Friday, May 30

Al-Qaeda in retreat?

The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has said al-Qaeda is essentially defeated in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and on the defensive elsewhere.

Michael Hayden's remarks, which correspondents describe as strikingly upbeat, come less than a year after the CIA warned of a resurgent al-Qaeda. He told the Washington Post that US counter-terrorism successes extended to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden is thought to be hiding out in the area. "On balance, we are doing pretty well," said the CIA director. "Near strategic defeat of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Near strategic defeat of al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Significant setbacks for al-Qaeda globally."

Strange retreat because Bin Laden is still alive organizing and acting and Taliban returning strong as ever in Afghanistan! Perhaps the head of the CIA should tell us what fiction films is he watching!

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