Pentagon Study of 600,000 Iraqi Documents Finds No Link Between Al Qaeda and Saddam

[Ganymede]

WASHINGTON — A forthcoming Pentagon study has found no operational link between Saddam Hussein and Usama bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist network.

McClatchy Newspapers reports that the study, expected to be released later this week, is based on an extensive review of more than 600,000 Iraqi documents that were seized after the U.S.-led war in Iraq in 2003.

While there was no link to Al Qaeda, the investigation revealed that Saddam's regime gave some support to other terror groups in the Middle East, U.S. officials told McClatchy on condition of anonymity. But he targeted those he considered his own enemies, including Shiite Muslims, Kurds, exiles and others, the news service reported.

Sponsored by the Pentagon, the report found no "direct operational link" between Saddam's government in Iraq and bin Laden's Al Qaeda terror ring before the U.S. invasion, an official told McClatchy.

The Bush administration put forth the argument that there was a connection between Saddam and bin Laden when it made the case to go to war with Iraq after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.

The Pentagon study won't be released before Wednesday

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336730,00.html

Let this be a lesson to you Conservatives on this forum. We've debated this the topic extensively, now there's exculpatory evidence that indicates that this was just another one of Bush's lies.

[madanthonywayne]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336730,00.html

Let this be a lesson to you Conservatives on this forum. We've debated this the topic extensively, now there's exculpatory evidence that indicates that this was just another one of Bush's lies.

Really?

Throughout the early and mid-1990s, Saddam Hussein actively supported an influential terrorist group headed by the man who is now al Qaeda's second-in-command, according to an exhaustive study issued last week by the Pentagon.

"Captured documents reveal that the regime was willing to co-opt or support organizations it knew to be part of al Qaeda--as long as that organization's near-term goals supported Saddam's long-term vision."

"Saddam supported groups that either associated directly with al Qaeda (such as the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, led at one time by bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri) or that generally shared al Qaeda's stated goals and objectives." According to the Pentagon study, Egyptian Islamic Jihad was one of many jihadist groups that Iraq's former dictator funded, trained, equipped, and armed.

Because Saddam's security organizations and Osama bin Laden's terrorist network operated with similar aims (at least in the short term), considerable overlap was inevitable when monitoring, contacting, financing, and training the same outside groups. This created both the appearance of and, in some way, a 'de facto' link between theorganizations. At times, these organizations would work together in pursuit of shared goals but still maintain their autonomy and independence because of innate caution and mutual distrust. Though the execution of Iraqi terror plots was not always successful, evidence shows that Saddam's use of terrorist tactics and his support for terrorist groups remained strong up until the collapse of the regime."

And that's not all!

• In 1993, as Osama bin Laden's fighters battled Americans in Somalia, Saddam Hussein personally ordered the formation of an Iraqi terrorist group to join the battle there.
  
• For more than two decades, the Iraqi regime trained non-Iraqi jihadists in training camps throughout Iraq.
  
• According to a 1993 internal Iraqi intelligence memo, the regime was supporting a secret Islamic Palestinian organization dedicated to "armed jihad against the Americans and Western interests."
  
• In the 1990s, Iraq's military intelligence directorate trained and equipped "Sudanese fighters."
  
• In 1998, the Iraqi regime offered "financial and moral support" to a new group of jihadists in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq.
  
• In 2002, the year before the war began, the Iraqi regime hosted in Iraq a series of 13 conferences for non-Iraqi jihadist groups.
  
• That same year, a branch of the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) issued hundreds of Iraqi passports for known terrorists.
  
• the regime stockpiled bombmaking materials in Iraqi embassies around the world and targeted Western journalists for assassination.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Conten...4/889pvpxc.asp

[Ganymede]

Really?

And that's not all!
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Conten...4/889pvpxc.asp

Yes really, you're still regurgitating the same the same propaganda that has misled our nation into war. Like Bill Kristol, Fred Barnes or anyone from the Weekly standard have any credibilty lol. What you posted are accustions, are there any convictions, or hard evidence to support any of this drivel you've posted? I want evidence that specificly says that Saddam had links to Al Queda. You don't have any. I'm not talking about the 100's of other accusations that Sadam was accused of.

In the 1990s, Iraq's military intelligence directorate trained and equipped "Sudanese fighters."

Again, how were they flying these weapons out of the country?

the regime stockpiled bombmaking materials in Iraqi embassies around the world and targeted Western journalists for assassination.

And when did any of this happen? I can't recall any US Journalist being targeted worldwide by Iraqi terrorists.

Sir, can you name how many Americans Saddam has killed prior to America invading. Thank you in advance.

[madanthonywayne]

Yes really, you're still regurgitating the same the same propaganda that has misled our nation into war. Like Bill Kristol, Fred Barnes or anyone from the Weekly standard have any credibilty lol. What you posted are accustions, are there any convictions, or hard evidence to support any of this drivel you've posted? I want evidence that specificly says that Saddam had links to Al Queda. You don't have any. I'm not talking about the 100's of other accusations that Sadam was accused of.

Everything I posted was from the same report you quoted in the OP. If you don't believe all the crap I listed, why should I believe the bit you quoted? It's the same damned report!

[Ganymede]

In 1993, as Osama bin Laden's fighters battled Americans in Somalia, Saddam Hussein personally ordered the formation of an Iraqi terrorist group to join the battle there.

There's been a no fly zone over Iraq since 1991. How in the hell does Saddam personally order his own terrorist group to intervene? Did they drive there? I can't recall any reports of Arab Iraqi's being involved in the Mogidishu killings. Sadid was to much of control freak to allow any outsiders, not even the U.S.A to meddle into his affairs in any shape of fashion.

