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| Iraq |
| Al-Qaeda chief told us Iraq supplied WMD material: US |
| 2003-08-12 |
| From August 9th, funny this isn’t getting any exposure: A high-ranking al-Qaeda operative in custody disclosed that Iraq supplied the Islamist militant group with material to build chemical and biological weapons, the White House said today. "A senior al-Qaeda terrorist, now detained, who had been responsible for al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan, reports that al-Qaeda was intent on obtaining (weapons of mass destruction) assistance from Iraq," the White House said in a report. The 25 page document was released as US President George W Bush holidayed at his Texas ranch. OT, but have you noticed that no one in the media uses the phrase "The Western White House"? I remember them calling LBJ’s ranch that, but of course he wasn’t getting the U.S. involved in unpopular wars. The Bush administration cited links between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein’s Baath party regime as justification for attacking Iraq to oust Saddam. The administration also insisted Saddam had chemical and biological weapons and was pursuing nuclear weapons. (channeling the left) "Lies, all lies!" (channel off) The report quoted the unnamed prisoner as saying al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden turned to Iraq after concluding his group could not produce chemical or biological weapons on its own in Afghanistan. Those mail order kits just don’t work very well. "Iraq agreed to provide chemical and biological weapons training for two al-Qaeda associates starting in December 2000," the report said. "Senior al-Qaeda associate Abu Musab al-Zarqawi came to Baghdad in May 2002 for medical treatment, along with approximately two dozen al-Qaeda terrorist associates. I didn’t think he went by himself. "This group stayed in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq and plotted terrorist attacks around the world." Osama and Saddam hated each other, but I always felt that the people in the field had no such problems. It’s that "enemy of my enemy" thing. The report, quoting the State Department, also says the fallen regime of Saddam Hussein "provided material assistance to Palestinian terrorist groups, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, Hamas and the Palestine Islamic Jihad". The "Cash for Boomers" program for one. Someday, this fall I think, there is going to be a major show and tell on what has been found in Iraq. I can’t wait. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #3 well one reason not to go to the screaming headlines is that we don't know whether Al Q's definition of chem and bio weapons is the same as ours. Another is that the assistance from Iraq might have been minimal (consisting of blueprints and inferior quality materials |
| Posted by: mhw 2003-8-12 1:46:38 PM |
| #2 Seems I remember LBJ getting us bogged down in a quagmire in Vietnam. Something about micromanagement by the White House down to grunts in the field. OF course, LBJ knew about as much about running a counter-guerilla war as I do about singing soprano. Bush's "Western White House" is usually referred to as "the Ranch" in Crofford. Of course, Bush is a Republican, whereas LBJ was a dyed-in-the-wool tax-and-spend Democrat, so of COURSE he got better reporting from our "unbiased" media "elite". Now I need to go wash my mouth out with disinfectant. I'll be back in a few minutes... |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-8-12 12:06:48 PM |
| #1 I've heard GW's ranch refered to as the Texas White House. Usually accompanied by a thinly disguised sneering tone. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-8-12 11:48:28 AM |