Report: al-Qaida Ranks Swelling Worldwide [AP]

[truthisfreedom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AL_QAIDA?SITE=MNWIN&SECTION=HOME

May 26, 12:47 AM EDT

Report: al-Qaida Ranks Swelling Worldwide

By BARRY RENFREW
Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) -- Far from being crippled by the U.S.-led war on terror, al-Qaida has more than 18,000 potential terrorists scattered around the world and the war in Iraq is swelling its ranks, a report said Tuesday.

Al-Qaida is probably working on plans for major attacks on the United States and Europe, and it may be seeking weapons of mass destruction in its desire to inflict as many casualties as possible, the International Institute of Strategic Studies said in its annual survey of world affairs.

Osama bin Laden's network appears to be operating in more than 60 nations, often in concert with local allies, the study by the independent think tank said.

Although about half of al-Qaida's top 30 leaders have been killed or captured, it has an effective leadership, with bin Laden apparently still playing a key role, it said.

<snip>

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. So does that mean the Bu$h's War on Terra

is a failure?

Funny, I'm sure the people who are stuffing their pockets with our money are overjoyed that Bu$h is creating more terrorists. It's good for business.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

2. Of course, Al Qaeda would NEVER think about replacing the leaders...

...lost over the past three years, and certainly would NOT consider changing tactics creating many small autonomous groups acting on their own.

And of course, we haven't done anything to piss them off even more than they were before.

Nah. Never.

[Triana]

3. While Mad Cowboy George Diddled in Iraq...

HEY, we're SAFER now, aren't we¿ After all, we caught Saddaam...RIGHT, george¿

Hey, george, are you WORKING with these guys? The TIMING of these announcements is IMPECCABLE. They've come about just in time to boost your sagging ratings and give you a great excuse to cancel your 2004 (s)election!

What a coincidence....that Karl Rove is somethin, isn't he?

[NNN0LHI]

4. Yep. Terrorism is good for bidness. And sagging Chimp poll numbers n/t

[gasperc]

5. Franken should've smacked Colin harder on this story

they brought it up during tough crowd. Colin says I read that and there were 20,000 terrorists and now there are only 18,000 terrorists. There's a multitude of responses but at least argue where what about all the billions being spent to catch or stop these guys, is it working? 18,000 is alot of people we have only caught 10%, 90% are still our there! etc

[Spazito]

6. How, pray tell, did they come up with the 18,000 number?

I guess they sent out a questionnaire asking for Al Qaeda members to reply and 18,000 did, yeah, right. Thanks to blair and bush abandoning Afghanistan and allowing 70% of it to revert back to the Taliban and warlords, not to mention the atrocities committed in Iraq, who the hell knows how many "Al Qaeda" members there are.

[radwriter0555]

7. I see the al queda PR team is in full swing, issuing press releases

and information!

[Moderator]

8. Hi Truthisfreedom, this topic was posted yesterday

Please add your link to this thread and discuss here. Thanks!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=580802