For more than two decades, the Iraqi regime trained non-Iraqi jihadists in training camps throughout Iraq.

Again, how did the foreigners get there? Iraq had no allies in the reigon. It's not like Turkey, Iran,Saudi Arabia would allow terrorist to be flown into their country, and cross the borders into Iraq. These accusations have continued to be proven false once they're placed under any sort of real scrutiny.

According to a 1993 internal Iraqi intelligence memo, the regime was supporting a secret Islamic Palestinian organization dedicated to "armed jihad against the Americans and Western interests."

Sadam openly supported Hamas, he didn't do it in secret. And Palestinians have no interest in bombing US cities. If they did, they would of done it already. The palestinian leaders know there's a plethora of influential citizens and intellectuals in America who don't support the Israeli occupation. That would be counter productive to their cause, since they're trying to portray themselves as victoms.

[Ganymede]

Everything I posted was from the same report you quoted in the OP. If you don't believe all the crap I listed, why should I believe the bit you quoted? It's the same damned report!

No, you posted a pundits interpetation of the report. The main point I was trying to emphasize was that Saddam had no connections to Al Queda/911. Then you try to derail the argument with more accusations of him supporting other shadow groups.

[countezero]

The 9/11 report said there was no link — and that was years ago, Anthony.

Also, to think Al Qaeda would get in bed with a secular dictator like Hussein is to not understand Al Qaeda.

[madanthonywayne]

The 9/11 report said there was no link — and that was years ago, Anthony.

Also, to think Al Qaeda would get in bed with a secular dictator like Hussein is to not understand Al Qaeda.

Nobody is saying that Saddam and Osama were best buds or held regular shareholder's meetings, just that they shared many of the same goals and, at least indirectly, worked together occasionally. Yes, the 9/11 report showed Saddam wasn't involved in 9/11, but he definitely supported terrorism including terrorism against US interests. Hell, he even tryed to assassinate George Bush!

And doesn't everyone always say that the US supported Osama when he was fighting against the Soviets? Why would he accept our help and not Saddam's?

[countezero]

No, the 9/11 report showed no operational activity between Saddam and Al Qaeda on ANYTHING.

The US never worked with OBL against the Soviets, either.

[pjdude1219]

No, the 9/11 report showed no operational activity between Saddam and Al Qaeda on ANYTHING.

The US never worked with OBL against the Soviets, either.

never worked with him just funded him

[countezero]

They never funded him, either. Read a book.

[pjdude1219]

They never funded him, either. Read a book.

it was not direct funding but we did give money to groups in the country. some of which gave money to him. you go read a book.

[countezero]

And I'm telling you that didn't happen.

The money the CIA gave to the ISI never went to Arabs. The ISI didn't fund them because it didn't know them, couldn't trust them and generally thought they were a bunch of "jihad" tourists who didn't fight. The Arabs funded themselves, through Islamic charities, most of them Saudi-based. Again, read a book. This information isn't hard to fund.

The fact is you've been told something so many times you now believe it. Part of the reason you believe it is because you want to believe, for political and ideological reasons. The problem is what you've been told is wrong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maktab_al-Khadamat

Buy a grammar book while you're at it. I would suggest Strunk & White, but there are plenty others out there.

[pjdude1219]

And I'm telling you that didn't happen.

The money the CIA gave to the ISI never went to Arabs. The ISI didn't fund them because it didn't know them, couldn't trust them and generally thought they were a bunch of "jihad" tourists who didn't fight. The Arabs funded themselves, through Islamic charities, most of them Saudi-based. Again, read a book. This information isn't hard to fund.

The fact is you've been told something so many times you now believe it. Part of the reason you believe it is because you want to believe, for political and ideological reasons. The problem is what you've been told is wrong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maktab_al-Khadamat

Buy a grammar book while you're at it. I would suggest Strunk & White, but there are plenty others out there.

whatever you can deny it all you want it happened. maybe you should try and read a book that doesn't come on the neocon top ten list

[countezero]

Grow up, PJ. And come back when you have an argument that is surpasses the intellectual equivalent of crying and beating your chest over spilled milk.

For the record, that link was sited primarily by Wright's The Looming Tower, which won the Pulitzer prize. I hear they give a lot of those to Neocons...

[Lord Hillyer]

Bush lied, children died.

[pjdude1219]

Grow up, PJ. And come back when you have an argument that is surpasses the intellectual equivalent of crying and beating your chest over spilled milk.

For the record, that link was sited primarily by Wright's The Looming Tower, which won the Pulitzer prize. I hear they give a lot of those to Neocons...

i am grown up i just don't have any respect or the will to wait for people to learn

[countezero]

Try this, since you're so mature and possess such infinite knowledge: Post something reputable, like, say Pulitzer-worthy, that backs up what you've claimed and torpedoes what I have shown.

[pjdude1219]

Try this, since you're so mature and possess such infinite knowledge: Post something reputable, like, say Pulitzer-worthy, that backs up what you've claimed and torpedoes what I have shown.

i am a civilian i don't have access to the info i would need. cause lets face any cia op that involved direct funding of bin laden would be black. i am argueing of indirect funding which probably happen the degree is probably fairly certent but considering bush sr. was part of the cia than i think and considering the bush families ties to the bin laden family there may have been some black ops

[countezero]

PJ, seriously. Put you parents on. I need to talk to them about curtailing your internet privileges. You need to read more books.