Posted on 05/15/2004 4:27:59 AM PDT by Peach
Bush Says Zarqawi Killed Berg, Cites Saddam 'Ties' U.S. Military Bars Some Iraq Interrogation Methods
By Caren Bohan MEQUON, Wis. (Reuters) - President Bush on Friday blamed al Qaeda supporter Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for beheading American Nicholas Berg and cited him as an example of Saddam Hussein's "terrorist ties" before the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
Bush's revival of accusations linking Saddam to terrorism comes as the president faces growing doubts among Americans over his Iraq policy.
At a fund-raising lunch in Bridgeton, Missouri, Bush said Zarqawi was an example of the threat posed by the ousted Iraqi leader. "We knew he (Saddam) had terrorist ties. The person responsible for the Berg death, Zarqawi, was in and out of Baghdad prior to our arrival, for example," Bush said.
A video of Berg's beheading was posted this week to an Islamist Web site. The grisly film included a statement, signed off with Zarqawi's name, that urged Muslims to take revenge for Iraqi prisoners abused by U.S. soldiers at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison. The CIA on Thursday said Zarqawi was probably the one who beheaded Berg.
American doubts over Bush's Iraq policy have been fueled by the Abu Ghraib scandal, uncertainties over the planned June 30 transfer of sovereignty to Iraqis and a violent insurgency. Furthermore, the United States has failed to find alleged unconventional weapons in Iraq that were the heart of Bush's case for going to war.
Although Bush administration officials had raised the possibility Saddam helped al Qaeda plan the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Bush eventually said there was no evidence. Bush has previously cited Zarqawi as a link between Saddam and al Qaeda.
The president, in his stops in two battleground states for this November's presidential election, sought to reassure Americans his Iraq policy was on track.
Bush said in Bridgeton the transfer of sovereignty could provide hope for Iraqis, although his administration has been criticized for lacking a clear plan.
"They're glad to be rid of Saddam," he said. "And they obviously want to run their own country. If I were them I'd want to run my own country too."
Speaking later at commencement ceremonies at Concordia University in Wisconsin, Bush said the Abu Ghraib scandal had consequences that WENT "well beyond the walls of a prison," but he did not elaborate.
He said the scandal "cannot diminish the honor and achievement of more than 200,000 military personnel who have served in Iraq."
Before setting off for the Midwest, Bush met at the White House with foreign ministers from the Group of Seven major industrial nations plus Russia. The seven are the United States, Britain, Italy, Canada, France, Germany and Japan.
The theme was mending fences with countries such as France and Germany, which bitterly opposed the war. Bush hopes to enlist their help with the Iraq sovereignty transfer.
"He (Bush) talked about putting aside past differences and all of us working together to help the Iraqi people realize a brighter future," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. (Additional reporting by David Morgan and Steve Holland)
© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.
I hope you're both right about waiting this long...the alternative is unimaginable.
Wow! That one had completely gone past me; very interesting and I have to wonder just how coincidental.
Any person that thinks anti-American sentiment is isolated to one group while there are millions of anti-Americans around the world is very naive. They have the unifying force of their convictions in a world with modern transportation and communications.
Ann Coulter 2008.
nahhh, she's too sharp and angled...if I were going to vote for a woman it would be Condie Rice. The Pubs will have some good offerings in 2008, too, tho...
three words:
rope a dope
I think W will wait until the Repub convention to take off the gloves.
...good on yer, Mr. President...
But the left, the media and the RAT candidates, Reps and Sinators all say there is no evidence of any ties between Al Qaeda and Saddam. They also say endlessly that this is Bush's war and there were no WMDs. Could they be wrong? Are they ever right?
As Mark Steyn has correctly and eloquently stated, the "Death Before Electibility" gang within the GOP are nothing more than adult children.
Governance with a platform that appeals to 10% of the populace is impossible.
If Bush isn't good enough, vote Kerry.
Geniuses, everyone damn one of you.
As Mark Steyn has correctly and eloquently stated, the "Death Before Electibility" gang within the GOP are nothing more than adult children.
Governance with a platform that appeals to 10% of the populace is impossible.
If Bush isn't good enough, vote Kerry.
Geniuses, every damn one of you.
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