White House Claims The NIE Doesn’t Show The ‘War in Iraq Has Made Terrorism Worse’
White House Claims The NIE Doesn’t Show The ‘War in Iraq Has Made Terrorism Worse’
In April, the nation’s spy agencies produced a National Intelligence Estimate. Here’s the New York Times report:
A stark assessment of terrorism trends by American intelligence agencies has found that the American invasion and occupation of Iraq has helped spawn a new generation of Islamic radicalism and that the overall terrorist threat has grown since the Sept. 11 attacks…The report “says that the Iraq war has made the overall terrorism problem worse,” said one American intelligence official.
Here’s what the White House said about the report in today’s press gaggle:
QUESTION: Tony, does the President have any reaction to the reports in yesterday’s newspapers about the intelligence estimate, suggesting that the war in Iraq had, in fact, spawned new terror cells and made…
WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY TONY SNOW: I think it’s important — one thing that the reports do not say is that war in Iraq has made terrorism worse.
Clearly, they can’t both be right. Snow, for his part, appears to contradict himself a few moments later:
SNOW: This NIE examines global terrorism in its totality, the morphing of Al Qaida and its affiliates and other jihadist movements. It assesses that a variety of factors, in addition to Iraq, fuel the spread of jihadism, including longstanding social grievances, slowness of the pace of reform, and the use of the Internet.
One way to clear all this up: make the NIE public.
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Just because it says it so does not mean it says it is so.
Can I get a Rape-Public-Can translator please?
September 25th, 2006 at 3:07 pmLooks like they will need to release a redacted report, afterall, bush wouldn’t want us to think he has something to hide.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:08 pmMr. Snow we are going to need a Urine specimen. This way sir.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:09 pmIt assesses that a variety of factors, in addition to Iraq, fuel the spread of jihadism, including longstanding social grievances, slowness of the pace of reform, and the use of the Internet.
longstanding social grievances…which are made worse due to the occupation of Iraq.
slowness of the pace of reform…because all of our resources are being used to support the occupation of Iraq.
the use of the Internet…Because all of the Internet Cafes being constructed in IRaq…..oh just joking with that one.
It takes a real ass to lie every day and still be able to sleep at night.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:12 pmAssuming the NIE does say what they say it says, then release it and ask the NYT why they said differently.
But, if the NIE does contradict what they are saying it says, I doubt that they’ll release it to the public unless they can figure out a way to redact it so it looks like it says what they’re saying it says.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:13 pmI knew the “internets” were evil and used by evildoers. I just needed confirmation.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:14 pm“one thing that the reports do not say is that war in Iraq has made terrorism worse”… trust me, it really doesn’t.
LOL
September 25th, 2006 at 3:17 pmTony Snow, channelling Steven Colbert. If only the whole thing weren’t so tragic, it’d be funny.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:20 pmmore of the same. impeach the effin bastards.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:22 pmHe has tortured the English language so much that even the most brainwashed person won’t be able to follow this one.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:23 pmExcuse poor Tony…
…sometimes he doesn’t know if he’s…
…coming or “snowing”…
September 25th, 2006 at 3:25 pmIt’s not getting worse it’s morphing into something else! -Snowjob
Weasel Words from Weasely Wascals
September 25th, 2006 at 3:25 pmTony Snow should just speak the truth and here it is
September 25th, 2006 at 3:26 pmPresident Bush will not withdraw US forces until US oil companies have secure access to Iraq’s oil.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I think Snow might have been referring to the news reports about the NIE and not the NIE itself.
First note the plural usage, and second, look at the context of the exchange:
QUESTION: Tony, does the President have any reaction to the reports in yesterday’s newspapers about the intelligence estimate, suggesting that the war in Iraq had, in fact, spawned new terror cells and made…
WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY TONY SNOW: I think it’s important — one thing that the reports do not say is that war in Iraq has made terrorism worse.
