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Iraq Officer Tied to Al-Qadea
Reuters ^ | 6/20/2004 | Peter Kaplan

Posted on 06/20/2004 1:13:02 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks has been told "a very prominent member" of al Qaeda served as an officer in Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s militia, a panel member said on Sunday.

Republican commissioner John Lehman told NBC's "Meet the Press" program that the new intelligence, if proven true, buttresses claims by the Bush administration of ties between Iraq (news - web sites) and the militant network believed responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America.

"We are now in the process of getting this latest intelligence," Lehman said.

Commission Chairman Thomas Kean urged the administration to make any such information available to the panel quickly.

"Obviously, if there is any information (that) has to do with the subject of the report, we need it, and we need it pretty fast," Kean said on ABC's "This Week" program. "We'll ask for it and see."

He said the final report would be modified to take any new intelligence into account.

Lehman said the information, contained in "captured documents," was obtained after the commission report was written that stated there was no evidence of a "collaborative relationship" between Iraq and al Qaeda.

"Some of these documents indicate that (there was) at least one officer of Saddam's Fedayeen, a lieutenant colonel, who was a very prominent member of al Qaeda," Lehman said.

"That still has to be confirmed, but the vice president (Dick Cheney (news - web sites)) was right when he said that he may have things that we don't yet have," said Lehman, a former Navy secretary.

Cheney and President Bush (news - web sites) continued to insist that Iraq had ties to al Qaeda after the commission report issued last week found no evidence that Iraq collaborated with al Qaeda.

Lehman did not say whether the additional information was given to the commission in response to demands from Kean and commission vice chairman, Lee Hamilton.

On CBS's "Face the Nation," Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) said the White House should comply. "I see no reason why not," the Arizona Republican said.

Democratic commission member Richard Ben-Veniste told NBC he hoped Cheney would provide information "on a current basis ... with respect to the individual that John Lehman has talked about."

The Bush administration has been accused by critics of using faulty intelligence about alleged weapons of mass destruction and Iraqi links to al Qaeda to push the nation to war.

Lehman said there was no evidence Saddam was involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America. But he said the recent information about the Fedayeen officer "demonstrates the difficulty that we've had in this commission."

"We're under tremendous political pressures -- everything we come out with, one side or the other seizes on in this election year," Lehman said.

The conclusion of the commission staff report, released last Wednesday, contradicted Bush administration contentions before and after the U.S.-led war on Iraq. The president argued a connection with al Qaeda constituted an unacceptable threat to the United States.

Some officials, including Cheney, suggested an Iraqi role in the Sept. 11 attacks. Bush later ruled out that possibility, but many Americans still believe it and critics have accused the administration of misleading the public.

Bush's Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) of Massachusetts, said the president owed the American public "a fundamental explanation about why he rushed to war for a purpose it now turns out is not supported by the facts."


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 911commission; alqaeda; alqaedaandiraq; alqaedairaq; colonel; fedeyeen; hikmatshakir; iraq; iraqalqaeda; iraqi; iraqiofficers; johnlehman; malaysia; mtp; shakir; terrorsummit
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Sorry if this is a duplicate. I first saw this story a few weeks ago. Guess it has taken the White House a few weeks to be sure it was a valid report. At least i hope they are sure it is valid.
1 posted on 06/20/2004 1:13:04 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush
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To: Tennessean4Bush

Bookmarked to this thread which has gathered all the links we can find that tie AQ/Iraq:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1127451/posts?page=1


2 posted on 06/20/2004 1:19:12 PM PDT by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: Tennessean4Bush

This is a major news story, IMHO. We actually saw it several weeks ago or so when someone on the Iraq interim government called a press conference. However, there was not a peep from Bush administration about it. Perhaps they have been investigating and making sure it is well-sourced.


3 posted on 06/20/2004 1:20:34 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds, a pessimist fears this is true.)
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To: Tennessean4Bush

Good for posting that. I think there's a lot of evidence - of course, what it has to be to make it to the evidentiary standards of the 9/11 "commission" (aka, lynch mob) is another thing altogether.


4 posted on 06/20/2004 1:21:01 PM PDT by livius
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To: Tennessean4Bush
Lehman said the information, contained in "captured documents," was obtained after the commission report was written that stated there was no evidence of a "collaborative relationship" between Iraq and al Qaeda.

