Syria, al Qaeda: U.S. officials offer grim assessment
February 11th, 2014
02:39 PM ET

Syria, al Qaeda: U.S. officials offer grim assessment

By Jamie Crawford

A security vacuum over vast areas of Syria could allow extremists to access weapons of mass destruction, a top U.S. intelligence official said.

 
"The current instability in Syria presents a perfect opportunity for al Qaeda and associated groups," to acquire Syrian stockpiles of chemical weapons that are scheduled to be destroyed," Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told a Senate committee on Tuesday.


"There is a very real possibility that extremists in the Syrian opposition could overrun and exploit chemical and biological weapons storage facilities before all of these materials are removed," he said.

 
Flynn and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testified on the worldwide threat situation before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

 
While calling the humanitarian situation in Syria an "apocalyptic disaster," Clapper said the estimated 7,500 foreign fighters in Syria, from as many as 50 countries, pose a significant security challenge.

 
"Among them are a small group al Qaida veterans (from Afghanistan and Pakistan) who have aspirations for external attack in Europe, if not the homeland itself."

 
And with the de-centralization of command within the al Qaeda structure, both officials offered sobering assessments of whether the organization was on a path to defeat.

 
"No, it is morphing and franchising itself and not only (in North Africa), but other parts of the world," Clapper said.
"They are not," Flynn added.

 
With ongoing support from Russia, Iran and its proxy, Hezbollah, to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and a splintered opposition movement, Clapper cautioned against any optimism for a near-term negotiated solution.
"I think what we are facing right now is kind of a prolonged stalemate."

 
There was also bipartisan rancor directed at the President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan for stalling on a bilateral security agreement with the United States along with a host of other security related issues.

 
"It's my own view, not necessarily company policy, is I don't believe President Karzai is going to sign," the agreement that would allow for a small number of U.S. forces to remain in the country beyond the current NATO mandate Clapper said.

 
"President Karzai, in my view, is singlehandedly destroying this relationship," Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said of a decision by the Afghan government to release dozens of prisoners believed to be involved in terrorism.

 
"Actions like this make it very hard for an American politician to do business as usual in Afghanistan," he said.
Both Clapper and Flynn continued to stress the damage done to the intelligence community by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden whose leaks they contend have opened a window to terrorist organizations.

 
"We're beginning to see changes in the communications behavior of adversaries, particularly terrorists," Clapper said, while assessing Snowden had accessed over 1.7 million intelligence related documents. "A disturbing trend which I anticipate will continue."

 
"I have no doubt that [Snowden] has placed the men and women of our armed services at risk, and that his disclosures will cost lives on our future battlefields," Flynn said.

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    I don't think the NSA leak has caused any significant damage that is more important than our own privacy in our own homes within American territory.
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    The real threat is misinformation that has blocked any further advancement of the free Syrian Army. Where is the news coverage of their latest political triumphs against Assad? The last I heard was that they had defected government officials in Europe. Do they plan on returning to lead the free Syrian Army? That sounds like the right next step.
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    February 12, 2014 at 10:26 am | Reply
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    It just might be better to negotiate with the ISIS and let them carve out a part of eastern Syria along with western Iraq and let them set up their own home state. In return, we ask them not to attack either western Syria and eastern Iraq. This alone could go a very long way in bringing peace to that area. Unfortunately, most people are just to ignorant to see it and the bloodshed will continue.

    February 11, 2014 at 7:20 pm | Reply
    • Random

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  71. Random

    It is a buildup, the calm before the storm if you will. I completely agree with their assessment except for the part where they treat AQ as the threat. AQ is effectively a symbol, the way you are fighting, and approaching this is identical to an enemy thinking attacking or destroying the Army, or Marines would destroy the US. Look at it more like piracy. Going after boats full of pirates won't fix anything. They can evade you enough that a new crew forms before you can take one out of commission. I think this fundamental flaw in our approach is going to cost us. While we effectively chase the success of the Islamic jihad , we do nothing to stop the driving momentum. AQ is simply one 'brigade' of an islamic army that is slowly toppling governments all over the world. It is a hashtag. Not an organization. Groups and people are admonished and invited and condoned. It is a facade that as long as we allow it to distract us we can't win. The problem is Im fairly confident it is the countries we are funding , the same one that gave us binladen, that are behind it. Our politicians are in their pocket. This is why any attempt to curb oil consumption is quashed. This is likely being directed by our allies, and our own politicians on some level.
    When terrorists/jihadi's do stupid stuff, like blow up an entire class of would be suicide bombers and instructor, then its ISIS or the outcasts that do it. If its a SUPER effective attack then it is AQ or what ever else. It is effectively a way to magnify minor successes into an organization or symbol so it has greater effect.

    February 11, 2014 at 3:02 pm | Reply

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