Article

2003-03-16 Europe

Spain links suspect in 9/11 plot to Baghdad

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Posted by Steve White 2003-03-16 09:53 am|| || Front Page|| [11130 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I'm still not convinced about the Iraq link, but it will be interesting what Ibrahim al-Ani has to say after he wakes up in Guantanomo

Posted by Paul Moloney 2003-03-16 01:50:41|| 2003-03-16 01:50:41|| Front Page Top

#2 Why is it so difficult to think there are links? Saddam's the largest money-launderer in the world.

Forget 9/11, what about WTC 1 and Oklahoma City????

Posted by Anonymous 2003-03-16 02:02:37|| 2003-03-16 02:02:37|| Front Page Top

#3 In the Fall of 2001, US officials were throwing the 'there-is-no-evidence-line' everywhere. I always thought that they were premature.

Posted by Anonon 2003-03-16 02:13:07|| 2003-03-16 02:13:07|| Front Page Top

#4 I didn't say I rejected it, but in the whole wide world of Islamist terror, and all the murky links between members of al-Qaeda and elements in the governments of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria; plus all the Muslim Brotherhood and Wahabi/Salafist front organisations all over the world spreading a fascist mind set among Muslims there is no reason to believe that al-Qaeda is some sort of Iraqi proxy, even if there are links such as Ansar ul Islam and Al-Zarqawi.

Posted by Paul Moloney 2003-03-16 02:15:46|| 2003-03-16 02:15:46|| Front Page Top

#5 ... if we find fingerprints in Iraq...
some of them might point back to France.
That would be really, really embarassing.

Posted by Dishman 2003-03-16 02:52:35|| 2003-03-16 02:52:35|| Front Page Top

#6 Why is it that Tenet is now saying links have existed for ten years? Where was he during the Clinton years when the FBI was busy looking under every bed looking for the greatest threat to the US, in the form of right wing terrorists? Somehow I doubt Tenet is doing more than reacting to a new client in the White House, although I'm sure the evidence existed. Tenet should have been sacked long ago. Why does Bush keep him on?

Posted by TJ Jackson 2003-03-16 03:43:15|| 2003-03-16 03:43:15|| Front Page Top

#7 Did anyone miss the report about the meeting at the Gaza YMCA a few days ago wherein checks totaling $247,000 were issued to suicide bomber families from SADDAM?

What more of "a link" do people need? Let's get real: if one supports terrorism, one supports terrorism; does it really matter which terrorist group?

Our "war" is a war on terrorism. The impending conflict with Saddam is simply one small battle of the much larger war.

And the message MUST go forth loud and clear: if you incite/support terrorism, you will attract the unwelcomed attention of the U.S. military. However, if you behave yourself, and act like an adult, you will be left alone to pursue happiness. This message can NOT afford to be nuanced; there can be NO wiggle-room. Such times are long gone.

So, please, everyone be on notice: if the U.S. military needs to get involved, it will be at your invitation, and your's only.

Posted by Jack 2003-03-16 06:32:30|| 2003-03-16 06:32:30|| Front Page Top

#8 Via Tim Blair/blog of MidEast Politics, Guardian, 1999:

Saddam Hussein's regime has opened talks with Osama bin Laden, bringing closer the threat of a terrorist attack using chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, according to US intelligence sources and Iraqi opposition officials.

The key meeting took place in the Afghan mountains near Kandahar in late December. The Iraqi delegation was led by Farouk Hijazi, Baghdad's ambassador in Turkey and one of Saddam's most powerful secret policemen, who is thought to have offered Bin Laden asylum in Iraq.

--

It must be true, it's under Bubba's watch.

Posted by Anonymous 2003-03-16 10:05:12|| 2003-03-16 10:05:12|| Front Page Top

#9 TJ - the CIA got in one of its head-in-the-sand modes in the '90s regarding Iraq-Al Qaeda links. Some senior managers got it into thier heads that of course secular, socialist Iraq could never cooperate with religious fanatics. That may have been true in the '70s and '80s, but not in the '90s.

The DIA never stopped looking for links between Iraq and A-Q. Rumsfeld, of course, saw this evidence all along, and that's why he was hot to go after Iraq from 12 Sept. onward.

Eventually, Rumsfeld demanded, and got, Bush to order the CIA to turn over all of its discarded data, and the DIA produced a report, which they shared with the CIA. Tenet is now convinced, but I would guess there are middle managers in Langley who are still in denial about the Iraq-A-Q connection.

Posted by Pete Stanley 2003-03-16 14:11:00|| 2003-03-16 14:11:00|| Front Page Top

#10 And Chamberlain never thought the nazis and bolshies would hook up. History, people, history.

Posted by Anonymous 2003-03-16 17:19:44|| 2003-03-16 17:19:44|| Front Page Top

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