Intercepted Call Linked Saddam To Al-Qa'ida Terror Cell

Independent (UK) ^ | 2-7-2003 | Andrew Buncombe

[blam]

Intercepted call linked Saddam to al-Qa'ida terror cell

By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
07 February 2003

He was supposed to have been a professional. He should have known better, but in the end he could not resist. Using a satellite phone, the senior al-Qa'ida operative excitedly called two associates and congratulated them on their cold-blooded assassination of an American diplomat.

The call cost the man his liberty. It may yet cost him his life but, more importantly, it could have provided America with the "smoking gun" evidence it has long sought and which apparently links the Iraqi regime to an active al-Qa'ida cell committing terror killings and planning others across Europe and the Middle East. One thing is certain: it has left Iraq needing to do a lot of explaining.

The name of the man who made the telephone call as he drove through the rugged landscapes of northern Iraq towards the borders with Syria and Turkey has not been revealed. But his alleged position in the al-Qa'ida network was made clear. Information gathered by the intelligence services of the US, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan shows he is the deputy of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, head of an Iraqi-based al-Qa'ida cell.

Though he would not have known it at the time, the deputy's congratulatory telephone call to two men accused of murdering the US diplomat Laurence Foley last October – killed in the garden of his Amman home by a volley of eight shots – was an error of incalculable proportions. The call was intercepted by Western intelligence services, possibly America's National Security Agency (NSA) or Britain's electronic eavesdropping service at GCHQ, Cheltenham, and allowed coalition operatives to trace the man from Syria, then to Turkey.

When he arrived in Turkey, those intelligence operatives took the decision to pounce. The al-Qa'ida deputy was seized and taken to one of the interrogation centres covertly operated in the region by the US Central Intelligence Agency. In many cases, America prefers certain prisoners to be questioned by the intelligence services of countries where the rules governing the use of torture or psychological pressure are less strict. In this instance, it appears America led the interrogation, using, in the words of one official, "unspecified psychological pressure" to obtain information.

US officials quoted by The New York Times say the deputy revealed that Zarqawi was operating a cell out of Iraq, that he had been given medical assistance there and that he was planning and conducting attacks across Europe and the Middle East with up to 24 al-Qa'ida fighters. Mr Foley, 62, head of America's Agency for International Development mission, was the first of the cell's targets.

In his address to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Colin Powell, the American Secretary of State, relied heavily on this information when he accused the Iraqi regime of having links with al-Qa'ida. "[The al-Qa'ida cell members] have been operating freely in the capital for more than eight months," he said. "Iraqi officials deny accusations of ties with al-Qa'ida. These denials are simply not credible."

General Powell said the cell also had links to the alleged ricin suspects arrested in London and Manchester. "The network is teaching its operatives how to produce ricin and other poisons ... Zarqawi and his network have plotted terrorist actions against countries including France, Britain, Spain and Italy," the Secretary of State said.

The interrogation of Zarqawi's deputy also revealed other information, details that America has decided not to reveal formally and which underscore the problems the Bush administration faces in conducting its planned military assault against Iraq.

American officials say Zarqawi's deputy also revealed that his superior had been regularly assisted and funded by a member of the Qatari royal family, Abdul Karim al-Thani, who provided passports and $1m (£600,000) in cash.

General Powell declined to reveal this information publicly because Qatar has emerged as an important ally for any American-led operation, allowing the US to set up its main air operations base there. Mr Thani is not a member of the Qatari government and officials from that country have described him as a deeply religious man who has donated large sums to charity.

This is not the first time high-profile Qataris have been linked to al-Qa'ida. Saudi intelligence officials have claimed that after the terror attacks of 11 September, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, believed to have been one of the senior al-Qa'ida planners of the attack on the World Trade Centre, spent two weeks in hiding in Qatar with the help of "prominent patrons".

Although Western operatives have failed to capture Zarqawi, his identification by General Powell may have sealed his fate, because Baghdad has insisted it has no links with al-Qa'ida. One official said: "A half hour after Powell mentioned his name, I'll wager he disappeared or was killed."

[EggsAckley]

Good find. This is the answer to give the whining weenies who say there is no proof.

[colorado tanker]

I wonder if this guy's information led to the recent arrest of the cells in Paris and London, the latter the ricin producing cell.

[blam]

"I wonder if this guy's information led to the recent arrest of the cells in Paris and London, the latter the ricin producing cell."

I think so.

[OldFriend]

The whining weenies have their heads in the sand.

[colorado tanker]

I haven't seen any published reports, but I betcha the Paris cell was cookin' up ricin too.

[nicmarlo]

BTTT

[aristeides]

The Paris cell produced some liquid that the reports did not identify. One of the reports said the liquid could be used to make an explosive, but maybe that wasn't right. I don't think ricin is used for explosives.

