Saddam Worked With Terror Groups
Wash Times:
Newly declassified documents show a number of links between the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein and violent terrorist or Islamist groups, many of them dating from the early 1990s.
A Pentagon-funded study of the documents failed to find a direct link between Saddam and al Qaeda, the group that carried out the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. But it did establish Iraqi support for Egyptian Islamic Jihad, whose leader Ayman al-Zawahri merged the group with al Qaeda years later.
The papers also show that Saddam’s Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) maintained a working relationship with Palestinian terrorist groups, secretly sent representatives to meet with them and trained scores of non-Iraqi Arabs to attack Israel.
“Iraq was a long-standing supporter of international terrorism,” said the report by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a nonprofit private group working under contract to the Pentagon. The institute, whose history goes back to 1947, has three federally funded research and development centers and addresses national-security issues that require specific scientific and technical expertise.
The report, which is being mailed by U.S. Joint Forces Command to the journalists and media outlets, contains copies of the captured IIS documents that provide a detailed picture of Iraq’s decades-old support of various terrorist groups.
Al Qaeda out
Agreeing with previous intelligence reports, the IDA said the documents showed no direct operational link between Iraq and al Qaeda, a connection that had been suggested by the Bush administration before the war. The Bush administration has not been eager to redebate its reasons for the invasion.
Lt. Col. Philip Smith, a Joint Forces command spokesman, said, “The report speaks for itself” and declined to comment further. The Central Intelligence Agency also declined to comment.
A 2006 Senate intelligence committee report said the postwar investigations by the intelligence community found only two confirmed al Qaeda-Iraq contacts. This spurred charges from Democrats that the Bush White House had politicized prewar intelligence.
Since then, government analysts have continued to examine thousands of translated Iraqi documents to get a clearer picture of the Saddam-terror axis. It was in that vein that the IDA wrote its report, “Saddam and Terrorism: Emerging Insights from Captured Iraqi Documents.”
Lawrence Korb, an analyst at the liberal Center for American Progress, said the important point in the IDA report is that there was no Saddam-al Qaeda operational link.
“The idea that the same people who attack on 9/11, that Saddam was connected to them, is not true,” Mr. Korb said. “There’s no doubt Saddam was involved with a lot of terrorist groups. A lot of them he used against his own people.”
Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, ranking Republican on the House intelligence committee, thinks the new details are “very significant.”
“It demonstrates the intentions of where Saddam was willing to go,” Mr. Hoekstra said. “Were there proven contacts between him and al Qaeda? No. Maybe no. But were there clear indications that this was a guy who was more than willing to support Islamic terrorist organizations? This is one more piece of evidence that shows: yeah.”
Mr. Hoekstra bemoaned the White House’s refusal to highlight the Islamic Jihad-Saddam connection, or, for that matter, recent disclosures that Saddam told his FBI interrogator that he planned to resume production of weapons of mass destruction.
“It just points out from my standpoint how pathetic this administration has been in really talking to the American people about the threat from radical jihadists in general and what was going on in Iraq in particular,” he said.
White House spokesmen did not return calls seeking comment on the IDA report.
Al Qaeda aside, the IDA report shows that Baghdad was an active player in international terrorism.
“Many terrorist movements and Saddam found a common enemy in the United States,” said the report. “State sponsorship of terrorism became such a routine tool of state power that Iraq developed elaborate bureaucratic processes to monitor progress and accountability.”
Egypt jihad in
Perhaps the IDA report’s most significant new disclosure is that the Iraqi Intelligence Service, known as the Mukhabarat, established an alliance with Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ). A captured 1993 memo from the IIS to Saddam said that Iraq had aided the group previously and was restarting contacts to help with attacks on the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a U.S. ally.
EIJ was founded by Zawahri, an Egyptian surgeon who, along with other members, sought to overthrow the secular Egyptian government. After the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, he was arrested but served jail time only for illegal arms possession. He met bin Laden in Afghanistan while with the mujahedeen resistance fighting the Soviets. He returned to Egypt in 1990 and, in 1998, merged Egyptian Islamic Jihad with al Qaeda.
In 1996, he was arrested in Russia for recruiting Chechen jihadists, but Russian officials released him, saying they couldn’t confirm his identity. Zawahri, who is on the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list for his role in the September 11 attacks, also has been indicted in the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.
“In a meeting in the Sudan, we agreed to renew our relations with the Islamic Jihad Organization in Egypt,” the Iraqi memo states. “It carried out numerous successful operations, including the assassination of Sadat. We have previously met with the organization’s representative and we agreed on a plan to carry out commando operations against the Egyptian regime.”
A second memo issued to the IIS from Saddam’s office stated, “There has been agreement since December 24, 1990, with the representative of the Islamic Group organization in Egypt on a plan to move against the Egyptian regime by carrying out commando operations provided that we guarantee them financing and training.”
