There are apparently two different federal government views of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, that of the White House and that of the intelligence departments:
The Obama administration’s Iraq policy seems premised on the idea that the terrorist Islamic State is so toxic that it will be self-limiting and ultimately self-defeating. But that’s not the view of U.S. intelligence officials.
In a briefing for journalists Thursday, a panel of five U.S. intelligence officials summed up their assessment of an organization that has shown a remarkable durability because it is “patient,†“well-organized,†“opportunistic†and “flexible.†Under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the group has rebounded from about 1,500 fighters in 2010 to more than 10,000 today — becoming a global jihadist organization that communicates in many languages.
Given the Islamic State’s stated intentions we had better hope that the White House is right and, indeed, our intelligence services’ track records in the region haven’t been particularly good for some time.
My own view, as I’ve mentioned any number of times before, is that as long as we’re content with security theater rather than security and are unwilling to disrupt the critical success factors that lead to the attacks on 9/11 we’ll continue to be as vulnerable as we were on 9/10/2001. As we learned it doesn’t take a lot of people or money to launch a disruptive, punishing attack and ISIS has both.
Excellent, TB. How is it we know this and so many don’t?
That’s a real question. I don’t know the answer.
@Janis Gore
My story is civil rights and I do it everyday, TB.
I meant her style, but she is poignant on many issues.
I knew a girl whose daddy started on the factory floor and rose to the top of a major corporation. He knew every process and all the people. He was replaced by a business major.
Big chemical company, not Monsanto, but in that class.
She knows. She was a sweetie, too. My manager at the telephone co.
My style is mine, TB. Camille has her own.
She has a different, individual history.
@Janis Gore
Gonzo belongs to HST. Period.
Health Systems Trust? That’s weird.
Nini nini, boo.
TB and I do schtick together.
I like this guy a lot.
Are you married?
Certifiable. And I had so much potential.
Shame, innit?
Mr. Dave, can I go see OTB yet?
I promise to behave.
I’m behaving, yeah?
Perry is such a sorry opportunist. I’ve written the book on opportunism.
And no chance trying to appeal to me by wearing my glasses, either.
Jerk. Send that boy into retirement into … Florida, Ice!
Have fun.
I’m being real, real good, Mr. Dave.
Mr. Perry, your chances are, your chances are not worth a sh*t.
See? I’m being real good. I won’t break anything else. I promise.
Some people are Queens of Spain and I’m a Queen of Silly. You figure I’m a Hapsburg? I do have Iberian genes.
My humor is not accessible to just everybody.
I am an ELITE humorist. BWAHAHAHA!
Bummers.
Time to get serious now.
Look at how beautiful these people are. Help them.
CNN 7:57 pm. Aug 16, 2014
Jaff is doing a fantastic job.
Too strident, Mr Dave?
Doesn’t look like much does it? Guess you had to be there.
I’d go even crazier if I had to live in that kind of isolation. I don’t understand it at all.
I made a sweet friend in China, for Goodness sake!
Tell ’em the cold, hard truth and you get lonely fast.
Except for TB, of course. That man wrestles alligators in his spare time.
Hey, hon. Going my way?
Certifiable.
She was such a nice girl.
Bless her heart.
Y’all have a good night.
Remember, the way to make a small fortune in Texas is to start with a large one. That’s what the greedy Hunts did.
Ray Hunt’s a good guy, though. He and his wife do a lot of good work.
Do you remember this woman, Dave?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko0JC9UN5PU
My, my, my.
Has a little something going for her, don’t you think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP0VBB7BO64
http://youtu.be/gp5JCrSXkJY
I’m feelin’ a little run down today. How y’all?
Lord a’ mercy, the nights are warm at this season.
I tell you, the Internet is certainly a fascinating Place:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152600949487140&set=vb.26266617139&type=2&theater
Yessirree. That’s why God built the Internet.
I could watch that all day. Hypnotic. Kind of like watching an aquarium.
In the village, the quiet village, the white coats sleep tonight…
TB, how are you are and the Tiger woman doing this evening?
Or is she not home (wink, wink)? I certainly don’t have anything on my hands tonight.
http://youtu.be/ogGKBiMX8KU
Fascinating place:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3649169309116&set=vb.1270958814&type=2&theater
Truly inspiring:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=186603724690776&set=vb.100000234480133&type=2&theater
… Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh …
Is OTB really fixed tonight, Mr. Dave?
I’m really, really sorry I broke it, sir.
http://youtu.be/yG0oBPtyNb0
http://youtu.be/JFYVcz7h3o0