Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Germany Delays 9/11 Verdict, New Witness Found
Reuters ^ | January 21 2004 | Philip Blenkinsop

Posted on 01/21/2004 9:18:50 AM PST by knighthawk

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 next last
To: swarthyguy
It could easily be a little of both. If Iran had contact with or assisted the actual hijackers, the Saudis could have financed their operations once they reached the US. That has some rather interesting policy implications to it, since it implies that at the absolute least somebody in Riyadh or Tehran is in cahoots - though it does fit with what we know to date about Saudi and Iranian involvement with al-Qaeda.

I actually think that this whole "ideological disagreement" nonsense should have been thrown out the window the moment we learned that al-Qaeda made a deal with Charles Taylor, a nominally Christian despot, to help them out with the West African diamond trade.

And isn't it interesting that none of the Western news outlets are carrying the claims that this witness actually made?
21 posted on 01/21/2004 3:20:00 PM PST by Angelus Errare
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: swarthyguy
And then there's this nagging voice going, Saudi disinfo?

I don't think its either-or. We know that there has been a long list of coincidences involving Iraq and Osama's agents. We also know that with Afghanistan closed to them the remaining Al Qaedists have taken refuge in Pakistan and Iran. And we know that the primary sources of funding are Saudi, including Saudi Royals, including some in government.

So its important to put the pieces of the puzzle together but not for the point of figuring out if it was Iran, or Iraq, or Saudi Arabia, when there were elements of all three involved at various times.

We have our work cut out for us.

22 posted on 01/21/2004 3:22:34 PM PST by marron
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: marron
Didn't one of these Hamburg Moroccans have contacts with a Saudi working as a diplomat in the area?
23 posted on 01/21/2004 3:30:55 PM PST by dagnabbit (Tell Bush where to put his Amnesty and Global Labor Pool for American Jobs- Vote Tancredo in Primary)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: dagnabbit; Angelus Errare
Didn't one of these Hamburg Moroccans have contacts with a Saudi working as a diplomat in the area?

Really? Link, anyone?

24 posted on 01/21/2004 3:35:21 PM PST by marron
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: dagnabbit
Yes YES YES; he ran/was involved an islamic academy under diplomatic cover and was expelled.

Not a lot of details given in a cryptic news report.

Was posted here. Not sure if we even got the jihadi's name.
25 posted on 01/21/2004 3:39:09 PM PST by swarthyguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: marron
Here's the Rantburg copies on the diplomat, unfortunately the original stories are no longer available:

http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.asp?D=12/6/2002&ID=8282

http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.asp?D=4/7/2003&ID=12634

http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.asp?D=5/3/2003&ID=13813


26 posted on 01/21/2004 3:40:09 PM PST by Angelus Errare
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: swarthyguy
See post below, the Rantburg copies should give us all the info we need.
27 posted on 01/21/2004 3:40:53 PM PST by Angelus Errare
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: aristeides; Angelus Errare; longjack
If we need German translated I ping longjack.

Longjack would you please translate the article in post 3...and ping us to it...

Thanks.

28 posted on 01/21/2004 4:29:19 PM PST by Dog ("America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our Country")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: aristeides
Weren't there detailed models of the WTC and the Pentagon among others in Iran? I recall reading about these on FR a year or two ago.
29 posted on 01/21/2004 4:45:53 PM PST by Domestic Church (AMDG...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Domestic Church
Sorry, I don't remember that.
30 posted on 01/21/2004 4:59:29 PM PST by aristeides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: All
Here is the Rantburg translation by True German Ally in full:

The federal prosecutors got hold of a man who claims to have been a high-ranking member of the Iranian secret service for many years. In this function he says to have learned about the planning of 9/11 before it happened, seen several al-Qaida bosses in Iran and known some of the death pilots from Germany by name. Up to now only the Federal Propsecution Office knows the name of the man, but he is willing to testify at court under condition of anonymity.

According to the interrogation protocol the Iranian secret service agent claims that Iran was actively involved in the planning of 9/11, from page 11 onwards of the protocol he also mentions Mzoudi’s name several times. He says that friends from within the Iranian secret service apparatus have told him that the defendant was supposed to be killed by terrorists after his release in December 2003. The reason: In Iran Mzoudi was suspected to work with Western Intelligence Services or that he was released to be spied upon.

