National Intelligence Estimate or It Stinks More As Election Grows Near

"There is no question that many of our policies have inflamed our enemies' hatred toward the United States and allowed violence to flourish. But it is the mistakes we made in Iraq - the lack of planning, the mismanagement and the complete incompetence of our leadership - that has done the most damage to our security." - Jay Rockefeller.

"I don't think there's any question that there's an increase in rhetoric. (But) I think it's difficult to count the number of true jihadists that are willing to commit murder or kill themselves." - Frances Fragos Townsend, White House homeland security adviser.

"On Election Day, that morning, if there's still the carnage in the streets of Iraq, then it will be clear that they have concluded that this administration's policy has failed and there will be a political price for it." - Joseph Biden, Democratic senator.

"We did not invade Iraq to fight terrorism as the president would now have us believe, but we're less safe today because the war in Iraq has hindered our ability to make progress in combating terrorism." - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

"It is the consensus opinion of our intelligence services that because of the Iraq war, the danger from terrorism has risen during the Bush years and the world and our communities are less safe. It is the consensus opinion of our intelligence services that because of the Iraq War, the number of terrorists has increased during the Bush years." – Huffington Post.

"The overall estimate is bleak, with minor notes of optimism. It depicts a movement that is likely to grow more quickly than the West's ability to counter it over the next five years, as the Iraq war continues to breed "deep resentment" throughout the Muslim world, shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders and cultivating new supporters for their ideology." - WaPo.

"New jihadist networks and cells, sometimes united by little more than their anti-Western agendas, are increasingly likely to emerge," said Gen. Michael V. Hayden, during a speech in San Antonio in April, the month that the new estimate was completed. "If this trend continues, threats to the U.S. at home and abroad will become more diverse and that could lead to increasing attacks worldwide," said the general in the NYT.

"The NIE points out that defeat of the jihadis in Iraq would stop the movement’s growth. It also points out that jihadi success in Iraq would inspire more to join the cause. In that sense, Bush’s words in March 2003 were wrong at the time, but correct now." Newsweek.

---- Curious, the Iraq War has "united" jihadists the world over, worsened the threat of attacks at home, and bred deep resentment of the West throughout the Muslim world – yet the Shia and Sunni can't come together with a little "anti-Western agenda" long enough to kick the US/UK out of Iraq?

The NIE report gives both political parties a leg to stand on, i.e. for the Democrats the Bush War has made us less safe and for Republicans it's if we don't win in Iraq the Muslim evildoers will metastasize and get us.

Democrats will make vague claims they can do better at keeping Americans safe and win back international respect - running on "redeployment" platforms or "anti-war positions" that are no more clear-cut or feasible than BushCo's strategy (or lack of) to "win the war."

Republicans will slap everyone around on the swiftboat and remind them the democrats are pussiepols who supported BushCo's war because they didn't have the spine to speak up when it would have made a difference.

None of the SOB's will admit the only "win" that matters to them is the next election.

Hmmmm. Be afraid, be very afraid when the oxymoronic National Intelligence, only weeks from election, stretches its mouth to blow both sides of the aisle.