Posted on 07/19/2004 7:33:39 AM PDT by freedom44
DUBAI, July 19 (Reuters) - An Iranian general collaborated with al Qaeda to arrange the transit through Iran of nine of the September 11 hijackers, the Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported on Monday.
"A general in the apparatus (Revolutionary Guard) coordinated with the number two man in al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahri, to provide 'safe passage' to around nine of those who carried out the attacks," the London-based paper said.
It cited as its source an official in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and said Zawahri, who requested the help, had links with the general going back to the early 1990s.
Iranian government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh challenged the newspaper to back up its story.
"If they have concrete proof they should hand it over to the United Nations, and if they really trust their sources they should let us know too," he told a weekly news conference when asked about the report.
A U.S. commission is expected to say in a report this week on the September 11 attacks that some of the hijackers passed through Iran on their way to the United States, but the CIA's Acting Director has said there is no evidence of official Iranian complicity.
Iran acknowledged that some of the 19 attackers may have passed through illegally, but said it had since tightened border controls. It said any attempts to tie the country to Osama bin Laden's group were part of U.S. election-year propaganda.
The disclosure has again raised the question in the United States of whether the Bush administration, facing a re-election contest in November, has focused too much on Iraq in seeking state connections to the attacks.
Some 3,000 people died when suicide hijackers flew airliners into U.S. landmarks. The attacks were blamed on al Qaeda, which was then based in Iran's neighbour, Afghanistan.
The New York Times reported on Sunday that Iran had ordered its border guards not to stamp the passports of Saudi al Qaeda members moving through Iran after training in Afghanistan.
An Iranian stamp could have made the al Qaeda members subject to additional scrutiny upon entering the United States. (Additional reporting by Amir Paivar in Tehran)
This is being reported by the 9/11 commission as if it were something new-BUT-it's been open source information since 1991 that Iran collaborated with with Taliban. (They despised them,but feared the Russians more.)
Even now, Iran is reportedly sheltering some of the AQ honchos-for its own devious reasons. It has worked out arrangements with the Russians(whose main interest may still be continuing tension and conflict)to improve on its nuclear wepons programs.
The disclosure has again raised the question in the United States of whether the Bush administration, facing a re-election contest in November, has focused too much on Iraq in seeking state connections to the attacks.
Reuters has again raised this question, as if they would have supported an invasion of Iran instead of Iraq.
Don’t worry Reuters, Iran is in the gunsights. You’ll get to shower the Bush administration with praise soon enough.
ping
-George W. Bush, September 11, 2001
I do NOT think that SADDAM and IRAQ, could have given THAT much help to the 9/11 plotters-----a "mushroom" cloud--that is what is needed as proof for some people.
Wasn't Saddam too busy paying off CHIRAC to get HIM and his PARTY into his position in power in FRANCE?? and GERMANY with Dual use NUCLEAR parts for the reactor??- to help every single terrorist group that wants to Spread the wisdom of allah and the death of unbelievers, or whatever?
And if the 9/11 plotters were hiding out with the other Iraqi workers on that UN unsactioned/illegal Oil pipeline from Iraq to Syria--That HANS BLIX walked over/under/thru-
THAT would explain why it never came to anyone's attention.
The rest of the terrorists possibly involved with details of 9/11 are probly still hiding with that Soros guy or going to film award shows in cannes, or singing back up with aging, has been "so-called" rock stars with ugly eye-wear, british citizenship but interests in OUR gov't while racking in the bucks from the very same AMERICANS that he makes fun of...........
signed, Can't-wait-til-I-can-vote-this-year!! Tom.
ps--elton won't return my phone calls!!
You can bet your behind if there's a Revolt in Iran everyone will blame our CIA and President Bush and do everything they can to stop Democracy taking shape.
I wouldn't hold my breath for a revolution. The Mullahs have all the guns.
It's interesting how the mainstream media are promoting the Iran-Al Quaeda link with the same intensity they are trying to discredit the Iraq-Al Quaeda ties; but the evidence of links in both cases is about the same.
Reuters will focus attention on the threat of Iran only until the point at which the Bush administration decides to take action against Iran; if that day comes, Reuters and the rest of the media will decide Iran is no threat.
hehe good points
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