Al-Qaeda chief told us Iraq supplied WMD material: US

SMH.COM.AU ^ | August 9, 2003

[Aeronaut]

August 9, 2003

A high-ranking al-Qaeda operative in custody disclosed that Iraq supplied the Islamist militant group with material to build chemical and biological weapons, the White House said today.

"A senior al-Qaeda terrorist, now detained, who had been responsible for al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan, reports that al-Qaeda was intent on obtaining (weapons of mass destruction) assistance from Iraq," the White House said in a report.

The 25 page document was released as US President George W Bush holidayed at his Texas ranch.

The Bush administration cited links between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein's Baath party regime as justification for attacking Iraq to oust Saddam. The administration also insisted Saddam had chemical and biological weapons and was pursuing nuclear weapons.

The report quoted the unnamed prisoner as saying al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden turned to Iraq after concluding his group could not produce chemical or biological weapons on its own in Afghanistan.

"Iraq agreed to provide chemical and biological weapons training for two al-Qaeda associates starting in December 2000," the report said.

"Senior al-Qaeda associate Abu Musab al-Zarqawi came to Baghdad in May 2002 for medical treatment, along with approximately two dozen al-Qaeda terrorist associates.

"This group stayed in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq and plotted terrorist attacks around the world."

The report, quoting the State Department, also says the fallen regime of Saddam Hussein "provided material assistance to Palestinian terrorist groups, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, Hamas and the Palestine Islamic Jihad".

The Saddam regime, says the report, "posed a threat to the security of the United States and the world. With the removal of Saddam Hussein's regime, a leader who pursued, used and possessed weapons of mass destruction is no longer in power."

Since May 1, when Bush declared the combat in Iraq effectively over, occupation forces have found no conclusive evidence of Baghdad's banned weapons programs in spite of intensive searches.

[Aeronaut]

Smoking gun?

[Hugin]

This story will be ignored by the media, just like the buried jets and documents linking Al Qaeda to Saddam found at the Iraqi intelligence HQ by British and Canadian reporters.

[OldFriend]

You mean you didn't see this story at the top of EVERY media broadcast.

You mean you didn't know it was going to be the topic on every Sunday show.

Pathetic, isn't it....

[zarf]

Didn't these Alkada kids hear there's no connection between Irak and Terror?

[BlackbirdSST]

Smoking gun?

Maybe! Just as likely he's lying, they are in the "Terror" business. Fear of the unknown. Getting their ass handed to them as frequently as they are, why have they not been used? Anthrax mailings? Not according to the FBI. Blackbird.

[RoughDobermann]

What kind of "material" exactly? Fissionable material? Chemical or biological agents? Hardware for delivery?

[goldstategop]

Oops... Algore was just caught with his knickers down! Film at 11!

[prairiebreeze]

starting in December 2000

And the US President who had been in charge for 8 years, supplied with daily intel reports and who stood ready and willings to defend and protect American interests was......oh yeah, I remember now. (/sarc)

Prairie

[gaspar]

During his administration Clinton was supplied both the CIA and the State Department/INR daily briefing and rarely bothered to read them. In his first two years in office Clinton saw his CIA director only rarely. He then named Deutsch to head the CIA, and the man was an abject and total failure.

And now people are serious about pushing Hillary Clinton for president! With the history of criminal neglect that personified the Clinton presidency, in this age of counter-terrorism the proposition is a bad joke.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[Aeronaut]

And now people are serious about pushing Hillary Clinton for president! With the history of criminal neglect that personified the Clinton presidency, in this age of counter-terrorism the proposition is a bad joke.

...And unfortunately about 35% of the voters would still vote for her if she were convicted and running from a prison cell. (Gawd I love the imagery).

[jla]

^

[ohioWfan]

The report quoted the unnamed prisoner as saying al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden turned to Iraq after concluding his group could not produce chemical or biological weapons on its own in Afghanistan.

"Iraq agreed to provide chemical and biological weapons training for two al-Qaeda associates starting in December 2000," the report said.

Interesting development Ping............you listening algor??.....I think you were VP at this particular time.....

[doug from upland]

Someone from the administration needs to hold an immediate news conference. A representative needs to be on all the talking heads shows on Sunday. We need to send this to every talk radio host.

[KCmark]

The fact that isn't happening should tell you something.

[habs4ever]

Gosh, could ANTHRAX be one of those things Iraq passed along to AQ?

[Arrowhead1952]

We need to send this to every talk radio host.

I believe every conservative talk show host checks FreeRepublic every day. I have heard every one I listen talking about what the "Freepers" are doing. Bet this will be on every talk show next Monday!

[Mo1]

This story will be ignored by the media, just like the buried jets and documents linking Al Qaeda to Saddam found at the Iraqi intelligence HQ by British and Canadian reporters.

Count on it

[mrtysmm]

The Klintooons just want to go back and campaign on the only message they have...."It's the economy stupid"! Damn the security issues.....damn the terrorist plots...ignore anything and everything except....the economy!

[VRW Conspirator]

A high-ranking al-Qaeda operative in custody disclosed that Iraq supplied the Islamist militant group with material to build chemical and biological weapons, the White House said today.

It's just about sex; let's move on.