Michael Hayden, the CIA director, Puts to Rest The Notion of "al-Qaida in Iraq" [View All]

[leftchick]

so much for "the central front in the war on terra" bs we have heard from Abizaid to the chimp....

<snip>

Although the Bush administration continues to emphasize the role of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Maples described the current situation as "mostly an intra-Arab struggle to determine how power and authority will be distributed," with or without the U.S. presence. Al-Qaeda and foreign terrorist numbers were put at roughly 1,300, while Hayden, pressed by senators, estimated the number of insurgents in the "low tens of thousands." Maples estimated the number of Iraqi insurgents, including militias, at 20,000 to 30,000, and said there are many more who supply support.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/16/AR2006111601509.html

Pincus's whole article is well worth the read. Iraq is a hell hole thanks to bush.