He’s obviously wrong either way…
September 25th, 2006 at 3:29 pmLet the “snow-job” begin! hahahaha! What a joke this administration has become.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:33 pmGOP aide busted for fake blog posts on liberal sites
RAW STORY
Published: Monday September 25, 2006
Liberal bloggers have uncovered a staff member to Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH) using government computers to make fake posts on liberal blogs in New Hampshire
Sounds alot like Mighty Aphrodite ehh?
September 25th, 2006 at 3:43 pmone thing that the reports do not say is that war in Iraq has made terrorism worse
It depends on what the definition of “is” is.
The NIE report described the situation in Iraq at the time of the report in and before April 2006, which is certainly not how the situation “is” now. So, Snow is correct, in a technical way. Unfortunately, an update of the report covering what has happened since April 2006 would conclude that the situation is even worse now.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:44 pmGive Iraq their country back and the insurgency will stop
September 25th, 2006 at 3:45 pmWhen will distorting “reality” and trying to redefine the “truth” become impeachable offenses?
Wait. Sorry. Sex with a member of the opposite sex is an impeachable offense. But slaughtering hundreds of thousands of innocents in far off lands and failure to protect citizens in one’s own country are not.
The Bush Cabal is simply the worst this country has seen in a hundred years!
September 25th, 2006 at 3:46 pmI can’t wait for one of the NeoCon Nazis to forget which “battle” they’re fighting and remind us that we can have no “war for Monica!”
September 25th, 2006 at 3:49 pm#21 – Give Iraq their country back and the insurgency will stop
Indeed!
Who would have thought that Iraqis would be safer under Saddam than they are under Emperor Bush?
September 25th, 2006 at 3:51 pmCan I get a Rape-Public-Can translator please? – - Tony Snow: “I think you have to define “worse.” I mean, a dead person is a dead person. They can’t get any worse dead.”
September 25th, 2006 at 3:57 pmWhen Islam-o-wacks attacked us the US, (both domestically and in foreign countries) and other Western entities, they were JUST annoyed with Western infidels. Now that we have responded, they are REALLY p*$$ed off…..I’m starting to understand the irrationality of radical Islam….THANKS!!!
September 25th, 2006 at 4:11 pmWH Press corps: The sky is blue.
Tony Snow: No, it’s not.
WH Press corps: The sky isn’t blue?
Tony Snow: Yes, it is.
September 25th, 2006 at 4:12 pmohhhhhhhhhhh…then there won’t be any problem SHOWING us..right Snow job tony? (a known lier)
September 25th, 2006 at 4:13 pmWhen Islam-o-wacks attacked us the US, (both domestically and in foreign countries) and other Western entities, BushCo was JUST interested in using them to advance his own agenda. Now that we have responded with our phony war in Iraq, BushCo is REALLY pleased, not concerned about a strategy that brings security or freedom, and dedicated to staying his course…..I’m starting to understand the irrationality of our fear-mongering leaders….THANKS.
September 25th, 2006 at 4:22 pmHave you noticed how quickly Bush’s White House press secretaries morph into Baghdad Bob?
September 25th, 2006 at 4:26 pmThey’ve spun so many lies and twisted facts that it makes an honest person’s head spin. The FIRST lie should have been an impeachable offense. What the heck’s happening to our level of integrity? Morality?
Impeach now!
September 25th, 2006 at 4:26 pmObviously we’re asking too much if we expect intellectual consistency from that mouthpiece Snow.
September 25th, 2006 at 4:51 pmAmerica’s Least Wanted
PLC – How did I know you’d defend radical Muslims behaviour over that of your Presaident? – Such a lucky guess…
September 25th, 2006 at 4:51 pmSnow must have been laid more times than Dr. Jay.
September 25th, 2006 at 5:09 pmIt’s called whiplash, Snowflake.
I recommend one of those snazzy looking collars….
September 25th, 2006 at 5:10 pmJust more BS from the More Spin Zone.
What we got here is an old fashioned Catch 22
We kill “terrorists” to get rid of them….
September 25th, 2006 at 5:19 pmMore terrorist emerge because we killed “terrorists”…
Bagdad Bob, meet Tony Snow. Tony Snow, Bagdad Bob. Now I want you two to trade some pointers for handling the press…
September 25th, 2006 at 5:34 pmShouldn’t anything but making things better be unacceptable?
