Posted on 12/28/2002 12:55:06 PM PST by ex-Texan
Anyway, I had the impression that the sauds are already being "dealt with". In fact,I almost posted 'go, spooks, go', upon reading it.
If Iraq could be demonstrated to be behind the terrorism, do you think the report would be secret? Good lord, that would be the smoking gun Bush has been looking for the last two years!
No way would it be classified.
It depends.
If the anthrax was from Iraq, then they have to counted as a state sponsor of 9/11. And they have to be considered a very dangerous adversary.
Such information would indeed remain classified -- at least until such time as we were ready to respond. And our readiness to respond would require that, first, we disengage in Afghanistan, second, build up sufficient forces and munitions in the Persian Gulf and, third, take such civil defense steps as are necessary to secure the home front from bio attack.
All the other steps involved -- Congressional approval, UN resolutions, basing negotiations, etc. are mere window dressing.
Recall that Tony Blair and the UK came on board immediately. He was favored with some vital and still closely held information.
Recall also that VP Cheney reportedly (per Bob Woodward) assumed from the outset that Iraq was behind the 9/11 attack -- even before the anthrax showed up.
He evidently knew something that the rest of us have merely suspected -- about the first WTC bombing, Oklahoma City, TW 800 and, perhaps, an early link between Iraq and al-Qaeda.
My guess is that the specific functional state-sponsor Graham is referring to is, indeed, Iraq. And that some Saudi princelings are also involved financially.
And that when the balloon goes up, a great deal of accumulated intelligence will be revealed (though not all).
Rummy asked for Iraq war plans right after the Pentagon was hit, too.
"I was surprised at the evidence that there were foreign governments..."
No way. If that were the case it wouldn't be classified. My money's on Saudi Arabia, possibly Syria, but definately not Iraq or any other 'Axis of Evil' country.
Makes ya think maybe they [Cheney & Rummy] knew sumpin', don't it?
Governments. Plural.
Your most likely nominees?
Upon reflection, I'll add Pakistan (via ISI) to my list.
I would add: Because the Bush administration, which has considerable influence over the media, does not want to publicize the fact that Saudi Arabia is the guilty party. The administration is playing a Machiaveliian game and believes that too much truth would undermine their effort to manage the situation -- i.e. they are scared to death that a full blown anti-muslim sentiment could get totally out of control. Thus they are willing to sacrifice the memories of a few thousand souls and their families. This is of course completely despicable. The truth will set us all free.
While I am all for a "gloves off" approach, I don't think the CIA should be involved in car bomb attacks. The wrong people get killed. And the real target often escapes. It is stupid. It is evil.
That's what I wuz thinkin'! heheh
Likely candidates: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, China, Syria. (I've omitted Afghanistan since I don't think that Sen. Graham would have expressed surprise at that.)
It seems highly unlikely
that Iraq or North Korea or Syria would have an infrastructure
assisting terrorists in the USA.
(Does Iraq even have an ambassador in the USA?)
However,
it is well known that Saudia Arabia has an infrastructure
extending right into the highest levels of the State Department.
Pakistan's infrastructure is not negligible either.
Remember Clinton's old apologist Lanny Davis
is a paid lobbyist for the Pakistanis.
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