Do you believe this?

[bigtree]

excerpt of transcript: President Barack Obama, Part 1
60 Minutes Correspondent Steve Kroft Interviewed The President Dec. 7, 2009 (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/13/60minutes/main5975421.shtml)



PRESIDENT OBAMA: ". . . between the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan is the epicenter of violent extremism directed against the West and directed against the United States.

This is this is the heart of it. This is where Bin Laden is. This is where its allies are. It's from here that you see attacks launched not just against the United States, but against London, against Bali, against a whole host of countries."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/13/60minutes/main5975421_page4.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody



Do you believe that 'between the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan attacks are being launched against the United States, London, against Bali, and against a whole host of countries?'

[Cant trust em]

1. Yes. nt

[Deja Q]

2. I can't believe that all of this is a mere farrago of falsities

The attack on Spain instantly comes to mind... never mind the attacks on the WTC...

I cannot disbelieve.

So, yes, I can believe it is happening.



I do apologize for the excessive use of double-negatives. :)

[bigtree]

11. I know al-Qaeda claimed responsibility

. . . but I don't know if a link to anyone from the Pakistan/Afghanistan border was ever established. It was said that the bombers were 'inspired' by bin-Laden . . .

from The Independent in November 2006:

"While the bombers may have been inspired by Bin Laden, a two-year investigation into the attacks has found no evidence that al-Qa'ida helped plan, finance or carry out the bombings, or even knew about them in advance. Those who invented the new kind of rucksack bomb used in the attacks are said to have been taught in training camps in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, under instruction from members of Morocco's radical Islamist Combat Group."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/madrid-bombers-were-inspired-by-bin-laden-address-423266.html

[rockymountaindem]

43. Hey! I learned a new word!

"Farrago". Thanks :hi:

[WeDidIt]

3. Absolutely

the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is not some definable line on a map. There is a place in between the two controlled by neither that is held by the Taliban and Al Queda.

[Mojambo]

4. I believe there's a fairly important oil pipeline in the neighborhood. n/t

[truth2power]

13. Bingo! n/t

[cliffordu]

22. I dunno - that pipeline - or the imaginary one - is NOT defensible.

Doesn't make sense to me.

[ThomCat]

33. Yes, and that's what the fighting is about.

I think the rest of this is a phantasm at this point.

[Sub Atomic]

5. Yes I do believe it. And I'm against the war.

[Richardo]

6. Yes.

[Guilded Lilly]

7. Yes.

sadly, yes, I do.

[Trajan]

8. I despised the Taliban well before 9-11

I despised the US administration that coddled the Taliban well before the WTC and Bali and London events ....

I loathed the group known as Al Qaeda when it became clear they bombed two embassies, killing hundreds of innocent human beings ....

I despised a bunch of dogmatic, iconoclastic theistic thugs who felt they are above basic rules against maiming and killing innocent human beings ....

Yes .... I believe it ...

[bigtree]

19. no al-Qaeda link found in the London bombing, despite boasts

7 July 2005 London bombings
Wikipedia


On 1 September 2005, it was reported that al-Qaeda officially claimed responsibility for the attacks in a videotape aired on the Arab television network al Jazeera. But an official inquiry by the British government reported that the tape claiming responsibility had been edited after the attacks, and that the bombers had no direct support from al Qaeda. Zabi uk-Taifi, an al-Qaeda commander arrested in Pakistan in January 2009, may have had connections to the 7 July 2005 bombings, according to Pakistani intelligence sources.

A second claim of responsibility was posted on the Internet on 9 July, claiming the attacks for another Al Qaeda-linked group, Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades. The group has previously falsely claimed responsibility for events that were the result of technical problems, such as the 2003 London blackout and Northeast Blackout of 2003.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_July_2005_London_bombings

[HughMoran]

9. Yes.

[The Straight Story]

10. Yes - just like I believe some folks in militias here in the deep woods of MI and OH

Exist and could launch attacks.

You don't need a big military and central govt to do such things. You just need a few fanatical followers, some money, and weapons.

[fl_dem]

42. and OK, TX, AL, MS, AR, LA

pretty much any red state.

[goldcanyonaz]

12. Yes.

[Stinky The Clown]

14. I believe it is lawless. I believe people wishing us harm are there. I do NOT think there is a .....

..... military solution.

[Goldstein1984]

15. I don't know what I believe anymore where this is concerned...

Except that I believe it is going to end badly.

[Brickbat]

16. I can't figure out where a "between the borders" of two adjacent countries would be.

[MercutioATC]

36. Thank you!!!

You're the only one who seems to see this.

:toast:

[Brickbat]

39. I read it, like, five times and then looked at a map...

Nope...no space in there! :hi:

[MercutioATC]

52. Maybe Al Qaeda is comprised of a lot of VERY skinny people.

Seems to me that should make them pretty easy to identify.

If you're two-dimensional, you're a terrorist.

[Individualist]

41. That comment ranks right up there with "the internets".

[boppers]

45. Ah, literalism.

That was my first thought too, but then I realized that western concepts such as a fixed "border" don't always map (badum-ching!) to other cultures.

[shadowknows69]

17. No. The idealism is there. The recruiting might be there, which we make easier.

But any true planners or cells are already operating near their next targets. They operate independently, they don't need to await the word from Osama's cave/grave.