Does anyone think that spending 400 Billion dollars to not improve the situation is a good investment?
September 25th, 2006 at 5:41 pmTypical paid-to-lie white guy with a big forehead.
September 25th, 2006 at 5:51 pmIt’s for matters like this that Snowjob has been given the podium as press secretary.
September 25th, 2006 at 5:57 pmThe White House needs a slick tap dancer with a glib tongue, and as Snow spins the truth, he is able to sound legitimate to the uninformed.
Guess it’s about time to out another CIA agent.
September 25th, 2006 at 6:35 pmDoes anyone have the facts on how long the WH sat on this NIE report? I’ve just heard that it’s two years old and the american public is just now hearing about it. Does this mean that the Pres. has been focusing on the war on terror in all of his speeches because he’s known the damage that the truth in this report of some 16 intelligence agencies would do? This is appalling if this is true.
September 25th, 2006 at 6:55 pm#41 – “Guess it’s about time to out another CIA agent. ”
Comment by Bill+from+Dover
*******Why??? Has another non-op CIA employee sent his/her “has-been” spouse on a fact-finding junket lately – And claimed the White House sent them???
September 25th, 2006 at 7:07 pm#24. jesus. first of all, thank you for your sacrifice on the cross. however, i must ask if you believe iraq was better off under saddam. i believe, everything progressives complain about bush as he tries to take this country to some kind of totalitarian state, was in effect in iraq. there was no freedom to dissent, no freedom of press, assembly, nothing. women were raped and opponents were killed. and all the money was going to saddam and company. you talk like you wouldn’t stand for it here, but i guess you have no problem with it for the iraqi people.
September 25th, 2006 at 7:12 pmMA – How did I know you’d distort what I posted, defend Bush’s radical foreign policy of going after the wrong Muslims and lying behaviour, and refer to Bush as “my” President which, along with your foreign spelling, suggests that you are not an American as you claim? – Such a lucky guess…
September 25th, 2006 at 7:36 pmMA Rules! Seems like once he/she gets started, all the lefties slither back under the rock.
That’s the problem w/ the left, honest, articulate debate turns into name calling and “but it’s Bushes fault!”
I like to watch Bill “Spaceman” Mahr. He’s the perfect example of the simplemindedness of the left. If he has someone chalange his way left thinking, he starts speking in condesending temrs and has his pinko audience and other guests, drown out the the debate.
Gee, wonder why AA is going tits up???
September 25th, 2006 at 7:42 pmMA’s Rules: attack and then slither back to hide under a rock, so that a leftie has a difficult time countering the illogic.
September 25th, 2006 at 7:50 pmPhony Liberal Christian – Liberal love several things about themselves:
1.) Their concise rationality
2.) Their caring and compassion about all things irrational…..
3.) Their defense of the indefensible
P.S. I apologize – since President Clinton was our President, I mistakenly thought President Bush was our President, too….
Go back to you rock climbing….
September 25th, 2006 at 8:27 pmI see that Paul is back, erecting straw men again.
Paul, do you think what Bush has done to Iraq is okay, because “Hey! At least we aren’t quite as bad as Saddam!”
September 25th, 2006 at 8:37 pmTime for another elevated terror alert! Bring out the crayolas.
What will Rove do to deflect this? Hmmm, will they declassify additional portions of the NIE – the ones with ambiguous passages that they can use for rebuttal against the damage done to them today.
Funny timing for the relaxing restrictions in carry on bags.
September 25th, 2006 at 8:38 pmI think the concessionaires at the airports must have raised holy hell with the authorities, not to mention the frequent flying executives.
Don’t you worry, Paul. Ms. Rios is praying for Bill Maher.
When the conservatives are invited to the Bill Maher show, they can be counted on to dominate the conversation, interrupt everyone else, and be obnoxious in every way.
September 25th, 2006 at 8:41 pmBut liberals allow them to make fools of themselves. We’re generous like that.