[luckodeirish]

Good find. This is the answer to give the whining weenies who say there is no proof. Problem is, I am still hearing from weenies who think that "we" are making all this up. Of course, I am in California.

[colorado tanker]

I don't think ricin is used for explosives.

No, I don't think so, either. It's a very powerful poison, not very useful for chemical warfare, but ideal for terrorism and assassination.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

bump

[Balata]

bttt

[Rocko]

Bump.

[Catspaw]

So that's who's been singing.

By this time, I bet he can reach high C.

[snippy_about_it]

Ping

[Dark Wing]

ping

[agincourt1415]

We have listening posts all over the region.

I recall having a short conversation with a member of the Air Force Security Service (spook) all you could get out of em was, Yeah I work for the Air Force Security Service, End of Conversation, LOL.

Its called something else now.

[Thud]

It appears this portion of Secretary of State Powell's speech to the UN yesterday has had a significant impact for possibly unintended reasons. The Al Qaeda assassination cell which murdered an American AID diplomat in Jordan operated from Iraq with the assistance of Iraqi intelligence. Powell put on significant evidence of this.

Many, many people are concluding this assassination was an act of war by Iraq against America, proof that Saddam has not been deterred from attacking the United States, and adequate proof of the connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq.

Powell did his job.

[Thud]

Better ricin than explosives. Sometimes the tried & true is more effective.

[Lady Jag]

The New York Times say the deputy revealed that Zarqawi was operating a cell out of Iraq, that he had been given medical assistance there

I wonder if anyone's Bin gettin' plastic surgery in Iraq.

[blam]

"Many, many people are concluding this assassination was an act of war by Iraq against America."

Interesting take. I hadn't considered that.

Now, it seems to me that if this is our take on that assassination, we wouldn't bother with the UN at all. (No?)

[Thud]

I agree, but it will take the 101st more than a week to deploy even with complete equipment pre-positioning.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

I was one of the few who didn't think that Powell made the case yesterday. I came away from his speech with the vague impression that it left the door open for all those who believe we should just give the inspections more time. Having said that, I believe that, ultimately, G.W. is going to have to make the decision based upon what he knows that we don't, and he must make it before God, alone. I don't give a damn about what the rest of the world thinks, I care about my country surviving and it's occupants being safe.

No one has to sell me on the idea that Sadam Hussein needs to go. Personally, I'm for covert removal as I believe there will be fewer civilian casualties. No one has to convince me that this isn't over oil. I would never expect our government to do any more than hand over the keys to the oil fields to a gratefully liberated Iraqi. I'm also for swift removal of Osama Bin Ladin should he still be around. I don't want a prisoner, I don't want a trial, I don't want to hear his name again. I want him wiped off the face of history.

George Bush must stand alone. It's the job he signed on for. This isn't a popularity contest. We don't need help. Politicians don't even have to agree over the details. Just do it! I'd back him 100 percent.

[blam]

"Personally, I'm for covert removal as I believe there will be fewer civilian casualties."

The whole Ba'ath Party has to go, that cannot be handled by covert operations.

[ninenot]

THey gave the liquid to Chirac and it produced insanity.

[Momaw Nadon]

Attack on Iraq Betting Pool

[unspun]

That's the "Ba'ath Socialist Party," of course.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/758304/posts

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Good post!

Bush Doctrine Unfolds :

To find all articles tagged or indexed using Bush Doctrine Unfold , click below:
	click here >>>	Bush Doctrine Unfold	<<< click here
(To view all FR Bump Lists, click here)

[tallhappy]

The interrogation of Zarqawi's deputy also revealed other information, details that America has decided not to reveal formally and which underscore the problems the Bush administration faces in conducting its planned military assault against Iraq.

Very significant paragraph.

[rolling_stone]

Maybe some of Saddam's "immaculate" WMD could accidently take out a large part of his party followers...

[KneelBeforeZod]

GET SOME

[Stultis]

One official said: "A half hour after Powell mentioned his name, I'll wager he disappeared or was killed."

Name more names!

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Yeah, we've been kicking it around (since it's hubby's day off)all day today. Hubby's the one who's ready to go, and I was the one who kept saying, "There has to be more than just getting rid of Sadam. If the WMD's are dispersed to other sympathetic countries or terrorists, then to level Bagdad to get Sadam seems a little overkill." Hubby feels that the other countries, i.e. Syria and Libia, don't have the means to deliver, but I say with North Korea in the picture, it wouldn't be long before we had to worry about Kadafi. I don't think he's forgotten the permanent part we put in his hair during President Reagan's watch. It's going to take a generation or two to get rid of them all.

President G.W. is going to have to make this call with a lot more information than I've got, but I will respect his call when he makes it.