With New Surge, One Thousand U.S. Soldiers and $300 Million for Every One al Qaeda Fighter

[cali]

President Obama's Secret: Only 100 al Qaeda Now in Afghanistan

By RICHARD ESPOSITO, MATTHEW COLE and BRIAN ROSS
Dec. 2, 2009


As he justified sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan at a cost of $30 billion a year, President Barack Obama's description Tuesday of the al Qaeda "cancer" in that country left out one key fact: U.S. intelligence officials have concluded there are only about 100 al Qaeda fighters in the entire country.
Photo: President Obama: U.S. Troops to Afghanistan at 'Fastest Pace Possible' Obama Announces Deployment of 30,000 Troops to Target Insurgents, Secure Key Areas There
President Barack Obama addresses the nation on Afghanistan at the United States Military Academy at... Expand
President Barack Obama addresses the nation on Afghanistan at the United States Military Academy at West Point in West Point, N.Y, Dec. 1, 2009. Obama said sending 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan is in the "vital national interest" of the United States. Collapse
(Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)
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A senior U.S. intelligence official told ABCNews.com the approximate estimate of 100 al Qaeda members left in Afghanistan reflects the conclusion of American intelligence agencies and the Defense Department. The relatively small number was part of the intelligence passed on to the White House as President Obama conducted his deliberations.

President Obama made only a vague reference to the size of the al Qaeda presence in his speech at West Point, when he said, "al Qaeda has not reemerged in Afghanistan in the same number as before 9/11, but they retain their safe havens along the border."

A spokesperson at the White House's National Security Council, Chris Hensman, said he could not comment on intelligence matters.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/president-obamas-secret-100-al-qaeda-now-afghanistan/story?id=9227861

[MNDemNY]

1. But they are really good fighters (ninjas, i think)

[ixion]

3. with frickin' lasers

:+

[cali]

4. ok, you made me laugh. something I thought was impossible as

regards this mess.

[PVnRT]

7. Ninja pirate zombie Jedis

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. the safe havens

I think Obama has been fed false information by the Cheneyites

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. It's spares us from having to spend the money on anything that would be useful.

Instead, we'll have to take the money from things like schools, roads, health care, and other annoyances.

[harun]

6. Exactly, keeps the money from the LEEBRUL's.

[Dr Robert]

8. when did you have your conversation with US Intelligence?