In the view of the federal prosecutors the statement proves that Mzoudi must very well have been a member of the Hamburg cell and because of that had to be liquidated as a bearer of top secret information and a potential traitor. Other statements of the new witness incriminate Mzoudi heavily. The witness says that he has heard Mzoudi’s name as the guy responsible for the logistics of 9/11. The Moroccan, he says, had been responsible for the “draft and the dispatch of information to intermediaries”, “because he was familiar with codes”.

Especially these statements perfectly fit in the picture sketched by the prosecution which claims that Mzoudi was the man in the background of the terror cell. Again and again federal prosecutors have presented a puzzle of many little assistances before court in order to prove Mzoudi’s guilt. It is true though that the witness hasn’t been able to prove his statements or put them in concrete terms. He only says, that he has this information from a man “at the very top” of the Iranian Secret Service.

It should be difficult for the prosecution to bolster the credibility of the new witness. The witness claims again and again that his person is known to intelligence services like the (German) BND and that he doesn’t want to testify publicly at court. But it is doubtful whether the judges will accept that explanation. In the tangled web of international intelligence services the truth is difficult to filter out because of all the different interests involved and the always present desire to protect sources. First of all the ruling judge Klaus Rühle intends to get his own picture of the new witness. He has summoned the two superintendents of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) who had questioned the Iranian on January 15th in Berlin. He wants to know from them, who this witness is and what kind of impression the two investigators have about him. The further progress of the trial will only be decided after that, but at least in this week a judgement is no longer expected.

In addition:

The German Stern reports: Mzoudi’s defence attorney Gül Pinar said that the witness was an unidentified Iranian intelligence agent claiming to have informed US authorities before September 2001 of an impending attack, but was not taken seriously. The Hamburg court received the protocol of the Berlin interrogation on January 19th.

There you have it.
31 posted on 01/21/2004 6:52:41 PM PST by Angelus Errare
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Angelus Errare
If this pans out, we should level Iran.
32 posted on 01/21/2004 6:59:35 PM PST by Prince Charles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Dog; aristeides; Angelus Errare
Dog: Sorry, I got the ping late.

The posts before this seem to give the accurate details about postponing the verdict for a month. The Germans have a witness who says he's in the Iranian secret service and knew about 9/11 before it happened.

The German Feds submitted extensive manuscripts to the court within the last few days, which the court used as a reason to delay the verdict and return to evidence gathering phase for 30 days.

Here's my translation of what I think the main gist of the article (linked in post #3) and its description of the secret witness is:


Start translation...

The trial could take a new turn with this.. [information from earlier in the article]. The state attorneys found a man who claims to have been a high ranking member of the Iranian secret service for many years. In this function he had heard of the September 11 planning in its preliminary stages, had seen several Al-Qaida leaders in Iran and also known some of the suicide pilots from Germany by name. Indeed, only the German Federal Attorneys know the name of the man so far, but he wants to testify in court with the guarantee he remains anonymous..

Witness: Iran actively participated in September 11th

According to the interrogation notes, the secret service agent claims Iran had been actively involved in the planning of September 11th; it also mentions Mzoudi's name several times from page eleven of the notes on. He had learned from Iranian friends from within the secret service apparatus that the defendant was to have been killed by terrorists after his release in December 2003. The reason: In Iran, they suspect Mzoudi cooperated with western secret services or would be spied on after his release.

In the view of the states' attorneys, the testimony proves again that Mzoudi must very well have been a member of the Hamburg cell and therefore, shall have been liquidated as a carrier of confidential information and as a potential traitor. Other statements of the new witness incriminate Mzoudi deeply, as well. Such as, he reported that he had heard the name Mzoudi as the responsible party for the logistics of September 11th. The Moroccan had been responsible for the "design and the dispatch of information to intermediaries", "since he was well versed with codes".

end translation....


"Spiegel" appears to me to have taken great care to write this article as one of conjecture; about what 'supposedly' has been alleged. They are not making any definitive statements and take pains to show that.

This article tries, however, to attempt to show how well the testimony of this mysterious Iranian fits into the framework the German feds have built around Mzoudi's actions. This testimony, if true, ties up all the loose ends into a tidy package. Mzoudi was a go-between, but he couldn't be placed in any specific role until they learned he was the one who handled the code. The witness's testimony fit the Fed's existing case so well they feel it is credible.

The court has to judge the witness's credibility for themselves, now.

That's my take, anyway.

HTH

longjack

33 posted on 01/21/2004 7:13:35 PM PST by longjack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: All
Chicago Times has just picked up the story and we now have a name for the mysterious Iranian - Hamid Reza Zakiri (Zakeri)!
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/politics/7765063.htm

This isn't his first appearance either, take a look at this:

http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=iran&ID=SP47303

He's an ex-IRGC big-shot.

