.

[rodeodance]

3. yes. this is when Jr gets all red faced, whins and has a temper-tantrum.

[rodeodance]

4. greeeeeet Headline

[louis-t]

6. and is called a 'strong' leader, 'spirited', 'passionate',

etc., etc....

[DemoTex]

11. Matters not. It's too late to replace Rummy vis-a-vis the elections.

To replace Rummy now would be tantamount to admitting a failed policy. To NOT replace Rummy now is also tantamount to admitting a failed Iraq policy. They waited to late on this one. Heh, heh, heh.

[Jim__]

5. They mean explain away the report.

Even the cherry picked part they decided to release works againstthem. Imagine what's in the rest of it.

[cmd]

7. Impulsive George

Bet he thought the report supported him. Bet no one told him what else was in it. Bet Rover is having kittens.

[Contrary1]

8. You mean you haven't heard?

The Iraq war fuels "extremism". The Iraq war fuels "the spread of jihadism",
but the Iraq war does not fuel terrorism.

Geez...does Tony Snow have to explain it for you again? :eyes:

[0007]

14. Tony baby will get roasted and toasted at the Press Conference

tomorrow.

[Gman]

9. Bush said leaking this was election year politics but

he declassifies parts of the NIE and it's NOT politics???

[Tellurian]

10. Demos should be demanding the entire report

be made public...after all, the American People are financing this War!
It's OUR money he's spending!

[Gman]

17. The only time they think about the taxpayer

is when they want to bribe the taxpayer with faux-tax breaks.

[Lindacooks]

12. If you're right, chimpy, put it IN context.

That's a typical KKKarl trick - deny something damaging because 'you don't have the whole story'. Nobody EVER asks 'okay, then what's the whole story that supports YOUR position'?

[Amonester]

18. Yeah. It tells a lot about the "intelligence" of those who R paid to

ask, doesn't it?

Why does NOBODY ask for the WHOLE story then??

[humbled_opinion]

13. Smells like Rove

Look the facts are that these NYT leaks are not being prosecuted by BUSHCO. Why?

I never put anything past Karl Rove... Something fishy until this story plays out prepare for the backfire.

[lpbk2713]

15. Sorry, but I have to laugh .....

every time I see 'Bush' and 'intelligence' used in the same sentence.

[bamacrat]

16. Ha ha, this is great.

If the information the released is causing this much of a stir, imagine what is kept secret.