Posted on 12/08/2005 9:09:55 PM PST by ncountylee
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 - More than three years before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, American diplomats warned Saudi officials that Osama bin Laden might target civilian aircraft, according to a newly declassified State Department cable.
The cable was one of two documents released Thursday by the National Security Archive, a research organization at George Washington University that obtained them under the Freedom of Information Act. The other was a memorandum written five days after the 2001 attacks by George J. Tenet, then director of central intelligence, to his top deputies, titled "We're at War."
The June 1998 cable reported to Washington that three American officials, the State Department's regional security officer, an economics officer and an aviation specialist had met Saudi officials at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh to pass along a warning based on an interview Mr. bin Laden, the Saudi-born leader of Al Qaeda, had just given to ABC News.
They said he had threatened in the interview to strike in the next "few weeks" against "military passenger aircraft," mentioning surface-to-air missiles. The cable said there was "no specific information that indicates bin Laden is targeting civilian aircraft," but added, "We could not rule out that a terrorist might take the course of least resistance and turn to a civilian target."
Part of the Tenet memo had been reported previously in Bob Woodward's 2002 book, "Bush At War." The eight-paragraph Tenet letter was a call to arms, declaring "a worldwide war against Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations" and saying that the effort would require "our absolute and total dedication."
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
When the modus operandi is conducted in a non-discernable cave in a non-discernable part of a non-discernable mountain in a non-discernable location, and the aforementioned is holding an AK-47 (the select-fire version, of course, as U.S. subjects are only allowed AKM's (the semiautomatic-only version of the AK-47), and, furthermore, when events described reflect only that which has happened recently, then it would be quite believable that, had Usama bin Laden been the primary actor on the video feed, that Usama bin Laden had indeed been the primary actor on the feed.
It is merely the fact that such videos have of late not surfaced (with a remarkable appearance of audio cassettes in the bargain)which has led me to take the decision that I personally believe that Usama bin Laden is taking an eternal celestial dirt nap (if you think I borrowed that term from Neal Boortz, you are probably right! Your prize is one Zesta Saltine).
Not usually. At this time of year I like frog hearts for my reds and crab eggs for my greens. And I have a Christmas spider. Bet you don't have one.
Merry Christmas!
Dude, whiskey is only for those faint of heart. You, perhaps?
on clintin's watch.
on clintin's watch.
on clintin's watch.
on clintin's watch.
Makes you kinda wonder what was in Sandy Berger's socks.
I had to think again here. You stated that a bin Laden video comes out every six months or so. Look, reply to me in private if you must, but please tell me if you've SEEN a bin Laden video IN the past six months. If you have, it's news to me. More importantly, if there has been such a video, my sources must be screwed nine ways to Sunday!
Remember that it is easy to film videos in a cave and pretend that they took place at different times than they actually did. Remember that something said in 2002 could be construed as having been said yesterday. Most importantly, remember how easy it is to doctor photos and videos these days.
Some folks will do doggone near anything to make you believe their guff. Don't be a fool to it! Pay close attention, and learn to read between the lines. Understand just what it is that the news folk want you to believe, and understand how and why it differs from reality.
I love your reply. For a change someone hit me with a factoid rather than a cream-puff stat that some leftist pulled out of thin air.
Check out those last 6 months. Look on Lexis-Nexis, and check the archives of WorldNetDaily, NewsMax, Drudge, fox, and Nealz Nuze at boortz.com. Videos featuring bin Laden are awfully hard to come by these days.
Merry Christmas!
I'm keeping an eye on MSM quotations of the National Security Archive; this is the second time in the past week I've seen them quoted, I believe both in the NYT. Neither time was their pro-Castro orientation mentioned (naturally). I wonder what their interest in these particular documents is and what spin they're trying to create. Typically they get large numbers of documents declassified and then give the public summaries highlighting one-sided interpretations of select out-of-context quotes.
> UBL is certainly not dead and everyone from the NCO's
> hunting his as$ to the CIC are aware of this fact -
> Brave warriors are risking all 24/7 deep in Indian country
> hunting this evil SOB
Perhaps he is already in US custody...? He has been chased down by Rangers, Seals, Marines (US and British), SAS (British, Australian, NZ). If they can't catch him, nobody can. My gut says he was caught long ago, and is languishing in a small concrete hole "somewhere..." Answering questions from time to time, as need be.
His continued survival serves a definite purpose. And it is not a purpose al Qaeda would be particularly pleased with.
Alternatively, an SAS sniper probably knows exactly where he is and what he's doing, and probably has an IR bead on him right now. If so, he would be a sneeze away from hi-velocity Martyrdom...
Okay. Your point is very well taken. The man himself, I believe, is dead. However, his vision lives on, in the hearts and minds of those who believe in his vision. As long as Usama lives, his vision lives. Should he die, though, there will always be someone to take his place. Those of our fools in the Western Hemisphere, who pay attention to the anti-American rabble that passes for news (to the tune of incessant cheering by the likes of Al-Jazeera)are apparently lacking in their understanding of this man's vision.
