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In essence, the latest NIE concluded that the aggressive global campaign against terrorism has weakened al-Qaeda, that terrorist movements -- while still dangerous -- lack cohesive leadership and strategy, and that the fight in Iraq has become a do-or-die situation for the terrorists. If we complete our mission there, the terrorists will suffer a crushing defeat. If, on the other hand, the terrorists can be perceived as having driven us out, radical Islam will flourish.

In other words, it says pretty much what members of the Bush administration, as well as most Republicans and Conservatives, have been saying all along.

Another line the Democrats declined to quote: "United States-led counterterrorism efforts have seriously damaged the leadership of al-Qa'ida and disrupted its operations; however, we judge that al-Qa'ida will continue to pose the greatest threat to the Homeland and US interests abroad by a single terrorist organization." Of course, why would they want to let the public know that a) al-Qaeda has been seriously damaged and that b) the threat of terrorism is real?

National security and the lives of innocent Americans are merely pieces in a political game. Democratic politicians, knowing that the report actually said something quite different, shamelessly lied about the report's conclusions just to attack President Bush, erode support for the fight in Iraq, and convince voters to put them in power in November.

Even after the report's key judgments were declassified, they continue to lie about its conclusions. "[A]s the (National Intelligence Estimate) indicates, his failed policies have made America less safe and spawned terrorism, not decreased it," said Karen Finney, spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, on 28 September 2006 -- two days after President Bush declassified the report. That's a bit like blaming the 1942 Allied invasion of North Africa (countries that never attacked us!), which doubtless resulted in increased German recruitment, for "spawning" more Nazis. Finney also said, "Democrats will be tough and smart, and will actually fight the terrorists, not leave them to plan future attacks."

Of course, Democrats won't fight them by tapping phone calls to and from known terrorists without asking a judge's permission, they won't fight them by allowing law enforcement agencies to share information, they won't fight them by interrogating them to find out what they know, and they won't fight them by preventing them from taking over Iraq to use as a base from which to control the Middle East. How they will fight terrorism, the Democrats have yet to say.

But at least we know they'll be "tough and smart," which will no doubt impress the terrorists.

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Joe Mariani is a computer consultant born and raised in New Jersey. He now lives in Pennsylvania, where the gun laws are less restrictive and taxes are lower. Joe always thought of himself as politically neutral until he saw how far left the left had really gone after 9/11. His essays and links to articles are available at http://www.guardianwatchblog.com/

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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