Chess not checkers.

Let your enemy fail and fail .....while you hold back the good intel......then BAM!!!!!!!

5 posted on 06/20/2004 1:21:05 PM PDT by Dog (In Memory of Pat Tillman ---- ---- ---- American Hero.)
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To: Coop; Cap Huff; Boot Hill; swarthyguy; oceanview

Next thing we know they will pull Bin Laden out of a turban.


6 posted on 06/20/2004 1:23:24 PM PDT by Dog (In Memory of Pat Tillman ---- ---- ---- American Hero.)
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To: Dog
BAM !!!!!


7 posted on 06/20/2004 1:26:19 PM PDT by cmsgop ( Michael Berg: "What has happened between Mr. Moore and myself is personal.")
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To: Dog

GWB has been calm and self-confident in recent weeks, when a lot of people in this forum have been panicky (I've felt that coming on myself sometimes).

Way back in February (I think) when he gave that MTP interview that many people were upset about, GWB stated clearly that he was happy to be able to run in light of his decision to go to war in Iraq. He stated it confidently then, and he seems confident even now.


8 posted on 06/20/2004 1:31:09 PM PDT by Cap Huff
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^


9 posted on 06/20/2004 1:32:10 PM PDT by jla (http://www.ronaldreaganmemorial.com/memorial_fund.asp)
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To: Dog

Dog, my theory is that the Bush Administration feels real confident about this. If it checks out, it is a major revelation.


10 posted on 06/20/2004 1:32:39 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds, a pessimist fears this is true.)
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To: Cap Huff

Cap....I noticed a change in GWB about two to three weeks ago...others here on the forum noticed the change. Like he knew something we didn't..


11 posted on 06/20/2004 1:33:37 PM PDT by Dog (In Memory of Pat Tillman ---- ---- ---- American Hero.)
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To: Peach
Bump!
;-)
12 posted on 06/20/2004 1:33:38 PM PDT by Tunehead54 (Have a nice day or else!)
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To: Dog

Wow - DOG!!!!

I had not picked that out from the article. Distracted here waiting for a phone call.

Good find.


13 posted on 06/20/2004 1:35:12 PM PDT by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: Dog

Boy - do I agree with that statement.


14 posted on 06/20/2004 1:36:25 PM PDT by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: Pukin Dog

Ping for a most interesting find.


15 posted on 06/20/2004 1:36:49 PM PDT by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: Peach

Tell me when the report was written..


16 posted on 06/20/2004 1:37:12 PM PDT by Dog (In Memory of Pat Tillman ---- ---- ---- American Hero.)
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To: Dog

The interim report they read last week? I don't know.


17 posted on 06/20/2004 1:38:29 PM PDT by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: Peach

That is the one..


18 posted on 06/20/2004 1:41:59 PM PDT by Dog (In Memory of Pat Tillman ---- ---- ---- American Hero.)
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To: Peach

A strategy play, brilliant on the part of the Bush administration. The media has been insisting for so long now, that the only reason we went to war against Iraq was the WMD; they ignore the other reasons (like this al q link and other things). So, this comes to the front pages, the left rages on about it, taking the bait like the stupid dogs they are. And now we have TWO reasons for going to war against Iraq in most people's minds. WMD and the Saddam / Al Q link. I think most people are convinced there was a connection, the media looks like dishonest partisans now for pulling contrary statements out of context. And now this new bit of information. I just have to laugh. This is the kind of thing that changes people's perceptions and I think it's great strategy. Now if we can just get the media to tell the truth about WMDs and stop ignoring the human atrocities committed under Saddam.


19 posted on 06/20/2004 1:44:18 PM PDT by paulsy
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To: Dog

Memorial Day weekend. Look at the photos of GWB and Rumsfeld on Memorial Day. Anybody who thought or thinks there is any tension between the two would have a hard time explaining the obvious lack of tension between the two. I think it also has something to do with what they know that we don't --- yet.

Also notice that twice in the last week GWB has spoken directly to the military. He knows that there are elements in our country pouring venom into the water our guys and gals drink and spewing filth into the air they breath. The reality in the field is extremely tough, but so different from the lies being spread. He is telling them he knows the truth. I believe the truth is going to come out in great force in coming months.


20 posted on 06/20/2004 1:44:31 PM PDT by Cap Huff
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