Yahoo! News - U.S. Says Al Qaeda, Iraq Rebel Trying to Communicate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and the network's ally in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, are trying to communicate with each other even as they continue to elude U.S. forces, a senior U.S. general said on Friday.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Lance Smith also said U.S. Central Command may ask the Pentagon to raise U.S. troop levels in Iraq by roughly 3,000 to 5,000, mainly by delaying the scheduled departure of some soldiers, to improve security before January elections.

Smith told reporters at the Pentagon that "we know for a fact that there are attempted communications" between bin Laden, thought to be hiding along the Afghan-Pakistani border, and Zarqawi, believed to have escaped the U.S. offensive in his previous suspected base of operations in Falluja. Smith did not provide evidence for these attempted communications.

Uh, guys, the election is over, you can stop this shit now. You also "knew for a fact" there were WMD's, too. And I thought George said we didn't need any more guys? I would go look it up, but I'm too lazy.

Speaking after meetings at CIA headquarters, Smith said it was doubtful whether these attempted communications -- likely couriers carrying computer disks -- had succeeded, considering "the huge distances involved in those lines of communication."

CIA? Well, that explains it. Spin city.

"I'm saying that there is a relationship between al Qaeda senior leadership and Zarqawi. How to characterize that, we don't know yet," Smith said.

"But I cannot tell you right now that al Qaeda has said, 'This is what we want you to do in Iraq.' ... We don't see al Qaeda senior leadership as being a director of tactical level operations."

Smith added, "So I wouldn't characterize it as giving guidance, other than broad philosophy."

Broad philosophy? Computer disks full of philosophy? So, whenever you need to increase troops, or things aren't going so well, you get to scream "al Qaeda" and "broad philosophy"? Aya curumba.

I don't think this administration wants bin Laden caught. They need him around to justify their every move.