Rumsfeld: I was Misunderstood. Ties Existed between Al Qaeda and Iraq. {Correcting MSM Bias}

U.S. Department of Defense ^ | 2004.10.4 | Donald H. Rumsfeld

[TeleStraightShooter]

No. 990-04 IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 4, 2004 A Statement From Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld

A question I answered today at an appearance before the Council on Foreign Relations regarding ties between Al Qaeda and Iraq regrettably was misunderstood.

I have acknowledged since September 2002 that there were ties between Al Qaeda and Iraq.

This assessment was based upon points provided to me by then CIA Director George Tenet to describe the CIA's understanding of the Al Qaeda-Iraq relationship.

Today at the Council, I even noted that "when I'm in Washington, I pull out a piece of paper and say 'I don't know, because I'm not in that business, but I'll tell you what the CIA thinks,' and I read it."

The CIA conclusions in that paper, which I discussed in a news conference as far back as September, 2002, note that:

* We do have solid evidence of the presence in Iraq of al Qaeda members, including some that have been in Baghdad.

* We have what we consider to be very reliable reporting of senior level contacts between Iraq and Al Qaeda going back a decade, and of possible chemical and biological agent training.

* We have what we believe to be credible information that Iraq and al Qaeda have discussed safe haven opportunities in Iraq.

* We have what we consider to be credible evidence that al Qaeda leaders have sought contacts in Iraq who could help them acquire weapons of mass destruction capabilities.

* We do have one report indicating that Iraq provided unspecified training relating to chemical and/or biological matters for al Qaeda members.

I should also note that the 9/11 Commission report described linkages between Al Qaeda and Iraq as well.

[AmishDude]

I happened to be listening to NPR (rare event) and the BBC World News was having orgasms about this. I noticed that they "quoted him" but didn't have a soundbyte. It actually sounded strange because that kind of radio report would always cut to a soundbyte.

[TeleStraightShooter]

Keen observation of the partisan media hacking things up.
Over in the UK, it's an above-the-table fact that the BBC is a left-justified media organ.

NPR is a disingenuous when it claims to be independent.

[Rosie405]

The administration has been woefully inadequate in making this argument, but it is common sense to many Americans. Now I fear it is too late. They could find the biggest stockpile of weapons know to mankind over there now and the MSM would still accuse Bush of lying about it, and "October surprise."

[alpowolf]

It would be nice if the Bush admin could decide just which BS story they're going to tell. You would think that by now they would have the party line straight on this issue.

[snuffy smiff]

the traitor known as kerry has more lies than even Anklepants himself

how do his supporters keep up with it all?

oh yeah that's right-liberal dems will swallow anything

as long as it's directed by the transcribers formerly known as the MSM

[chuckles]

Try www.cspan.org. I believe I got the quote surfing through Fox, MSNBC,CNBC, but can't remember. They show a 2 min. clip of him saying "NO LINK". I just heard it again on MSNBC, but they did not say he had made a correction. If there is a correction, he will have to sue to get them to broadcast it. Maybe after 20 more playings of the clip they might.

[rwfromkansas]

You must not have seen the same soudbyte I saw.