International

Al-Qaida works to plan US operatives

Al-Qaida is stepping up its efforts to sneak terror operatives into the United States and has acquired most of the capabilities it needs to strike here, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment, The Associated Press has learned. The draft National Intelligence Estimate is expected to paint an ever-more-worrisome portrait of al-Qaida's ability to use its base along the Pakistan-Afghan border to launch and inspire attacks against the United States over the next several years.

Yet, the government's top analysts concluded that U.S. soil has become a harder target for the extremist network, thanks to worldwide counterterror efforts since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Read more here.

Bush, Chertoff Seek To Discredit Their Own Intelligence, Claim al Qaeda Is ‘Weaker’ Today, the National Intelligence Council of the Bush administration will release a report entitled “Al Qaida Better Positioned to Strike the West,” concluding that the “network is gaining strength and has established a safe haven in remote tribal areas of western Pakistan for training and planning attacks…despite concerted U.S. attempts to smash the network.”

But this morning, both President Bush and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff attempted to play down the intelligence report. “I wouldn’t put it [the threat] at that level — in my own opinion,” said Chertoff. Bush claimed: [I know...sounds eerily like "bin Laden Determined To Strike Inside The US"]

There is a perception in the coverage that al Qaeda may be as strong today as they were prior to September 11th. That’s simply not the case…because of the actions we’ve taken, al Qaeda is weaker today than they would have been. Watch it here.

National House Passes Bill Requiring Troop Withdrawal The Democratic-controlled House shrugged off another veto threat from President Bush in approving a measure requiring the withdraw U.S. troops by spring.

Earlier, Bush ruled out any change in war policy before September.

Democratic leaders engineered a 223-201passage of legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops to begin within 120 days, and to be completed by April 1, 2008. The measure envisions a limited residual force to train Iraqis, protect U.S. assets and fight Al Qaeda and other terrorists.

The vote generally followed party lines: 219 Democrats and four Republicans in favor, and 191 Republicans and 10 Democrats opposed. More details here.

Will Miers' No Show Land in Court? The witness chair where former White House counsel Harriet Miers was supposed to sit while testifying before the U.S. House Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee July 12, 2007.

The only sign that Harriet Miers was supposed to testify in front of Congress on Thursday was literally that — a sign, a paper placard bearing her name. Behind it sat an empty water cup. Behind that, an even emptier chair. Read on...

In Other News... Last November, CIA Director Michael Hayden told the Iraq Study Group in a private briefing that the "inability of the [Iraqi] government to govern seems irreversible." In the eight months since, "neither Hayden nor any other high-ranking administration official has publicly described the Iraqi government in the uniformly negative terms that the CIA director used in his closed-door briefing."

"A previously undisclosed Army investigation into an audacious January attack in Karbala that killed five U.S. soldiers concludes that Iraqi police working alongside American troops colluded with insurgents."

The White House is resisting a congressional effort to commission "independent assessments to rival the upcoming Sept. 15 reports by Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker. If you had a serious illness, you would want a second opinion. We are at war. You want to have the best minds looking at a problem," said Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-VA).

For thousands of Gulf Coast evacuees, "going home to New Orleans has become a vague and receding dream. Living in bleak circumstances, they cannot afford to go back, or have nothing to go back to. Over the two years since Hurricane Katrina hit, the shock of evacuation has hardened into the grim limbo of exile. 'We in storage,' said Ann Picard, 49. ... 'We just in storage.'"

Yesterday, former White House political director Sara Taylor used a letter from White House counsel Fred Fielding barring her from speaking about certain White House activities "like a shield." She "invoked Fielding's name 24 times" and mentioned the letter 35 times: "I have a very clear letter from Mr. Fielding. ... Again, I have a letter."

"The political price of sticking by an embattled Alberto Gonzales is getting higher for President Bush." The Wall Street Journal notes new intelligence laws have not been passed because lawmakers believe Gonzales "misled them about a separate surveillance program." Also, "Gonzales was sidelined during the recent immigration debate," and there has been little movement to replace a half-dozen senior Justice Department officials, some of whom need Senate confirmation.

From The Right: Steve Chapman: Myths of the War on Terrorism Though, al Qaeda may -- emphasize "may" -- still have the capacity to mount the occasional major operation, that doesn't mean terrorism should be treated as an omnipresent, existential threat.

From The Left: Hendrik Hertzberg: Cheney: The Darksider he story of the scowling, scheming, domineering, silently sinister Vice-President and the spoiled, petted prince who becomes his plaything is irresistible - set in a pristine White House, played against an ominous, unseen background of violence and catastrophe, like distant thunder, and packed with drama, palace intrigue, and black comedy.

Quote Of The Day: "If idiots grew on trees, this place would be an orchard." - Author Unkown

(Sources: AP, FOXNews, WashingtonPost, ThinkProgress, WashingtonTimes, NYTimes, Time, USAToday, WallStreetJournal, TruthOut)