Homeland Security Adviser Fran Townsend gave a press conference yesterday on the National Intelligence Estimate in which all intelligence-gathering arms of the United States government concluded that the war in Iraq had made this country less safe, and that the situation was deteriorating rapidly.
“Although we cannot measure the extent of the spread with precision, a large body of all-source reporting indicates that activists identifying themselves as jihadists, although a small percentage of Muslims, are increasing in both number and geographic dispersion.”
Pretty clear statement, and of course it deserves a pretty clear response from the administration. Fortunately they had a questioner that was obviously pitching softballs:
Q Could I get a quick follow on George’s question? Are you questioning the judgment that jihadists are increasing in both number and geographic dispersion? Because if that’s true, how can you say we’re safer?
MS. TOWNSEND: I’m sorry, how can you say — I didn’t hear the question.
Q We’re safer.
MS. TOWNSEND: I don’t think there’s any question that we’re safer.
And that is what passes for journalism in America?
Hat-tip to Holden C.
Update: From Larry Johnson, the following chart shows the CIA statistics on actual terrorist incidents, note that the Iraq war began in 2003.
Hat-tip to thehim.
Steve Gilliard exposes a disturbing record of racist remarks by Kinky Friedman. I wanted him to win, now I really hope he won’t. It’s a terrible dilemma for those of us who think that ending cannabis prohibition is the most important thing, and this is another example of why I can’t vote.
Hat-tip to James Wolcott.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: The Sword of Desirable Mindfulness.
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