Saddam Hussein's FBI interview, part II (al Qaeda discussed)

Regime of Terror, FBI docs ^ | 6-27-09 | Mark E

[ikez78]

After repeated questioning about links to al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden Saddam Hussein admitted meetings between the two (after initial denials) but said his regime denied al Qaeda's requests for support reportedly due to such vastly differing ideologies.

Below is a summary of one of FBI agent George Piro's question and answer sessions. In this June 28, 2004 document Hussein said his country did not support the group because the U.S. was not his enemy. He previously indicated the exact opposite, that the U.S. was his enemy as mentioned in Saddam Hussein's FBI interview and in other private and public statements.

[ikez78]

PING

[highlander_UW]

I know the liberals kept focusing on just Al Qaeda links with Saddam when trying to deny his link to terrorism, but that simply ignores the terrorist groups he did support, such as Palestinian terrorist and giving haven to other terrorists within Iraq.

[Marine_Uncle]

Like any criminal Saddam lied as a normal function of life. The pudding is in the various radical Islamic groups he allowed to operate and some employed by him within his country.
Our Airborne units did not head off to Irbil, Mosul and other Kurdistanian northern Iraqi cities for the sake of looking for cream pies. They went quickly to capture, kill and disrupt the Sarin and VX nerve gas manufacturing houses the radicals where permitted to operate.

[ikez78]

I knew of Irbil but not Mosul. What was going on there?

[Marine_Uncle]

Perhaps Mosul did not contain any of those radical groups that set up wmd shops in the northern sector prior to the 2003 invasion. Due to its central area of large population I assume it contained elements of those groups. Perhaps I am mistaken, since I assume. But as you are very aware, we know without a doubt there where groups working on nerve gases in the north of Iraq. And Saddam did not seem to mind one bit.

[CutePuppy]

Thanks, Mark.

Interview on June 28, 2004 (5 years ago)
Declassified on 05-21-2009

From SECRET//X1 page 1:

HUSSEIN replied that the United States was not Iraq's enemy, but that HUSSEIN opposed its politics."

From SECRET//X1 page 2:

"HUSSEIN stated that ... Iraq considered itself at war with the United States."

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping/post and the link to jveritas’ translated documents/comments. Very Interesting.

[True Republican Patriot]

Excellemt!

[ikez78]

Thus he had no reason to tell the truth on matters that would have incriminated him.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[CutePuppy]

Exactly.

His "story" line was simple - he didn't have a WMD program and he didn't support terrorists, so it was US that overreacted to 9/11 and used it to attack him / Iraq.

It did not matter that his "story" contradicted the facts or even contradicted itself at times, e.g. "you are not my enemy... but we are at war".

"That's my story and I am sticking to it". He had no incentive to change the tune and undermine his strident apologists in US and everywhere else.

"The evil that men do lives after them"

[Shelayne]

Thanks for the ping!

[ikez78]

I’ve heard this from well connected sources off the record. Where did you get that info? Public sources or someone over there?

[Marine_Uncle]

"Where did you get that info? Public sources or someone over there?"
Mostly reading your stuff and others via. mostly Free Republic and following the 2003 and onward events in Iraq.
It just seems reasonable to assume some of the radical Sunni groups operating within the boundary of northern Iraq would have entered or say HQed in the city of Mosul. At least on a part time basis early on in the SASO, and prior to the invasion of Iraq.

[ikez78]

Post has been updated here:
http://regimeofterror.com/archives/2009/06/saddam_husseins_fbi_interview/

I am awaiting comment back from the FBI about questions they did NOT ask of Saddam...

I also pointed out some flaws in their interview while noting that they had AT LEAST two agencies interview Saddam ahead of them

[Marine_Uncle]

I clicked on the URL you posted and was sent to a web site with your title basically but did not see any structure to show where to find documents etc., you maintain.

[ikez78]

sorry, should be back up..

[Marine_Uncle]

Roger that.