While they go out to buy Ipods, digital cameras, and X-Boxes, the heirs of bin Laden are seeking to destroy their lives, liberties, and persuits of happiness.
It is not important whether or not the man, Usama bin Laden, lives. It is important to realize what he represents, and what those who would follow him would realize, given their way.
To all of our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, thank you. My eyes grow teary to think of your sacrifices. I truly wish I could be there with you. Merry Christmas to all of you, as best you can have it. To you, DevSix, you sound like one who has been there and possibly still are. If so, thank you for your service to our country.
I want you to know that I pay no attention to these fools that tell us to pull out of Iraq. I pay attention to the stories that matter- the ones that tell the truth about the great things that have happened in that country since Hussein was toppled. The sense of freedom. The release from fear. The infrastructural rebuilding that has taken such little time. The new-found hope for Iraqui women,children, and men, not to mention families. The list is countless. I want the American soldier to understand how proud I am.
I also want you to understand that my opinion on bin Laden is not based on sniggering self-righteousness, but upon a firmly-held belief. The man may not live on. But, certainly and with much sorrow, his vision does.
Yeah, but what if we can't believe what we're told:
1) is he actually alive and in custody (good news); or
2) is he actually alive and in a cross-hairs somewhere (also good news); or
3) is he actually dead and al Qaeda knows and we don't (bad news); or
4) is he actually dead and nobody knows (best/worst news, depending on where you sit); or worst yet
5) is he actually dead and "we" know, but nobody else knows and his continued supposed "existence" is being used to perpetuate the War in Iraq...
I tend to trust the Government. But his al-Qaeda stuff has more than a scent of X-Files about it. I'll believe the demise of Osama when I see his head mounted on a pike in Baghdad.
BTTT
Not how the real world works - UBL is alive just as Zarqawi is in Iraq -
It was also common knowledge in 1999 that Bin Laden was tied to Iraq:
Then there were the predictions by an Iraqi with ties to Iraqi intelligence, Naeem Abd Mulhalhal, in Qusay's own newspaper several weeks before the attacks that stated bin Laden would “demolish the Pentagon after he destroys the White House and ”bin Laden would strike America “on the arm that is already hurting.” (referencing a second IRAQI sponsored attack on the World Trade Center). Another reference to New York was “[bin Laden] will curse the memory of Frank Sinatra everytime he hears his songs.” (e.g., “New York, New York”) which identified New York, New York as a target. Mulhalhal also stated, “The wings of a dove and the bullet are all but one and the same in the heart of a believer." which references an airplane attack.
The Arabic language daily newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabic also cited the cooperation between Iraq, bin Laden and Al December 1998 editorial, which predicted that “President Saddam Hussein, whose country was subjected to a four day air strike, will look for support in taking revenge on the United States and Britain by cooperating with Saudi oppositionist Osama Bin-Laden, whom the United States considers to be the most wanted person in the world.” This info is in the link provided below. How could these people have had foreknowledge without Iraq being involved?
Warning...slow loading .pdf file. This was from a lawsuit filed against Iraq after 9/11...the court ruled against Iraq.
There was also another lawsuit filed by the family of John O’Neill (a former FBI agent who captured Ramzi Yousef after the 1993 WTC bombings) after he died in the WTC on 9/11. His personal files from his years of traveling around the world investigating al-Qaeda are were used as evidence in the lawsuit. The evidence includes documents unearthed in the headquarters of the Mukhabarat (Iraq's intelligence service) and information gleaned from the interrogation of both al-Qaeda and Iraqi prisoners. (Link below). It also quotes Vincent Cannistraro, the former CIA counter-terrorism chief, who stated in October 2000 that Iraq had been wanting to carry out terrorist attacks, and that the Iraqi military had been in contact with Osama bin Laden.
We know from these IIS documents that beginning in 1992 the former Iraqi regime regarded bin Laden as an Iraqi Intelligence asset. We know from IIS documents that the former Iraqi regime provided safe haven and financial support to an Iraqi who has admitted to mixing the chemicals for the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center. We know from IIS documents that Saddam Hussein agreed to Osama bin Laden's request to broadcast anti-Saudi propaganda on Iraqi state-run television. We know from IIS documents that a "trusted confidante" of bin Laden stayed for more than two weeks at a posh Baghdad hotel as the guest of the Iraqi Intelligence Service.
Abu Nidal, September 11 and Saddam The terrorist network may be closer knit than we think.
Weekly Standard: The Mother of All Connections
List of newspaper article in the 90's which mention the world's concern regarding the growing relationship between OBL and Saddam:
Son of Saddam coordinates OBL activities:
The AQ connection (excellent):
Western Nightmare:
Saddam's link to OBL:
NYT: Iraq and AQ agree to cooperate:
Document linking them:
Iraq and terrorism - no doubt about it:
A federal judge rules there are links:
Wall Street Journal on Iraq and AQ:
Iraq and Iran contact OBL:
More evidence:
Saddam's AQ connection:
Further connections:
What a court of law said about the connections:
Some miscellaneous stuff on connections:
Saddam's Ambassador to Al Qaeda: (February 2004, Weekly Standard)
Yes - it's NewsMax but loaded with interesting bullet points.
Saddam's Fingerprints on NY Bombing (Wall Street Journal, June 1993)
Colin Powell: Iraq and AQ Partners for Years (CNN, February 2003)
The Iraq-Al Qaeda Connections (September 2003, Richard Miniter)
Oil for Food Scandal Ties Iraq and Al Qaeda (June 2003)
Saddam and OBL Make a Pact (The New Yorker, February 2003):
Al Qaeda's Poison Gas (Wall Street Journal, April 2004):
Wolfowitz Says Saddam behind 9/11 Attacks:
Saddam behind first WTC attack - PBS, Laurie Mylroie:
Growing Evidence of Saddam and Al Qaeda Link, The Weekly Standard, July 2003:
Qusay Hussein Coordinated Iraq special operations with Bin Laden Terrorist Activities, Yossef Bodansky, National Press Club
The Western Nightmare: Saddam and Bin Laden vs. the Rest of the World, The Guardian Unlimited:
Saddam Link to Bin Laden, Julian Borger, The Guardian, February 1999
The Al Qaeda Connection, The Weekly Standard, July 2003
Cheney lectures Russert on Iraq/911 Link, September 2003:
No Question About It, National Review, September 2003
Iraq: A Federal Judges Point of View
Mohammed's Account links Iraq to 9/11 and OKC:
Free Republic Thread that mentions some books Freepers might be interested in on this topic:
The Proof that Saddam Worked with AQ, The Telegraph, April 2003:
Saddam's AQ Connection, The Weekly Standard, September 2003
September 11 Victims Sue Iraq:
Osama's Best Friend: The Further Connections Between Al Qaeda and Saddam, The Weekly Standard, November 2003
Terrorist Behind 9/11 Attacks Trained by Saddam, The Telegraph, December 2003
James Woolsey Links Iraq and AQ, CNN Interview, March 2004, Also see Posts #34 and #35
A Geocities Interesting Web Site with maps and connections:
Bin Laden indicted in federal court, read down to find information that Bin Laden agreed to not attack Iraq and to work cooperatively with Iraq:
Case Closed, The Weekly Standard, November 03
CBS - Lawsuit: Iraq involved in 9/11:
Exploring Iraq's Involvement in pre-9/11 Acts, The Indianapolis Star:
The Iraq/AQ Connection: Richard Minister again
Militia Defector says Baghdad trained Al Qaeda fighters in chemical weapons, July 2002
The Clinton View of Iraq/AQ Ties, The Weekly Standard, December 2003
Saddam Controlled the Camps (Iraq/AQ Ties): The London Observer, November 01
Saddam's Terror Ties that Critics Ignore, National Review, October 2003:
Tape Shows General Wesley Clark linking Iraq and AQ:
The Missing Link (What the Senate Ingelligence Report Said about Iraq/AQ Connections) Click Here
Credit to Peach for the above info.
Credit to joesbucks for the following links:
Dozens of links here:
Just a few of those links include:
The Clinton Justice Department's indictment against OBL in federal court which mentions the terrorist's connections to Iraq. November 4, 1998. The federal indictment:
Iraq and AQ agree to cooperate. The federal indictment against OBL working in concert with Iraq and Iran is mentioned. November 1998. The New York Times
Saddam reaching out to OBL January 1, 1999. Newsweek
ABC news reports on the Osama/Saddam connections January 14, 1999. ABC News
Western Nightmare: Saddam and OBL versus the World. Iraq recruited OBL. February 6, 1999. The Guardian
Saddam's Link to OBL February 6, 1999. The Guardian
Saddam offered asylum to bin Laden February 13, 1999. AP
And kabar submitted these two little gems showing Bin Laden supported Iraq and its struggle against the US and the West.
1996 Fatwa: "Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places."
> Not how the real world works - UBL is alive just as Zarqawi is in Iraq -
I respect your viewpoint and disagree. You may well be right -- and I'm not sure whether I'd think it a good thing or a bad thing.
However, I've seen how the "real world" works over the years, and have been constantly amazed. Don't be too credulous, don't believe everything you're told, because much of what you see and hear is bulldust. Orchestrated by others to deceive you.
What I do know is this: UBL has a whopping bounty on his head and some of the best trained, highly motivated professional killers that the world has ever seen (both military and private) on his trail.
Any one of his minions can win the 9mm Lottery with one well-placed bullet and a phone call to Uncle Sam. He is either the luckiest fugitive in world history, or something else is happening that we don't know about.
I vote the latter, because nobody is that lucky.
> If we get intel on his exact location, it is highly likely
> our only option will be to strike him immediately with a
> bomb or missile. In that case you can be sure we'd have at
> least a company if not a battalion jumping in afterwards
> to kill/capture any surrounding terrorists and Taliban,
> and secure the area for the forensic teams searching for
> every bit of identifying piece of flesh left over from the
> bomb strike.
Mate, you are probably right, and I'm probably wrong -- tho' I'd imagine the company jumping in first, snatching the Bad Guy quietly. Then the missle. Then the clean-up.
UBL is worth much more alive than he is dead.
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