[bigtree]

21. that's what I believe

I haven't seen any evidence to the contrary.

[shadowknows69]

26. I know if I was planning an attack on America I wouldn't do it from the place

That's being bombed and watched constantly by drones and 100,000 soldiers are trying to kill me

I'd do it from Cleveland, or Idaho, or a swamp in Florida.

[Ikonoklast]

18. Yes, with a caveat.

This is where they are currently, physically, because of the 'failed state' nature of Afghanistan, but the heart, soul, and funding of Al Quaida comes from Saudi Arabia.

[HipChick]

20. It is where would be would-be terrorist head..

like the guys from NOVA

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

23. The Lair of the Bogeymen. "The Axis of Evil" "Smoke 'em out!" "Bring it on!".

Again.

[rug]

24. No. But then I'm not fond of Conrad either.

[Sparkly]

25. I think there are fighters there, including Al Qaeda, who are intent on their stake in the region

BUT, as far as threats to the US and allies, they're all over the world now.

[bigtree]

27. I agree with that

. . . the anti-American influence is there as well - a consequence of our being in the way of that power struggle.

[EFerrari]

44. Yep. And, what is meant by "between the borders of Afghanistan

and Pakistan"? There's no AQ zone between these countries; there is a border. And there are camps in Pakistan.

[nomaco-10]

28. I was one of his biggest proponents.....

now, not so much.

Obama, I lurved you dude, but you sure have disappointed for the most part so far.

We've been eight long years in Afghanistan, and nothing. A surge will bring nothing but body counts, maybe at least we'll be allowed to view the pictures of the flag draped coffins.

I'm sooooo disappointed in him at this point.

[proteus_lives]

29. Yep.

[Nikki Stone1]

30. I believe the ISI is unable to control the monster they created.

....

[bleever]

31. Good answer.

:thumbsup:

[EFerrari]

46. But that monster isn't AQ, which is or was essentially an Egyptian

operation with a Saudi frontman.

The Taliban groups are another story and they do not export terrorism to America.

[Nikki Stone1]

47. AQ is CIA/ISI

Al Qaeda means "the database" and was a database of the CIA backed mujahideen. OBL was brought in by the CIA.

[EFerrari]

48. bin Laden is an accomplished propagandist and that's about all he is.

Does our mafia network with Pakistan's mafia? Probably.

[DemReadingDU]

32. sounds like terror, terror, terror

Somebody wanted to escalate the war, more profits for defense and private contractors. Possibly bait us with war propaganda because somebody doesn't want us to notice the economy is not getting better quickly enough.

[riderinthestorm]

34. Ideological epicenter, yes. Physical epicenter, probably not anymore.

I think the actual fighters, training, logistics etc. are spread out in other areas, probably funded by Saudi Arabia and other extremist lovers like the ISI.

But the thinkers, the idealogues, the inspirers... they are in that area. They have grown into mythic characters, even if the biggies like Bin Laden are dead, someone is still sending out the hate messages in their name.

Sometimes I think Obama is sending 30k troops to do a "kill" of Osama Bin Laden, then he gets to claim him up as dead and THAT message is important. Personally, I think OBL is already dead but nobody can confirm it yet. Obama's gonna make him dead.

That and the pipeline... oh yes, the pipeline.

[unkachuck]

35. if my fearless Leader....

....says so, then I must believe it!!

....I understand that he's trying hard to be President of all the people....but I really wish he was our President....the repugs have their President, why can't we have ours?

....I think he's still being briefed by dubya....

[spanone]

37. yep i do.

[applegrove]

38. Yes.

[Warren Stupidity]

40. nope

for example the mumbai massacre was carried out planned and plotted most likely by one of the ISI associated kashmiri jihadists groups, these groups are only marginally associated with al qaeda and do not operate out of the pashtun border region.

[graywarrior]

49. Haven't we all kind of known that?

[kid a]

50. Yes.

[mmonk]

51. No. Too simple an explanation. The Taliban have no interest in that.

The attacks of 9/11 came from a Hamburg cell. Al Queda is a brand name but in reality, is several groups. Some may be in Pakistan. Some may be in Yemen. Some may be in Saudi Arabia. Some groups may enter Afghanistan. But the attacks were not homegrown Afghani. We are increasing troop presence in Helmund and Kandahar. The TAPI pipeline contruction is to resume in 2010 through Helmund and Kandahar. Coincidence?

[Enthusiast]

53. Remember when Bush said

"Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism." ?

If what President Obama said is true, we should have an escalation. I don't mean the escalation he has called for. I mean a real escalation with a military draft and a full court press effort involving several hundreds of thousands of troops.

We won't have a draft or a tax to pay for a REAL war effort because what President Obama has said in the above is no more true than when Bush said it about Iraq. The MIC has this government by the ass.

[Blue Owl]

54. It's the 21st century and we're afraid of cavemen

And there's no way we can stop the cavemen with the world's most advanced military and unlimited funding -- the only way is through endless optional preemptive wars that may or may not work, that kill civilians, and that line the pockets of no-bid contractors, war profiteers and Bu$h administration cronies.

Oh I buy it alright.


:sarcasm: