| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Captain Compassion" |
| Date: |
23 Mar 2006 12:02:43 PM |
| Object: |
Iraq Archive Document Describes Bin Laden Meeting |
ABC News
Iraq Archive Document Describes Bin Laden MeetingU.S. Government
Releases Papers From Saddam's Reign
March 22, 2006 — Following are the ABC News Investigative Unit's
summaries of five documents from Saddam Hussein's government, which
have been released by the U.S. government.
The documents discuss Osama bin Laden, weapons of mass destruction, al
Qaeda and more.
The full documents can be found on the U.S. Army Foreign Military
Studies Office Web site:
http://fmso.leavenworth.army.mil/products-docex.htm.
Note: Document titles were added by ABC News.
"Osama Bin Laden Contact With Iraq"
A newly released pre-war Iraqi document indicates that an official
representative of Saddam Hussein's government met with Osama bin Laden
in Sudan on February 19, 1995 after approval by Saddam Hussein. Bin
Laden asked that Iraq broadcast the lectures of Suleiman al Ouda, a
radical Saudi preacher, and suggested "carrying out joint operations
against foreign forces" in Saudi Arabia. According to the document,
Saddam's presidency was informed of the details of the meeting on
March 4, 1995 and Saddam agreed to dedicate a program for them on the
radio. The document states that further "development of the
relationship and cooperation between the two parties to be left
according to what's open (in the future) based on dialogue and
agreement on other ways of cooperation." The Sudanese were informed
about the agreement to dedicate the program on the radio.
The report then states that "Saudi opposition figure" bin Laden had to
leave Sudan in July 1996 after it was accused of harboring terrorists.
It says information indicated he was in Afghanistan. "The relationship
with him is still through the Sudanese. We're currently working on
activating this relationship through a new channel in light of his
current location," it states.
(Editor's Note: This document is handwritten and has no official seal.
Although contacts between bin Laden and the Iraqis have been reported
in the 9/11 Commission report and elsewhere, (e.g. the 9/11 report
states "Bin Ladn himself met with a senior Iraqi intelligence officer
in Khartoum in late 1994 or early 1995) this document indicates the
contacts were approved personally by Saddam Hussein.
It also indicates the discussions were substantive, in particular that
bin Laden was proposing an operational relationship, and that the
Iraqis were, at a minimum, interested in exploring a potential
relationship and prepared to show good faith by broadcasting the
speeches of al Ouda, the radical cleric who was also a bin Laden
mentor.
The document does not establish that the two parties did in fact enter
into an operational relationship. Given that the document claims bin
Laden was proposing to the Iraqis that they conduct "joint operations
against foreign forces" in Saudi Arabia, it is interesting to note
that eight months after the meeting — on November 13, 1995 —
terrorists attacked Saudi National Guard Headquarters in Riyadh,
killing 5 U.S. military advisors. The militants later confessed on
Saudi TV to having been trained by Osama bin Laden.)
"Osama bin Laden and the Taliban"
Document dated Sept. 15, 2001
An Iraqi intelligence service document saying that their Afghani
informant, who's only identified by a number, told them that the
Afghani Consul Ahmed Dahastani claimed the following in front of him:
That OBL and the Taliban are in contact with Iraq and that a group of
Taliban and bin Laden group members visited Iraq.
That the U.S. has proof the Iraqi government and "bin Laden's group"
agreed to cooperate to attack targets inside America.
That in case the Taliban and bin Laden's group turn out to be
involved in "these destructive operations," the U.S. may strike Iraq
and Afghanistan.
That the Afghani consul heard about the issue of Iraq's relationship
with "bin Laden's group" while he was in Iran.
At the end, the writer recommends informing "the committee of
intentions" about the above-mentioned items. The signature on the
document is unclear.
(Editor's Note: The controversial claim that Osama bin Laden was
cooperating with Saddam Hussein is an ongoing matter of intense
debate. While the assertions contained in this document clearly
support the claim, the sourcing is questionable — i.e. an unnamed
Afghan "informant" reporting on a conversation with another Afghan
"consul." The date of the document — four days after 9/11 — is worth
noting but without further corroboration, this document is of limited
evidentiary value.)
"Election Campaign Laws in France"
Documents dated July-August 1999
Correspondence regarding election campaigns in France. This includes a
document from the Iraqi intelligence service classified as "secret,"
ordering the translation of important parts of a 1997 report about
campaign financing laws in France. It also includes a document from
the foreign minister's office indicating the report was attached. The
attached translated report included very detailed information about
all the regulations regarding financing of election campaigns in
France. Translation was done by someone called "Salam Abdul Karim
Mohammed."
"Hiding Docs from the U.N. Team"
Document dated March 23, 1997
A letter from the Iraqi intelligence service to directors and managers
advising them to follow certain procedures in case of a search by the
U.N. team, including:
Removing correspondence with the atomic energy and military industry
departments concerning the prohibited weapons (proposals, research,
studies, catalogs, etc.).
Removing prohibited materials and equipment, including documents and
catalogs and making sure to clear labs and storages of any traces of
chemical or biological materials that were previously used or stored.
Doing so through a committee which will decide whether to destroy the
documents.
Removing files from computers.
The letter also advises them on how they should answer questions by
U.N. team members. It says the intelligence service should be informed
within one week about the progress made in discarding the documents.
(Editor's Note: This document is consistent with the Report of the
Special Advisor to the Director of Central Intelligence, which
described a pattern of deception and concealment on the part of Saddam
Hussein's government towards the U.N. inspectors in the mid to late
90's. Hussein halted all cooperation with those inspectors and
expelled them in October 1998.)
"Al Qaeda Presence in Iraq"
Document dated August 2002
A number of correspondences to check rumors that some members of al
Qaeda organization have entered Iraq. Three letters say this
information cannot be confirmed. The letter on page seven, however,
says that information coming from "a trustworthy source" indicates
that subjects who are interested in dealing with al Qaeda are in Iraq
and have several passports.
The letter seems to be coming from or going to Trebil, a town on the
Iraqi-Jordanian border. Follow up on the presence of those subjects is
ordered, as well as comparison of their pictures with those of
Jordanian subjects living in Iraq. (This may be referring to pictures
of Abu Musaab al Zarqawi and another man on pages 4-6) The letter also
says tourist areas, including hotels and rented apartments, should be
searched.
(Editor's note: This document indicates that the Iraqis were aware of
and interested in reports that members of al Qaeda were present in
Iraq in 2002. The document does not support allegations that Iraq was
colluding with al Qaeda.)
--
"There are no absolute certainties in this universe. A man must try to
whip order into a yelping pack of probabilities, and uniform success is
impossible." -- Jack Vance
"Civilizaton is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
"War is God's way of teaching Americans geography" -- Ambrose Bierce
"Long term commitment in relationships is only necessary because it takes
so damn long to raise children. Marriage may well be some kind of trick
to keep the males around beyond sexual satiation." -- Captain Compassion
"Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life.
--Will Durant
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net
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| User: "Randy Cox" |
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| Title: Re: Iraq Archive Document Describes Bin Laden Meeting |
23 Mar 2006 03:41:17 PM |
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Wow! These meetings happened two to four years before Bush gave the Taliban
in Afghanistan 75 million dollars. Perhaps Bush and his neo-con gang of
thugs should be in a room next to Saddams in Iraq. Didn't Bush say
something about helping a terrorist is the same as being one. 75 million
dollars to the Taliban is a much more substantial help than some low level
meetings between Al Qaida and Iraq.
Anyway, Saddam is in jail where he belongs. That is a done deal. Now it is
time to put the terrorists that gave the Taliban in Afghanistan those
millions and formulated that loose immigration policy that allowed those 19
Saudis to come into America. It means something that the Bush family and
the Ben Ladin family have spent many vacations together and done many
financial deals together.
Oh, yeah..............where is Osama anyway?
Randy R. Cox
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