NEW Intelligence Report Says Iraqi on Iraqi Violence Surpasses Threat to U.S. Goals From al-Qaeda

U.S. Intelligence Report Says Iraq Perilous

Last Update: Feb 2, 2007 5:00 AM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The situation in Iraq is perilous, with Iraqi-on-Iraqi violence surpassing al Qaeda as the most immediate threat to U.S. goals, according to a long-awaited intelligence report, The Washington Post reported on Friday.

The 90-page document came to no conclusion over whether the conflict in Iraq has become a civil war, but the authors expressed uncertainly over whether Iraqi leaders would be able to transcend the sectarian divide to fight extremism and establish functioning national institutions, the Post reported.

Iran, which the White House has accused of fueling the bloodshed, is mentioned in the document -- the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq -- but it does not focus on Iran, the Post said.

The report comes as the United States begins the controversial move of deploying 21,500 additional troops to Iraq.

A source familiar with the document said dissents were prominently displayed, a major change from the 2002 estimate in which the dissents were in small type and presented as footnotes, the Post reported. The 2002 estimate said Iraq had arsenals of chemical and biological weapons -- a claim that proved to be false after the United States invaded Iraq in 2003.

http://www.kfty.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=54f7fcc1-300e-492e-aec1-55b039b715ff


Maliki blames al-Qaeda is the main cause of the violence, not the sectarian war:

Interview with Iraqi prime Minister Maliki, 01/02/07: (http://english.daralhayat.com/Spec/02-2007/Article-20070201-7d5b35be-c0a8-10ed-0133-5b86f4b70e7d/story.html)

"I assert that what is happening in Iraq in terms of suicide bombs is perpetrated by "Al Qaeda" remnants, and the most dangerous acts in Iraq are being done by the supporters of the Baath party since they are randomly and indiscriminately killing the Iraqis and this is what happened at the University of Mustansiryia and Uluat Alrasheed and others… These political assassinations are meant to bring terror and to overthrow the Iraqi government. As for assassinations on the basis of one's sectarian identity they have been contained to a large extent and there are outcries by the clergy and wise politicians to put an end to these crimes. Hopefully this will stop soon and the efforts of the Sunnis and the Shiites will be united to face the remnants of "Al Qaeda".


http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

Like a friendly government willing to do oil business?

anything which would allow them to justify perpetuating their fiasco, if only in their own imperious view.

Other than making $$$$ for the oil companies, military contractors and defense industries, what goals are there? I'm still waiting for some wingnut to clearly define what "victory" would mean. Where's the benchmark...what's the "Berlin Wall Falls" moment when we can all dance and sing? When do we throw the victory parades? Or is this an endless mess that gets more muddled as its incompently handled? The cricket sounds after those questions are precious.

Do we really have a clue about what Al Queda is these days? Are we still using a late 90's or post 9/11 model? I really don't think this regime has understood how this network operates, just as its never really gotten a handle on the mafia or drug lords. This isn't some conventional "government" but a whole different structure that requires a different type of strategy...one where 500 pound bombs and thousands of troops do little good.

It also requires an understanding of why we're targeted by Al Queda and others...a topic that few have bothered to examine...other than the forums here at DU, but need to be addressed if there is to be a true solution to this mess. But that runs counter to the monied interests who only care about how well their Haliburton and General Dynamics stocks are doing.

Cheers...

by many different, pernicious organizations and individuals who actually reside in the Mideast as they resist U.S. expansionism as well as provide for their own exploitation of events to further their own power, influence, or greed. Some in Iraq have taken on the al-Qaeda moniker, and others operate in anonymity as they exploit and plunder. Bush is just another in a long line of oppressors who would rape Iraq for their own hunger for power and influence.