A third memo reveals that Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, who is now jailed in Iraq, sent a letter to Egyptian Islamic groups encouraging them to cooperate in “acts of insurgency against the Egyptian government.”
Palestinians in
Before the 2003 invasion, the Bush administration made an issue of Saddam’s offer to provide money to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers as proof of Baghdad’s support for international terrorism. The IDA report reveals that Saddam provided much more significant aid to groups such as Hamas, a terror group backed by Iran and now in control of the Gaza Strip.
A 2002 annual report by the IIS’ M8 division told of providing millions of dollars and arms to Palestinian terror groups and training Palestinians in Iraqi camps. The IIS maintained representatives in the Palestinian territories who met with Hamas leaders, such as founder Ahmad Yassin, who conveyed their needs to Baghdad.
In 2002, Baghdad hosted 13 conferences of various Islamic groups, according to the M8 report, which also told of scores of messages from these groups seeking money and arms.
Abu Abbas, leader of the Palestinian Liberation Front, found safe haven in Iraq in the late 1980s. He became a wanted man after he engineered the 1985 hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro during which American Leon Klinghoffer was shot and pushed overboard in his wheelchair.
In 1996, Abbas apologized for the hijacking and urged a Palestinian-Israeli peace accord. But the Iraq documents tell a different story. Abbas made secret visits to Palestinian terror groups to advise them on attacking Israel. In 1998, he met with Hamas leader Yassin.
Upon his return to Baghdad, Abbas was debriefed by the IIS. An Iraqi memo stated, “Abu aI-Abbas stated that he is willing to fully work, in any area, which will serve Iraq’s objectives towards the Zionist enemy.”
The U.S. captured Abbas in 2003 as he tried to escape to Syria. He died of natural causes while in custody in 2004.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
There’s one-hundred million spread out from SE Asia all the way over to NW Africa. They’re bound to cross paths and saddam had to be in on it, probably a lot of it.
March 21st, 2008 at 12:19 amBanana hammock city!
March 21st, 2008 at 1:28 amWow, I saw the title the msm ran on this report a couple of days ago and figured it proved that Bush lied. I’m so confused. I just need to focus on that gay guy singing on American idol.
…..
March 21st, 2008 at 3:55 amAww Saddam in his bloomers
March 21st, 2008 at 3:57 amYou know this info has been out there even during the run up to the war. It is baffling to me how the coverage of this war has distorted actual facts. “Well Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism”(except for that it had funded it for years prior to the invasion). “Iraq never had any weapons of mass destruction” (except for the 500 or so chemical rounds that have been discovered there since the invasion… probably only built those 500 rounds and then forgot about them). So if we just leave the exceptions out clearly then “We went to war for oil man!!!!”
March 21st, 2008 at 4:50 amImagine that…
Its amazing how the press forgets that all you have to do is look on the Internet for older news reports to see it for yourself.
————————
Associated Press
February 13, 1999
Bin Laden reportedly leaves Afghanistan, whereabouts unknown
Osama bin Laden, the Saudi millionaire accused by the United States of plotting bomb attacks on two U.S. embassies in Africa, has left Afghanistan, Afghan sources said Saturday.
Taliban authorities in the militia’s southern stronghold of Kandahar refused to either confirm or deny reports that bin Laden had left the country.
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has offered asylum to bin Laden, who openly supports Iraq against the Western powers.
Despite repeated demands from Washington, the Taliban refused to hand over bin Laden after the August 7 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, demanding proof of his involvement in terrorist activities.
The Taliban did promise that bin Laden would not use Afghanistan as a staging arena for terrorist activities.
http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/meast/9902/13/afghan.binladen/
March 21st, 2008 at 5:51 amand another
——————
The Guardian
February 6, 1999
Saddam link to Bin Laden
By Julian Borger
Saddam Hussein’s regime has opened talks with Osama bin Laden, bringing closer the threat of a terrorist attack using chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, according to US intelligence sources and Iraqi opposition officials.
The key meeting took place in the Afghan mountains near Kandahar in late December. The Iraqi delegation was led by Farouk Hijazi, Baghdad’s ambassador in Turkey and one of Saddam’s most powerful secret policemen, who is thought to have offered Bin Laden asylum in Iraq.
News of the negotiations emerged in a week when the US attorney general, Janet Reno, warned the Senate that a terrorist attack involving weapons of mass destruction was a growing concern. “There’s a threat, and it’s real,” Ms Reno said, adding that such weapons “are being considered for use.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/1999/feb/06/julianborger
————————–
How soon THEY forget….
March 21st, 2008 at 5:55 amA+ on homework.
March 21st, 2008 at 8:17 amLftBhndAgn, with this PC I get smarter as I get older. But, I must say I’m clueless how to dig into it to find this stuff. I guess I’ve become dependent on people like you. Don’t stop.