In addition:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A21484-2003Oct13?language=printer

http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.asp?D=10/14/2003&ID=19847 (Rantburg copy by yours truly)

"A description of Mugniyah’s ongoing role was provided to authorities by a member of the Jerusalem Force who defected to Britain earlier this year. In a February interview with the London-based Saudi daily Al-Sarq al-Awsat, the defector said Mugniyah remained in Iran and had personally "planned the escape of dozens of al Qaeda men to Iran." The defector, Hamid Zakiri, said Mugniyah served as "a liaison officer with Dr. Zawahiri and with commanders of other fundamentalist organizations." Zakiri said that among those Mugniyah aided were bin Laden’s youngest wife, Amal al-Saddah, and her infant child, whom he provided with safe passage from Afghanistan through Iran to her homeland of Yemen as the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan began. European intelligence sources said that much of Zakiri’s information had been verified."

Looks like we have an intelligence goldmine here - the ayatollah should pay dearly for this.
34 posted on 01/21/2004 7:26:32 PM PST by Angelus Errare
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: knighthawk; Cindy; DoctorZIn; Angelus Errare; longjack; Prince Charles; Domestic Church; Dog; ...
Al Qaeda -- Hizbullah -- Iran connect the dots:

Al-Qaeda launches online terrorist manual
http://www.guardian.co.uk/alqaida/story/0,12469,1125879,00.html
___________________________________________________________________

Also see: Adel's new terrorist manual and Ayman's "Shaven Beards" with link to very interesting site: http://www.anthraxandalqaeda.com

The manual is named:

"Mu`askar al-Battar (Battar's camp) -- Issue no. 2 (January 15th 2004)"

A URL to the current website of Al-Qaeda is here:

http://www.page4free.biz/sout26/b1.htm
(German-owned domain name, Malaysian ISP).

The files with 'b2' in the name are issue 2, and the files with b1 in the name are the first issue.
___________________________________________________________________

Saif Al-Adel, also known as Mohammed Makkawi, is also a former member of EIJ, and he served as a colonel in the Egyptian Army's special forces. Adel is believed to have trained and fought the tribal fighters who ambushed and killed the 18 US Army Rangers in Mogadishu in 1993. He helped plan the 1998 attacks on the US Embassies in Africa, and he was a key planner of the 2000 attack on the USS Cole. Moreover, he is believed to be part of a tactical alliance between Al Qaeda and Hizbullah.

Today he is launching on-line terror manuals. The "tactical alliance between Al Qaeda and Hizbullah" appears to be much deeper.

Earlier in 2003 it was reported he, along with a number of other al-Qaeda leaders, had been captured in Iran. Also reported to have been caputed in Iran were Osama bin Laden's son Saad, al-Qaeda's spokesman, Sulaiman Abu Gaith, al-Qaeda number two: Ayman al-Zawahiri. Al-Zawahiri is quoted in the terror manual.

FBI most wanted terrorist: Saif Al Adel
Rewards For Justice: Saif Al Adel
Captured in Iran? (May 2003)
Iran Clueless If It Captured Saif Al-Adel (May 2003)
Iran holds Al Qaeda's top leaders (July 2003)
Iran refuses to extradite captured al-Qaeda members to US (Sept. 2003)
35 posted on 01/21/2004 8:58:09 PM PST by JohnathanRGalt (---- Fight Islamist CyberTerror at: http://haganah.org.il/haganah/ ----)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: F14 Pilot
Your opinion is requested here.

Thanks.
Cindy
36 posted on 01/21/2004 9:17:46 PM PST by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Angelus Errare
Thanks.
37 posted on 01/21/2004 9:35:57 PM PST by Valin (We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: JohnathanRGalt
bttt!
38 posted on 01/21/2004 9:51:18 PM PST by MamaLucci
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Angelus Errare
Journalists see all and understand little. You of course are well aware of the late 90's agreement between Islamic terrorist groups to target America. These groups were not all al-Qaeda. It reminded me of the old Mafia meetings of the 5 families where territory was cut up.

It was not Iran per say but Iranian groups some with links to the Iranian govt.

It is a complex relationship as it is simple. Weblike. Byzantine even.

39 posted on 01/21/2004 10:03:18 PM PST by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert; DoctorZIn
translated
40 posted on 01/21/2004 10:28:48 PM PST by Pan_Yans Wife (He who has never hoped can never despair.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson