Among the contents of this memo is a statement by Habboush to Hussein that Atta: "displayed extraordinary effort" and had demonstrated his ability to lead the team that would be "responsible for attacking the targets that we have agreed to destroy".
The phrase "responsible for attacking the targets that we have agreed to destroy" clearly implies more than mere association between Hussein and al Qaeda, it implies at a minimum tacit assent and approval, and in the context of Atta's continuing contacts with Iraqi Intelligence, can be taken as evidence of Iraqi control of the operation.
The US government has consistently atributed 9-11 to Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda network, and this attribution need not be subject to radical revision. But it is looking all the more likely that while al Qaeda provided the manpower, Saddam Hussein provided at least part of the funding as well as overall direction, using the assets of al Qaeda to attack a mutul enemy - the USA.
It certainly puts Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi intelligence service at the center of the entire enterprise and provide a context for understanding the contact between Atta and al Ani in Prague going back a year.
This entire picture is crying out to be explained graphically and in detail by the President to the American people, much along the lines just suggested.
Excellent post, JV.
Let's hope the president makes this case. It is a real case.
The anti-american alphabet media will decry no "proof" (meaning a vidotape recording of Saddam meeting with Osama saying, "Let's work together to kill Americans and plan attacks against them." To this Osama must reply, "Absolutely....how about blowing up the WTC?" This video episode must have been witnessed live by a minimum of a thousand reporters of the Wash Post, NYT, and the French and German dailies. That will constitute "proof" to them.
Tons of sightings, intercepts, documents, witnesses, etc. will be of no account to these folks.
Therefore, the President must seek a forum to go OVER their heads.
I would suggest a presidential news conference. The revelation of the connection must be made as his opening statement.
He must then ask questions of only new media reporters. The Old Tabloid journalists must give way to the new.