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Senior Intelligence Officials: Attempted Terror Attack "Certain"

The five senior leaders of the U.S. intelligence community told a Senate panel they are "certain" that terrorists will attempt another attack on the United States in the next three to six months.

If true, why do you think the jihadists feel emboldened?

The Obama administration is seen as weak against terrorism.
Its continued backlash against the policies of the former Bush administration.
Not sure.

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June 16, 2009

Exclusive: Gitmo Detainees, Iranian Elections, and North Korean Nukes: More Headaches for Obama?

Presidential Policy: Does It Make the Grade?, James Carafano, PhD

The Administration made headlines last week, announcing the transfer of a handful of detainees from the military facilities where they had been held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. According to Time on June 9th, “the first detainee to face trial in a U.S. civilian court arrived in New York. Wearing blue prison garb, Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani made a brief appearance in a crowded Manhattan courtroom, pleading not guilty to hundreds of charges related to the deadly 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa and his alleged al Qaeda ties.” Later that week, four of the Chinese Uighurs detained at the facility, but cleared for release, were sent to Bermuda. With still over 200 detainees at the facility, even if one-a-day could be moved the administration will be hard pressed to empty GITMO by the end of the year as the president has promised. The real significance of this week’s transfers, however, is that they continue to reflect, that despite very different rhetoric, there is more continuity than differences between how Obama and Bush are addressing the legalities of holding enemy combatants. The Uighurs, for example, where cleared for release four years ago. It has taken this long to find a country to take them. As for Ghailani, as Heritage scholar Charles Stimson points out, this terrorist did get “a one-way ticket from Guantanamo Bay to Manhattan this week. He is the first high-value Gitmo detainee to enter the United States to face justice. And he could be one of a very few – perhaps the only one – similarly situated.” Unlike other detainees, Stimson predicts his conviction will be a slam dunk and, “[c]ivil liberties and liberal groups will be sorely disappointed if they think that there are a lot of Ghailanis at Gitmo. There aren't. His case is factually unique.” In short, the debate over the future of most of the detainees is very far from over. More troubles ahead for the administration on this issue.

Presidential elections in Iran dominated the rest of this foreign policy headlines. “President Ahmadinejad,” according to the Voice of America, “says his margin of victory in Friday’s vote was so large that it cannot be questioned. Official results showed him beating his reformist challenger nearly two-to-one.” Yet, many expected the election to be too-close-to-call and there were wide spread claims of voter fraud. The White House, which had committed itself to engaging with Iran, now finds itself a bit boxed in. Ahmadinejad’s legitimacy is doubt and he remains committed to developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. This hardly makes him a promising candidate for bilateral talks. Heritage analyst Jim Phillips predicted that even before the elections that they were a sham and would likely make little difference. “In recent months his [Ahmadinejad’s] government has distributed 400,000 tons of free potatoes to the poor in a blatant effort to bribe voters. This led supporters of rival candidates to chant ‘death to potatoes’ at their campaign rallies.” Phillips argued it would be naïve to expect a significant change in Iran’s foreign policy. 

From the Editors – Special Reader Poll:

Should President Obama give his approval to the results of the recent Iranian presidential election?

Take Our Quick Poll - Here 

At the same time, adding to the administration’s nuclear nightmare, according to the New York Times, “North Korea responded Saturday to new United Nations sanctions on Friday by defiantly vowing to press forward with the production of nuclear weapons and take ‘resolute military actions’ against international efforts to isolate it.” The White House has made no effective response to these developments. Additionally, it has come increasingly under criticism for proposed cuts to missile defense and other programs which would serve to deter Iran and North Korea. Recently, a bi-partisan bill was introduced in the House to restore the proposed cuts. Look for push back, even from the president’s own party on defense cuts and his “soft” on Iran and North Korea policies.

From the Editors – Special Reader Poll:

Should cuts in missile defense spending be restored?

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