IRAQ THE FOCAL POINT FOR AL-QAEDA. Of course we have known this for a long time, though it is a fact you will never here come from the lips of Pelosi, Murtha or the Democrats whose focus is on defeating Bush, not terrorism. But it bears repeating - ad infinitum, really. The point was made again most recently in a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) for Congress titled "Al-Qaeda: Statements and Evolving Ideology."

Iraq has become a focal point for Al Qaeda’s rhetoric, and statements continue to underscore Al Qaeda leaders’ interest in Iraq and support for the ongoing insurgency.

Read the whole report.