Clinton Nixed OBL Indictment for Black Hawk Down

NewsMax.com ^ | 5/03/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

The Clinton administration prepared a secret indictment of Osama bin Laden in 1995 in connection with the Black Hawk Down attack two years before, but never filed it - a witness before the 9/11 Commission is set to testify on Friday.

"[U.S. Attorney for New York's Southern District] Mary Jo White was already working on a secret indictment against bin Laden as early as the late part of 1995," Clinton administration diplomatic troubleshooter Mansoor Ijaz told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg on Sunday.

Clinton officials, said Ijaz, had "evidence in their hands" implicating bin Laden in the Oct. 1993 Mogadishu attack that killed 18 U.S. Army Rangers.

But they "weren't willing to use it to seek an indictment," he insisted.

Ijaz, who is scheduled to testify before the 9/11 Commission behind closed doors, said the investigation needs to focus on the question, "What caused that indictment not to be handed down?"

As early as 1994, said Ijaz, Sudanese officials had "made it clear [to U.S. officials] that they had very strong indications that bin Laden was closely behind and involved with the Mogadishu terrorist operations."

"At that time [the Clinton administration wasn't] willing to open all of that up," Ijaz maintained.

"But when the early 1996 decision came from the Sudanese to send their defense minister over [to negotiate bin Laden's extradition to the U.S.], there was no question that the Clinton administration was made very clear that bin Laden had casual ties in real terms to the group that killed our 18 [Rangers] in Black Hawk Down."

"Had they been able to take advantage of [Sudan's 1994 offer to share intelligence on bin Laden], the Clinton Justice Department could have indicted bin Laden, which would have enabled them to bring him to the United States," Ijaz contended.

In 2002, President Clinton confirmed to a New York business group that Sudan had indeed offered to extradite bin Laden, but explained, "I did not bring him here because we had no basis on which to hold him, though we knew he wanted to commit crimes against America."

But Ijaz said he personally briefed Clinton on Sudanese evidence of bin Laden's involvement in the Mogadishu attack.

"I took it directly to the president," he told Malzberg. "I put it on the table. I did it because the Sudanese were only able to do it at the lower levels of our government because nobody wanted to listen to them."

"And one of the things I'm going to tell the 9/11 Commission next Friday," the one-time White House operative warned, "is precisely what happened in my conversation with Bill Clinton personally, where I told him these things were possible - and what he said to me."

Though Ijaz has said he hopes to eventually testify in public, he's not leaving it up to the 9/11 Commission to get the word out.

"It's going to shock the nation when I bring all this out in a book - precisely how ignorant these people were about what they were doing," he told Malzberg.

Get Steve Malzberg's exclusive NewsMax.com column emailed directly to you at www.newsmax.com/malzberg.

[nopardons]

That too!

[alancarp]

Next time somebody talks about "Bush/Cheney and Halliburton", respond with "Clinton and Occidental."

[ladyinred]

The Clinton administration prepared a secret indictment of Osama bin Laden in 1995 in connection with the Black Hawk Down attack two years before, but never filed it - a witness before the 9/11 Commission is set to testify on Friday.

Yeah, but it was President Bush's fault they didn't right?

[nopardons]

I've been doing exactly THAT and throwing in Hammer and the USSR/KGB,since '92.:-)

[nopardons]

Of course.:-(

And BRW...you look GREAT in the pics from the last Fresno rally,dear friend.:-)

[ladyinred]

Exactly! Will the media demand he testify in public so all of us can hear this? HECK NO!

[tet68]

"And one of the things I'm going to tell the 9/11 Commission next Friday," the one-time White House operative warned, "is precisely what happened in my conversation with Bill Clinton personally, where I told him these things were possible - and what he said to me."

Look for attacks on Mr.Ijaz to begin immediately.

This should be interesting.

[Carry_Okie]

Many thanks. It's all starting to make scents now, that familiar smell that wafts through my aching gnostrils ere the Clintons have tread.

Uck.

[Republic]

Why isn't this man testifying in public if Richard Clark was? (He did testify in public, did he not? Perhaps I am wrong here.) But if this man actually had CONTACT with skiry chasing big bill, seems our nation has a RIGHT to know exactly how big bill responded. Seems that clinton's refusal to address the terrorist issue after so many horrendous attacks led directly to the terrorists as seeing us a weak, unwilling to confront danger and unable to avert the same.

Big bill clinton hurt our nation is soooo many ways. I am still waiting to hear more about the affadavits of the 22 individuals journalist/reporter Jayne Davis has on file regarding the Iraqi operatives seen associating in and around Oklahoma City pre that bombing.

clinton lived by polls, causing many Americans to DIE by the same. His drive to be popular overshadowed his oath of office to protect his nation.

[FreedomPoster]

Don't forget - most Rhodes Scholars actually complete a degree program. Even back then, Clinton was demonstrating his fecklessness.

[cgk]

ping...

[TexasCajun]

Ole Mary Jo, she's alwaying popping up, again and again.

[antonia]

Bump

[Alamo-Girl]

Great catch!

[varina davis]

BTT

[SevenofNine]

OOHHHH Mozziz Iziz is right
NICE GOIN BUBBA

[hoosiermama]

Agree but in the case of #2 the money would more than likely go to the "library fund" which IIRC isn't tracked.

[AFPhys]

... we should show the same reservations as some of the hacks who are writing books to smear President Bush. This could be just so much trash.

If this book were not being written by someone who has earned so much credibility as Ijaz, I would give you my unqualified agreement. Mansoor Ijaz has earned my respect with what he has already revealed having been so fully corroborated, so I am forced to disagree.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Bump for later reference.