Of course there is no truth to the report in the NIE that the War in Irag is making terrorism increase around the globe. It’s the liberal media that is increasing terror, not the War in Iraq. The liberals were the ones who started the War by invading Iraq in the first place. No it was President Clinton’s fault, I mean no it was those who want to withdraw our troops, no it is anyone’s fault but the President. Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a “heck of a job”, and he should remain as Secretary for life.
You people don’t understand that we haven’t been attacked since 9-11 becuase of the War on Terror. Sadam Hussein was responsible for 9-11, I mean, there is not proof of that, but Iraq is the central front on the war on terror, I mean, believe anything we tell you because the people are too stupid to see the truth, I mean be afraid, be very afraid.
It’s not the President or Rumsfeld or Cheney, or Republican’s fault, blame the Democrats for our mistakes, I mean we are doing a great job of fighting terror. We are losing the war on terror, I mean we have to fight them there before we fight them here. I’m sick and tired of trying to keep the latest Republican talking points straight, so I guess I’ll just tell the truth. It’s the Democrats fault, don’t vote for them, they will do what is right, I mean they will weaken our war of terror on the American people. Don’t blame us, blame the Democrats they made us invade Iraq and screw up the war on terror. We tried to stop them but they all voted to start this war and now they won’t let us stop fighting in Iraq.
September 25th, 2006 at 9:23 pmLet me guess:
September 25th, 2006 at 9:54 pm“Nothing new here, lets move on.”
Please note: The use of the internet spreads terrorism. More justification for them to invade the privacy of American citizens without warrants. The day this administration EVER admits to ANY mistakes and changes their policies, forthwith, to correct those mistakes…is the day Hell freezes over. Rather than wasting energy lamenting their denials, we’d be better served by using our time and energy fighting them in concrete ways. Hopefully, in a democratic fashion. The upcoming elections will give us our next path.
We are in more danger of losing our democracy and civil liberties from the actions of those inside than we are from our enemies on the outside. But if we are told that the only way we can “win” against the terrorists is to turn into a police state, then I can only quote Patrick Henry. “Give me liberty…or give me death!”
September 25th, 2006 at 10:02 pm#
Does anyone have the facts on how long the WH sat on this NIE report? I’ve just heard that it’s two years old and the american public is just now hearing about it. Does this mean that the Pres. has been focusing on the war on terror in all of his speeches because he’s known the damage that the truth in this report of some 16 intelligence agencies would do? This is appalling if this is true.
Comment by ruskindoc — September 25, 2006 @ 6:55 pm
My understanding was that they began working on the report in 2004, but it was completed in April of this year. So it’s been basically held for the past five months. Sen. Pat Roberts is saying that it should be declassified and released to the public, but truth be told, he really means that certain portions, which are favorable to the administration, should be declassified. I’m simply praying that all these people wind up in the Hague…and sooner rather than later.
September 25th, 2006 at 10:14 pmSurely you see the vast differences in ” Iraq war” and the “war in Iraq.” They just don’t know how to explain it any simpler to you.
September 25th, 2006 at 10:45 pmAnd they laughed when Clinton asked the meaning of “is.”
September 26th, 2006 at 5:05 pmBush has said recently that the hardest part of his job is linking the Iraq war to the GWOT. The Democrats have tried to separate the two wars. Now, with the release of the NIE, it is time for the Dems to reverse that tack and recombine the two.
September 26th, 2006 at 6:38 pmhahaha.
looks like the new york times (and all the libs who jumped to pump up that one sentence leaked from the NIE) got royally burned. Turns out, that sentence, if placed in its proper context within its original paragraph, actually argues IN FAVOR of winning in Iraq – as opposed to carrying out a dem pussy cut-and-run act.
this is precious.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:51 pmwhat else can we expect to hear from a hand picked bush puppet. snow has his head so firmly entrenched up bush’s butt that he can’t think for himself.
October 2nd, 2006 at 9:16 am[...] is also wrong, as last year’s National Intelligence Estimate made clear: A stark assessment of terrorism trends by American intelligence agencies has found that the [...]
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:05 am