March 21st, 2008 at 8:50 amwhere was zarqawi in 2002?? and…
March 21st, 2008 at 9:03 amhttp://www.rightwingnews.com/quotes/demsonwmds.php
John -
When you open your browser and you are Searching:
Type key words such as Iraq + Al Qaeda + WMD
using the plus signs. (the words I use are just for example)
On Google:
They give you options at the top as:
Web, Images, Maps, News, Shopping, more »
At the top of the page.
Hit News:
On the side bar to the left you will see
Archives
All dates
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
Other dates
Other dates
Other dates:
-
You can click other dates:
You can click all dates.
I have found most of the information is buried deep. The saying: You have to pick through a lot of garbage to find a treasure is very true.
Type in the year to begging to the year you want to end.
Done deal -
Hope this helped.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:13 amHere John Cunningham - Ill make it easy for ya - and anyone else that wants to take a look.
http://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=Iraq+%2B+Saddam&sa=N&sugg=d&as_ldate=1996&as_hdate=2002&lnav=d2&ldrange=1990,1992&hdrange=2003,2007
March 21st, 2008 at 9:21 amThat fucking picture DOES NOT COUNT as appeasing the female Dollardheads’ need for sexy pictures of guys …
Banana hammock city!
I’m certain it is a direct result of goat-f***ing.
—————————————————
1) The MSM will cherry pick certain phrasing and present this in an anti Iraq / Bush lied and twisted intel report … IF reported on.
2) I get weary pointing out the many semi-loads of American cash in the millions and millions of $$ that were discovered when we invaded.
IF anyone, with an ounce of grey matter, DOESN’T see THAT as WMD … especially after knowing Saddam was PAYING Palistinians to blow themselves and Israeli Jews to pieces … well, they’re just fucking idiots.
9-11-01 would have been pocket-cash for Saddam … Give me a fucking break!
March 21st, 2008 at 9:22 amHere are a bunch -
March 21st, 2008 at 9:25 amhttp://news.google.com/archivesearch?as_ldate=1996&as_hdate=2000&q=Osama+Bin+Laden&lnav=od&btnG=Search
And let’s not forget the now hard to find ABC News report that was done during the 1990s (See: Clinton Admin.) where THEY made the OBL/AlQ. - Saddam/Iraq link(s) …
March 21st, 2008 at 10:24 amYES!!! Good to see this is FINALLY being reported, after the media lied and twisted the truth to claim yet again that “BUSH LIED!”, and the guys at the Pentagon and the Bush Administration Rolled over and played dead for them.
Actually, the 94 page report has been posted online in PDF format at:
http://a.abcnews.com/images/pdf/Pentagon_Report_V1.pdf
If you read it, it shows that, contrary to the media, Saddam had MANY ties to Al-Qaida agents and other terrorists, and that the Bush Administration WAS justified in taking him out.
Thank goodness the truth is FINALLY getting out there…
March 21st, 2008 at 12:58 pmI agree with you and everyone else who chides the Bush Admin. for NOT pushing back at the MSM and the nay-sayers on this.
But it would have fallen on deaf ears.
Oh, yeah, you and I and the others here would have said, “See! See! We knew it!”
But even if there were family photo albums and videos with Saddam and known terrorists rolling around in bed together the MSM and talking-heads would deny it was that important.
I still cite the influence and money Saddam was pumping into Israel. If there was a central destabilizing force in the M.E. (if it could even be called ’stable’) it was Saddam … He had most of the money, outside the Saudi royalty, and had the U.N. and leaders of [certain] “invasion opposing” countries in his ass-pocket.
March 21st, 2008 at 1:24 pmLol!! He got hanged
March 21st, 2008 at 3:33 pmfrom a rope
March 21st, 2008 at 3:34 pmLftBhndAgn
And let’s not forget the now hard to find ABC News report that was done during the 1990s (See: Clinton Admin.) where THEY made the OBL/AlQ. - Saddam/Iraq link(s) …
—————————————-
Yes!
I know what you mean - -
Check out this little gem
Iraq-Bin Laden boat bomb
USS Cole: 17 dead mourned as experts piece together attack
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000/oct/19/alqaida.iraq
March 21st, 2008 at 3:37 pmLol!! He got hanged
from a rope
———————————-
Just a matter of time before they ALL are. Well not all by rope, but you get my drift I’m sure.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:53 pmIf it takes forever, I’m in.
[…] song for bobby long lyricshappy easter commentsdewey coxgundam 00 24 subbedosteomyelitis definitionSaddam Worked With Terror Groups Wash Times: Newly declassified documents show a number of links between the Iraqi government of […]
March 23rd, 2008 at 5:18 amGreat post. I have been going on and on about this for years at www.regimeofterror.com. This report is a goldmine on Saddam and I’ll be posting about it a lot in the coming days.
March 24th, 2008 at 2:59 pm