al-Qaida Back to Full Strength

It's time for US to attack Iran?

It proves, once again, that one has to follow events in the news, and ignore the spin, to know what's in the classified documents of most intelligence agencies around the world. AP reports that al-Qaida is back to pre-September 11 strength training, recruiting, mostly European-based young Muslims from Middle East and, now, India, and monetizing it's activities, with increasing donations and businesses, within a safe haven in western Pakistan.

The threat assessment says that al-Qaida stepped up efforts to "improve its core operational capability" in late 2004 but did not succeed until December of 2006 after the Pakistani government signed a peace agreement with tribal leaders that effectively removed government military presence from the northwest frontier with Afghanistan. The agreement allows Taliban and al-Qaida operatives to move across the border with impunity and establish and run training centers, the report says, according to the official. It also says that al-Qaida is particularly interested in building up the numbers in its middle ranks, or operational positions, so there is not as great a lag in attacks when such people are killed. [AP via Yahoo]

So much for the classified report. Now that al-Qaida officially declared jihad against Pakistan, after the Lal Masjid raid, may be Gen. Musharraf will do something about getting his country under control. I doubt it, because no one can control the Pathans of NWFP. Knowing where the terrorists are, may be it's time for the Americans to attack Iran - that other apparent frontier in the WoT.