So many rare moments of honesty, so little time.....
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapon stock, his missile deli! very capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons." - Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
"Certainly there's a connection between Iraq and al-Qaeda." - Wesley Clark (Oct 2002)
"I've seen lots of evidence on this. There are extensive connections between Saddam Hussein's government and al-Qaeda and other groups." - Joe Lieberman (Dec 2003)
"The relationship seemed to have its roots in mutual exploitation. Saddam Hussein used terrorism for his own ends, and Osama bin Laden used a nation state for the things that only a nation state can provide." - Evan Bayh, Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee
An executive from the al-Qaeda linked plant in Sudan "travelled to Baghdad to meet with the father of the VX (nerve gas) program." - William Cohen, Clinton Secretary of Defense
"It would be naive to say that there weren't any contacts (between Iraq and al-Qaeda)" - Wesley Clark (Oct 2002)
"Al-Qaeda reached an understanding with the government of Iraq that al-Qaeda would not work against that government and that on particular projects, specifically including weapons development, al-Qaeda would work cooperatively with the government of Iraq." - Clinton indictment of Bin Laden (1998)
"Intelligence exists linking Bin Laden to al Shifa's current and past operators, the Iraqi nerve gas experts, and the National Islamic Front in Sudan." - Richard Clarke (23 Jan 1999)
"If Iraq's Saddam Hussein decides to use terrorist to attack the continental United States he would likely turn to Bin Laden's al-Qaeda." - Congressional Research Service Report (1999)
angelfire.com
The Clinton View of Iraq-al Qaeda Ties
weeklystandard.com
1999 ABC News Report : The Osama - Hussein Connection
(Link below is the audio news report of the following text.)
-- Sheila MacVicar, ABC News, January 14, 1999
'". . . [Mamdouh Mahmud] Salim, alleged to be a key military advisor and believed to be privy to bin Laden's most secret projects, is also apprehended. The US government alleges that he was under secret orders to procure enriched uranium for the purpose of developing nuclear weapons.
These are allegations bin Laden does not now deny. "It would be a sin for Muslims not to try to possess the weapons that would prevent the infidels from inflicting harm on Muslims, but how we could use these weapons if we possessed them is up to us.
With an American price on his head, there weren't many places bin Laden could go, unless he teamed up with another international pariah, one also with an interest in weapons of mass destruction. Osama believes in the 'enemy of my enemy is my friend, and someone I should cooperate with.' That is certainly the current case with Iraq. Saddam Hussein has a long history of harboring terrorists: Carlos the Jackal, Abu Nida, Abu Abbas. The most notorious terrorist of their era all found shelter and support at one time in Baghdad.
Intelligence sources say bin Laden's long relationship with the Iraqis began as he helped Sudan's fundamentalist government in their efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Three weeks after the bombing, on August 31st, bin Laden reaches out to his friends in Iraq and Sudan. Iraq's vice president arrives in Khartoon to show his support for the Sudanese after the US attack. ABC News has learned that during these meetings, senior Sudanese officials, acting on behalf of bin Laden, asked if Saddam Hussein would grant him asylum.
Iraq was indeed interested. ABC News has learned that in December, an Iraqi intelligence chief, named Farouk Hijazi, now Iraq's ambassador to Turkey, made a secret trip to Afghanistan to meet with bin Laden. Three intelligence agencies tell ABC News they cannot be certain what was discussed, but almost certainly, they say, bin Laden has been told he would be welcome in Baghdad.''
And intelligent sources say that they can only speculate on the purpose of an alliance. What could bin Laden offer Saddam Hussein? Only days after he meets Iraqi officials, bin Laden tells ABC news that his network is wide and there are people prepared to commit terror in his name who he does not even control.
'It's our job to incite and to instigate. By the grace of God, we have done that.'"
radioamerica.org |
