The Central Intelligence Agency's second-in-command warned that Syria's volatile mix of al Qaeda extremism and civil war now poses the greatest threat to U.S. national security.
Michael Morell says the risk is that the Syrian government, which possesses chemical and other advanced weapons, collapses and the country becomes al Qaeda's new haven, supplanting Pakistan.
The threat from al Qaeda in Yemen in recent days—which shut down embassies across the Middle East—highlights the dangers for the U.S. as the terrorist organization tries to establish new beachheads. "It's not so much that al Qaeda has fallen as a threat," but that the threat from Syria has escalated, he said.
Mr. Morell's stark assessment shows how much the U.S. has at stake as it reluctantly prepares to arm Syrian rebels in the coming weeks while continuing to confront an al Qaeda that has dispersed across the globe. His forecast is all the more worrisome because it comes from a top official who other officials say is skeptical of current administration plans to arm the rebels.
Mr. Morell detailed his strategic assessment of Syria and al Qaeda in an outline of the top threats facing the U.S. in an interview in his office at Langley as he prepares to end his 33-year tenure at the agency on Friday. Second on his list was Iran, followed by the global al Qaeda threat, North Korea, and cyberwarfare.
…
Still, Syria is his top concern. "It's probably the most important issue in the world today," he said, "because of where it is currently heading." Its current track is toward the collapse of its central government, he said.
He said there are now more foreign fighters flowing into Syria each month to take up arms with al Qaeda-affiliated groups, than there were going to Iraq to fight with al Qaeda at the height of the war there.
The Syrian government's weapons, Mr. Morell said, "are going to be up for grabs and up for sale" as they were in Libya. The violence in Syria has the potential to spill over into Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
CIA Official Calls Syria Top Threat to U.S. Security - WSJ.com
So in other words, Syria is one helluva bees nest that is going to need to be cleaned up sooner than later.
CIA Official Calls Syria Top Threat to U.S. Security - WSJ.com
So in other words, Syria is one helluva bees nest that is going to need to be cleaned up sooner than later.
And now that the bees' nest has been kicked over, and bees are swarming everywhere, now what? Who are the good guys in this struggle? Are there any? It looks like a brutal dictatorship vs. the terrorists to me. I hope that's wrong, but, if it isn't, just what do we do about it?
So in other words, Syria is one helluva bees nest that is going to need to be cleaned up sooner than later.
How does them killing themselves have anything to do with our national security?
CIA Official Calls Syria Top Threat to U.S. Security - WSJ.com
So in other words, Syria is one helluva bees nest that is going to need to be cleaned up sooner than later.
How does them killing themselves have anything to do with our national security?
It looks like a brutal dictatorship vs. the terrorists to me.
Well.....he is on his way out after 33years. But as far as the a threat to our National Security. He is way off the mark.
:lamo Yes, MMC. Clearly you know better regarding threats to national security than the second in command of the CIA who's been in the business for three decades.
You're out of touch with reality, bud.
Whatever TR :roll: .....but I am sure you would stick up for the paper pushing pencil Bureaucrat, that has majors in Economics and not intel. :shock: Must be due to the fact that he leans left despite working for Bush.....huh? Now lets check that on who really has the picture of reality.
Got some sort validation that what he is saying affects our National Security? Other than weapons may fall in the hands of terrorists. Or will you stick with his feelings upon the matter. :doh
1. Weapons could fall into the hands of Sunni terrorists if there is a rebel victory.
2. Weapons will definitely fall into Shia terrorist hands (aka Hezbollah) if there is an Assad victory.
3. If Assad wins, Iran has a greater sphere of influence. This means that:
a) They will have more international support in their coverup of their nuclear program.
b) Iran can more easily extend her sphere of influence into Iraq from two borders - Syria and Iran. This means that the Iraq War would actually have hurt US security interests.
c) Iran could more easily transfer weapons and aid to Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorists.
:lamo Yes, MMC. Clearly you know better regarding threats to national security than the second in command of the CIA who's been in the business for three decades. :roll:
You're out of touch with reality, bud.
It actually is hard to imagine the Syrian situation being our #1 crisis to national security at the moment though. The debt/less spending money, cyberattacks/cyberespionage, Iran getting the bomb, the Middle Eastern-Latin America connection, China, rising economies, climate problems… those are real issues that *will* or are affecting us. The Syrian situation is primarily a threat to Israel. But, since we're tied to Israel, it becomes our problem.
Syria has been on the chopping block for the U.S. for a while, along with Iran. It's called 'A Clean Break'. The Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies Jerusalem, Washington
The Syrian problem is more of an issue for Saudi, Qutar, Jordan and Turkey which have been supporting the rebels than it is to Israel. Splitting Syria into three pieces gives the Kurds a base of operations against the Turks, Jordan will be overflowing refugees, Saudi kings will be looking to see if they can work a deal with Iran or risk being overthrown.
The world's ills all don't start and end with Israel as some bashers would like us to believe.
Let Syria blow up. Maybe they'll suck up all the terrorist in the Middle East and concentrate them there for the fight. This works great in helping to overcome which Muslims to kill and which ones to leave alone to live their lives. They are identifying themselves, coming out of the wood work. I say let them. The more the merrier.
Problem is, the Muslims who aren't terrorists get trapped in the middle. If nothing else, we should at least provide aid and assistance to Syrian refugees.
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