This morning on The Insider Dolly gave a virtuoso performance of deceitful political spin in discussing Al Qaeda in Iraq:
I don’t think anyone really argues with the proposition, by the way, that if al-Qaeda and terrorism is successful in Iraq, and there is a complete withdrawal of international troops, especially American troops, from Iraq, that will be a spectacular victory for terrorism and that will have ramifications around the world, including from our perspective in South East Asia.
The Dollyverse must be an interesting one indeed. It seems that recent intelligence memos concerning the resurgence of Al Qaeda cannot penetrate its carefully constructed walls nor anyone that would disagree with him. Of course, given the memo is yet to be declassified one would think Dolly would keep up on foreign affairs being foreign minister and all. One avenue may the the publication Foreign Affairs with an article such as Al Qaeda Strikes Back.
Al Qaeda is one of many contributors to violence in Iraq. They have had some success in fomenting Sunni/Shia violence but that was bound to boil over anyway. In regards to attacks directly aimed at the US forces, Al Qaeda is not the most active group in Iraq.
In terms of Al Qaeda’s worldwide operations, total destruction of Al Qaeda in Iraq would be a blow but would not harm their overall operational position. The idea that if we don’t kill them in Iraq then they will follow us home is simply absurd. The organisation has taken advantage of networked and independent operations around the world. As the recent bombing in the United Kingdom show they are already here. Iraq means very little in terms of overall counterterrorism. In fact, a US withdrawal from Iraq, while a short term propaganda victory for Al Qaeda, would be a disaster for the terrorist group. Al Qaeda benefit from an “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” situation in Iraq. Without the US troops, their presence would be quickly eliminated by the Shiites as well as some Sunni groups that would join in with nationalistic intentions.
Riedel makes the point that the main problem is Pakistan’s tolerance of Al Qaeda within its borders. The US have coddled Musharraf as an ally. But Musharraf in trying to counter the extremists groups now gaining a voice in Pakistan has neglected the role the Pakistani military and intelligence services in supporting Al Qaeda. The US has muttered that Musharraf needs to exert some control but the internal Pakistani politics make such actions doubtful.
As a foreign minister, Dolly’s continued exaggeration of Al Qeada’s role in the Iraqi violence is reprehensible. The war against Al Qaeda will not be won if governments ignore intelligence and the reality on the ground in favour of the party line and ad hoc justifications for a military and political disaster.
For me, Dolly is usually highly amusing.
On al Qaeda in Iraq he surpasses himself. He is hilarious.
Given that al Qaeda in Iraq didn’t exist when Dolly’s mentors blundered into Mesopotamia, it would appear that the Coalition of the Willing caused the rise of al Qaeda in Iraq.
Dolly did much more than give al Qaeda in Iraq a SIM card, surely prima facie, Dolly’s actions were “reckless assistance to terrorism.”
Just a typo. in the penultimate paragraph’s first sentence
Riedel makes the point that the main problem is Pakistan’s tolerance of Iraq within it borders.
Presumably you meant to say, not ‘IRAQ’ but ‘al QAEDA’ though simply ‘Islamists ” or ‘jihadis’ would suffice.
Prez Perverse is on extremely short notice to rein them in, ie blow’em away’. When he fails, through unwillingness, inability or a combination thereof, who gives a ….
There is a long line of Quislings queuing to step up the plate. Benazir isn’t in Dubai getting a suntan.
Thanks amphibious. I did note that during proofing but forgot to follow up.
Apropos is an interview with Abdul Sattar Murad, an Afgani politican on the rise of the Taliban. Pakistan’s intelligence agency is also implicated in helping the Taliban.
Downer admitted he knows more about what’s going in Iraq than “The CiA”. Afer all, he went to the Green Zone, for a few hours.
It’s not the like the CIA has dozens of agents on the ground in Iraq, and constant monitoring of every single newspaper, radio and television broadcast inside Iraq, and get regular updates and briefings from Blackwater and every other security agency in the war zone…
I used to believe that Downer was doing the spin, that he was playing along with Bush Co, repeating almost word for word the ’situation updates’ he gets sent from the White House.
But he really believes his own BS now. He actually stated today that he was right and “The CIA” was wrong.
Chilling.
Good thing he’s not our foreign minister or something.
Actually, Dolly – very few people now argue with the proposition that “Al Qaeda wasnt in Iraq until the US led invasion – the same invasion which took the heat off Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan”.
So, forget that crap. And as AWB bankrolled Saddam on your watch, his fall could rightly be regarded to have taken place despite Dolly Downer. So not much to spin there either.
All in all, your time’s up, and thanks again for wasting ours.
I look forward to meeting you next as a comic footnote in retrospectives on the Howard government.
Actually, Lefty E – the now toasted Zarq-boy was in Iraq from 2002. Despite his and the cave stick insect’s differences he was all Al Qaeda, and 2002 is before the US led invasion.
There was an interesting interview with Bruce Riedel on The World Today on Friday, followed by one with William Maley.
It seems that al-Qaeda is making money out of Iraq, among other things.
I guess he’s the equivalent of “evidence of WMD programs” then Craig!
Good to see you calling it for what it really was, Craig.
Very sardonic Craig.
Oh, wait … you’re offering an attempt at a serious defence of Dolly.
How hilarious!
Yes isn’t it interesting that US intelligence states that Iraq is actually funding and expanding Al Qaida, which a US pull out would stop. The exact opposite of what Dolly is stating.
Only his shrill go at Kevin over carrots was worse than this latest Iraq prognosis.
Al Zarqawi did not join Al Qaeda until 2004. There were some ties before then but it wasn’t until the invasion that the ties strengthened and Al Zarqawi made the jump. Al Zarqawi seems to have been in Iraq prior to 2003 but claims for link between Al Qaeda and Hussein have been shown to be false.
Juan Cole marshalls facts against Dolly’s fantasy:
We can all go home now