1999 AP Flashback: Saddam has offered asylum to bin Laden

AP Dispatch carried by CNN ^ | February 13, 1999 | nwrep

[nwrep]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- Osama bin Laden, the Saudi millionaire accused by the United States of plotting bomb attacks on two U.S. embassies in Africa, has left Afghanistan, Afghan sources said Saturday.

Bin Laden's whereabouts were not known, said the sources who declined to be identified.

Taliban authorities in the militia's southern stronghold of Kandahar refused to either confirm or deny reports that bin Laden had left the country. The Taliban have called bin Laden their honored guest, a friend who helped the Afghan resistance fight invading Soviet soldiers in the 1980s.

The Taliban's ambassador in Islamabad, Saeed-ur-Rehman Haqqani, said he had not been told of bin Laden's departure, "but if it has happened, it will be a good thing."

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has offered asylum to bin Laden, who openly supports Iraq against the Western powers.

[nwrep]

PING

[Cboldt]

There is no connection between Iraq and Al Quaida *bump*

[ServesURight]

BOOKMARKED

[VOA]

has this been buried or discredited by the mainstream media?

[doug from upland]

You have earned FREEPER OF THE WEEK for finding this. :)

[Mister Baredog]

an AP story? Well how do you like this one, simply amazing. More proof that for Libs, history starts today.

[Shermy]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0%2C3604%2C314700%2C00.html

Then again, it could be Chalabi disinformation.

[BenLurkin]

CNN.com - February 13, 1999
Web posted at: 10:55 a.m. EST (1547 GMT)

"Saddam Hussein offered asylum

"Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has offered asylum to bin Laden, who openly supports Iraq against the Western powers. "

[mc5cents]

Copyright AP 1999

Hmmm, seems the AP has amneisa. Seems that the WORLD has amneisa!

[txhurl]

AP must've been drunk or something when they posted it.

[nwrep]

Thanks, but I am not done yet.

[ambrose]

no connection. none at all. move along.

[FreeAtlanta]

We need to start giving honorary Goebbels awards to these people who deny even what they wrote...

Maybe we can make a Goebbels' Pieces Prize or a Goebbels' ApPEACEment Prize

[Texas Eagle]

Despite repeated demands from Washington, the Taliban refused to hand over bin Laden after the August 7 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, demanding proof of his involvement in terrorist activities. .... The Taliban did promise that bin Laden would not use Afghanistan as a staging arena for terrorist activities.

Did the Clinton administration make them cross their heart and hope to die?

[jwalsh07]

You're on a mission and you're damn good at it.

[ServesURight]

NEW YORK TIMES NOV 5TH, 1998 - IRAQ, BIN LADEN MADE DEAL

[xzins]

great catch.

Send this to Al Gore.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

1995 = CLINTON refused offer to bring OSAMA to us

1996 = CLINTON refused offer to bring OSAMA to us

2000 = CLINTON refused offer to bring OSAMA to us

...before OSAMA could hit us hard here at home after CLINTON left Office.

.

[Huntingtonian]

Facinating? Why did Bin Laden not accept this offer? Why did he turn down the protection and funding he likely would have recieved? Why did he turn down the opportunity to live virtually next door to his homeland and in the country with the second most sacred Islamic holy sites? Why did he choose to instead roam around the Afghan hinterland?