Bush And Terrorists - Lots 'O Links

Negroponte says al Queda is in Pakistan...

"Pakistan is our partner in the war on terror and has captured several al Qaeda leaders. However, it is also a major source of Islamic extremism," Negroponte said in written testimony submitted to the panel.
"Eliminating the safe haven that the Taliban and other extremists have found in Pakistan's tribal areas is not sufficient to end the insurgency in Afghanistan but it is necessary."

Condi and secdef Gates face Congress seeking support for the President's "surge" plan...(Look at the AP's choice of photo) Let me give you a hint - the dem's and even some rep's will only oppose you - even if you use their ideas, like more troops! Get it?

Bush and top members of his national security team sought to rally support for the troop buildup a day after he unveiled his plan for turning around a conflict that has lasted nearly four years and cost more than 3,000 American military lives.
Instead, Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice found themselves embroiled in the first pitched exchanges in a battle that is likely to dominate Congress for months or longer and is already shaping the 2008 presidential election.
"I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it's carried out," Sen. Chuck Hagel (news, bio, voting record) of Nebraska, a potential 2008 presidential contender, told Rice. While he is a Republican, administration officials were defending the plan for the first time to the Democratic-controlled Congress.

There's several changes being made in combat zone timing...the duration and frequency of duty. But the most interesting part of this article had was peripheral to that message - having to do with the deployment of Patriot missiles...

As part of Bush's plan for boosting U.S. troop strength in Iraq, a brigade of National Guard soldiers from Minnesota will have its yearlong tour in Iraq extended by 125 days, to the end of July, and a Patriot missile battalion will be sent to the Persian Gulf next month, the Army said Thursday.
Maj. Randy Taylor, a spokesman for the 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, at Fort Bliss, Texas, said the Patriot unit was aware of the announced deployment. He said no formal order had been received Thursday.
The dispatching of a Patriot missile battery, capable of defending against shorter-range ballistic missile attacks, appeared linked to Bush's announcement Wednesday that he ordered an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, which would be in easy reach of Iran, whose nuclear program is a U.S. concern.

Just my opinion here, but I think the major chieftains and players have decided that the U.S, doesn't have the necessary ruthlessness to whip a "unity gov't" together that's strong enough to placate the restless militias and populations. I think they're seeking their own "exit strategy" for the perceived eventual "re-deployment" of American troops, and that the Kurds and Shia are looking to Iran, and the Sunni's to the House of Saud to supply them with arms and intelligence. What Iran's end game is - is anybody's guess, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they think they can take a sizable chunk of Iraq for themselves. Particularly the heavily Shiite south, including Basra and the Gulf coast. A missile attack is, in my view, unlikely, but the Patriots are a good show of resolve. The aircraft carrier group (in addition to the fleets already in place) is likely a warning to Iran. Events such as what is described in this AFP account of a raid in Kurdish Arbil make me wonder just who in Iraq counts the Iranians as allies.

The White House declined to comment specifically on the operation, but unapologetically defended it.
"If we get information that is actionable that the Iranians are interfering with Iraq, with Iraqis, or in any way going to harm Americans that we're going to take action," said national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
"The president made it clear last night that we will not tolerate outside interference in Iraq. And that's what the Iranians are up to."

...

"We expect the Iraqi government to act quickly for the release of these people and to condemn the US forces and not let them disturb the two countries' relations with their illegal and spontaneous action," a senior foreign ministry official reportedly told Iraqi ambassador Mohammed Majid al-Sheikh.
The Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq -- normally a staunch supporter of US policy in the region -- also condemned the raid and demanded the immediate release of all prisoners taken.
"The presidency and the government of the Kurdish region of Iraq express their disapproval of the operation against the Iranian consulate," said a statement from regional president Massud Barzani's office.