Mohammed Atta met Saddam prior to September 11: US official

Agence France-Presse | September 8, 2002

[HAL9000]

MILAN, Sept 8 (AFP) - Mohammed Atta consulted Saddam Hussein prior to leading the suicide attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, according to Richard Perle, an advisor to the US defense secretary.

"Mohammed Atta met Saddam Hussein in Baghdad prior to September 11. We have proof of that, and we are sure he wasn't just there for a holiday," Perle told Italy's business daily "Il Sole 24 Ore".

"The meeting is one of the motives for an American attack on Iraq," added Perle, who is chairman of the Defense Policy Board and consultant to US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a leading advocate of an attack on Iraq.

"The main objective of the American administration is to avoid weapons of mass destruction falling into the wrong hands," said Perle.

[cmsgop]

Bada-Bing!

[austingirl]

Tom Daschole will be stunned.

[Brian Mosely]

And just how hard would it be for ANYONE to get in to see one of the most protected and paranoid heads of state on the planet? Next to impossible, I would guess. A nobody like Atta get a meeting with Saddam. Looks like the case is being nailed shut, folks.

[A. Morgan]

Aha! Looks like we have a BINGO!

[KevinDavis]

Let's Rock!

[copycat]

Once again, the American Press ignores facts that do not support their politcal agenda.

[hflynn]

"Mohammed Atta met Saddam Hussein in Baghdad prior to September 11. We have proof of that, and we are sure he wasn't just there for a holiday," Perle told Italy's business daily "Il Sole 24 Ore". Meantime, at the "Smoking Gun Saloon" in South Dakota,

Paging Mr Daschle, Paging Mr. Daschle.

[hflynn]

</i> close tags

[Alas Babylon!]

If this is true, we have our smoking gun, and it better well be story number ONE for big media!

This is reason enough to attack Iraq today. Avenge the 9/11 murders!!!!!!

[JamesWilson]

Tom Daschole will be stunned.

I think you mean "troubled." ;-)

[dennisw]

Bada-Bing!

MAJOR if true. Too early to tell. This is a new one and has all the earmarks of a trial balloon.

[cmsgop]

yes,yes and yes.......:*)

[Fitzcarraldo]

MAJOR if true. Too early to tell. This is a new one and has all the earmarks of a trial balloon.

"trial balloon?"

If this is truth, why doesn't Bush just get on the air and make this public? Why does it have to be leaked to Ile Sole which is in turn quoted by AFP?

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

If this is the case, we should've started the build up the day after we found out.

[ward_of_the_state]

Tom Daschole will be stunned.

And don't you find it most interesting that during the Clintoon administration, the same folks, including the Hon. Mr. Daschole tried to push a resolution of war through on flimsier evidence than there is now. All of the sudden, he's got reservations. Hmmmm.....

By the way, Tony Snow had some great parting thoughts on Fox News Sunday this morning.

[Fitzcarraldo]

I wonder if this is a planted story that the French will be able to refute and "prove" that Atta wasn't really in Baghdad.

[jslade]

By the way, Tony Snow had some great parting thoughts on Fox News Sunday this morning.

For those of us who didn't catch it, would you please share with us what those thoughts were.

[blam]

"I wonder if this is a planted story that the French will be able to refute and "prove" that Atta wasn't really in Baghdad."

If Perle did say it, believe it!

[Fitzcarraldo]

If Perle did say it, believe it!

That's the question. Or was he misquoted? Any independent confirmation?