Former US ambassador to Yemen likely be administrator in post-war Baghdad (Barbara Bodine)

Agence France-Presse | March 7, 2003

[HAL9000]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A former US ambassador to Yemen would likely be named as the interim civil administrator of the Baghdad region under a US plan for a post-war reconstruction of Iraq, US officials said.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the plan calls for dividing Iraq into three sectors with each being run by a separate interim civil administrator during the transition to some form of democratic government.

US military commanders will be responsible for securing their areas in the immediate aftermath of a war, but then the job of rebuilding and governing would be turned over to the interim transitional civil administration, the official said.

Overseeing the effort will be retired general Jay Garner, who is heading the Pentagon's Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Affairs.

Two retired US generals would be the civil administrators in charge of the northern and southern sectors while the central sector that includes Baghdad would be administered by Barbara Bodine, the former US ambassador to Yemen, according to the officials.

"That would fall into her sector," said a US official, who asked not to be identified.

"She'd be a big player," said a senior US defense official.

Bodine was ambassador to Yemen when al-Qaeda terrorists rammed an explosives-laden boat into a US Aegis destroyer on October 12, 2000, killing 17 sailors and nearly sinking the billion dollar ship.

She spent much of her career as a diplomat in southwest Asia and the Arabian peninsula, with postings that included Baghdad from 1981-83.

She was deputy chief of mission of the US Embassy in Kuwait when Iraqi forces invaded and occupied the country in 1990.

Defying an order by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for all embassies to close, the US embassy stayed open and provided shelter for more than 200 Americans through the occupation.

Bodine received a Secretary of State's Award for Valor for her work during that period.

She also has had first hand experience with terrorism. She negotiated the release of three kidnapped Americans in Yemen in 1999 and was a passenger on an airliner that was hijacked from Yemen to Africa in 2001.

After coming home from Kuwait, she served as the State Department's acting coordinator for counter-terrorism.

[breakem]

Frontline did a job on her, and seemingly with good cause. I think it was Clinton who made the call or someone in the wh to pull the guy off the investigation. He had credibility with the locals and was supposedly making progress. Her ego couldn't handle that. Shows the government commitment to responding to terrorism under Clinton.

[breakem]

thanx

[OCCitizen]

On 4/15/04 Frontline profiled Ms. Bodine on a repeat of a prior show where Frontline indicates that Bodine was responsible for inhibiting investigations by FBI Agent John O'Neill who was investigating Al Queda's threats and possible attacks on both US soil and on foreign soil. Bodine acting with Freeh and Bush II denied O'Neill authority to complete his pending investigation of the Yeman bombing of the USS Koll that could have given the FBI critical information that could have forewarned and prevented 9/11.

According to Frontline, Bodine, Freeh and Picard worked as a "cabal" to deny the brilliant agent O'Neill authority and access to complete his investigations of Al Queda. O'Neill was quoted in 2001 as saying that Al Queda would attack the World Trade Center "very soon".

According to Frontline, O'Neill died in the 9/11 attack. After being blown out of the FBI by Freeh and Bush administration, he took the job as head of security for the World Trade Center.

Per Randi Rhodes on AirAmerica, Bodine also had a hand in Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. She summoned by Saddam Hussein before his invasion into Kuwait, and was asked if the US had any problems if he took possession of a Kuwaiti island that he felt belonged to Iraq. Bodine replied, on behalf of George Bush I that the US had no interest in getting involved in Arab v. Arab conflicts. Saddam was surprised when Bush I was upset when he then invaded Kuwait.

[HAL9000]

Per Randi Rhodes on AirAmerica, Bodine also had a hand in Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. She summoned by Saddam Hussein before his invasion into Kuwait, and was asked if the US had any problems if he took possession of a Kuwaiti island that he felt belonged to Iraq. Bodine replied, on behalf of George Bush I that the US had no interest in getting involved in Arab v. Arab conflicts. Saddam was surprised when Bush I was upset when he then invaded Kuwait.

Your information is incorrect. The person you are referring to in the purported incident was April Glaspie.

[kabar]

I hope not. She was there right after the war and screwed up.

[OCCitizen]

Thank you for this clarification over the First Iraqi war. I have also been told that the 9/11 commission has looked into Bodine's efforts to sabatogue John O'Neill's investigations into Al Queda and how her efforts may have prevented protection the US from the 9/11 attack.

Did you have any more input on April Glaspie situation in connection with Iraq I (during Bush I), or on how and why John O'Neill was demonized by the FBI and Bush administration in a manner that is similar to how they have "sent out the dogs" against Paul O'Neill and Richard Clarke. All of these gentlemen (P.O'Neill, J.O'Neill and Clarke) come across as patriots. The smears against them and their reputation, come across politically motivated and detrimental to our great nation.

[freedom4me]

I'm with you. I don't care how qualified she is, putting a woman in charge in an Arab country is not wise.