Posted on 06/18/2004 5:22:58 AM PDT by anita
Edited on 06/18/2004 5:30:38 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (AP) - Russia gave the Bush administration intelligence that suggested Saddam Hussein's regime was preparing attacks against the United States and its interests abroad before the Iraq war, President Vladimir Putin said Friday.
Putin said he couldn't comment on how critical the Russians' information was in U.S. decision to invade Iraq. However, he said the intelligence didn't cause Russia to waver from its firm opposition to the war.
"Indeed, after Sept. 11, 2001, and before the start of the military operation in Iraq, the Russian special services ... received information that officials from Saddam's regime were preparing terrorist attacks in the United States and outside it against the U.S. military and other interests," Putin said.
"Despite that information about terrorist attacks being prepared by Saddam's regime, Russia's position on Iraq remains unchanged," Putin said.
Putin said Russia didn't have any information that Saddam's regime had actually been behind any terrorist acts.
I do love Putin. Many Years!
Yes, it confirms we do have information on Putin in the Oil for Food scandal. Nice to see him cooperating. I am certain that there is much more that he can and will do now.
Apparently, they are trying to spin this as Putin trying to help his buddy, George W. Bush.
Heck, it has to be true of our media says it, right?
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the international conference 'Eurasian Integration: Current Development Trends and Globalization Challenges' in Astana, June 18, 2004. Russia warned the United States on several occasions that Iraq's Saddam Hussein planned 'terrorist attacks' on its soil, Putin said. Photo by Itar-Tass/Reuters
Just looked at the story on Yapoo and peeked at the message board. Conspiracy theories are all over the place. The left has started it's hair pulling. LOL!
Top of the morning to you
The New York Times = USA Traitor, John Kerry = USA Traitor, entire Democrat Party = USA Traitor!!! You folks know what happens to traitors?
It's a lie; it has to be a lie; the media has to be right!!!
Rootin' tootin' Vladimir Putin!
And Putin is not the only one in my point of view that provided info. King Abdullah of Jordan provided info as well during his visit to the Texas ranch in 2002.
This story just made Fox news...Dana Lewis reporting.
Dana Lewis, Fox News just did a report on this story!
Friday news, all weekend to talk about it....after the commission is done..... slams the door on the dems... networks can't ignore it....
This is hilarious. I mean this is big time politics by some guys that are playing for keeps.
Repeat after me....."There is no connection."
By BAGILA BUKHARBAYEVA, Associated Press Writer
ASTANA, Kazakhstan - Russia gave the Bush administration intelligence after the September 11 attacks that suggested Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq was preparing attacks in the United States, President Vladimir Putin said Friday.
Putin said he couldn't comment on how critical the Russians' information was in the U.S. decision to invade Iraq. He said Russia didn't have any information that Saddam's regime was actually behind any terrorist acts.
"After Sept. 11, 2001, and before the start of the military operation in Iraq, the Russian special services, the intelligence service, received information that officials from Saddam's regime were preparing terrorist attacks in the United States and outside it against the U.S. military and other interests," Putin said.
He said President Bush personally thanked one of the leaders of Russia's intelligence agencies for the information. There was no immediate comment from U.S. officials.
"It's one thing to have information that Saddam's regime is preparing terrorist attacks, (but) we didn't have information that it was involved in any known terrorist attacks," Putin said in the Kazakh capital Astana after regional economic and security summits.
Putin said the intelligence didn't cause Russia to waver from its firm opposition to the war.
"Despite that information about terrorist attacks being prepared by Saddam's regime, Russia's position on Iraq remains unchanged," Putin said.
Putin didn't elaborate on any details of the terror plots or mention whether they were tied to the al-Qaida terror network.
A commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States reported this week that while there were contacts between al-Qaida and Iraq, they did not appear to have produced "a collaborative relationship."
President Bush, however, insisted Thursday that Saddam had "numerous contacts" with al-Qaida and said Iraqi agents had met with the terror network's leader, Osama bin Laden, in Sudan.
Saddam "was a threat because he had terrorist connections — not only al-Qaida connections, but other connections to terrorist organizations," Bush said.
Also Thursday, a top Russian diplomat called for international inspectors to conclusively resolve the question of whether Iraq had any weapons of mass destruction — one of the main reasons Bush used to justify the war. No such weapons have been found since Saddam's fall.
"This problem must be resolved ... because to a great extent it became the pretext for the start of the war against Iraq," Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said in Moscow, according to Interfax news agency.
He said such a finding would allow the U.N. Security Council to "turn a page and finally close the dossier on Iraqi weapons."
Can you imagine the reaction in the Kennedy compound, Kerry's house, little Tom's home etc when they get up this morning and hear this news... ? I'd bet Kerry cussed a blue streak!
RaceBannon would you please post your incredible index of the linkage between Iraq and al Qaeda, that the mediots and al Kerrorists are trying to hide from Americans.
Nothing, if the Clintons are any indication.
This is a nice baseball to use against the anti American Kerrorist Mediots trying to rewrite history.
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons." Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
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