THE RAW DEAL: Kerry's Shifting Position On Iraq's Ties To Terrorism

George W. Bush ^ | October 5, 2004

[RWR8189]

"John Kerry today contradicted the conclusions of the 9/11 Commission, the Senate Intelligence Report and the Butler Report in denying that contacts existed between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. John Kerry has said in the past that Saddam Hussein supported terrorists and called him a 'grave danger.' Now, he is trying to claim that the removal of Saddam Hussein has left the world 'less secure.' John Kerry's incoherence on the security issues facing our country calls into question his ability to lead our nation in the War on Terror."

- Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

The 9/11 Commission:

Vice Chair Of The 9/11 Commission Lee Hamilton (D-IN): "[T]here Were Contacts Between Al Qaeda And Iraq Going Back Clear To The Early 1990s When Osama Bin Laden Was In Sudan, Then When He Was In Afghanistan. I Don't Think There's Any Dispute About That." (ABC's "This Week," 6/20/04)

In Sudan, Bin Laden Began Developing A "Global Terrorist Network" Including "Leaders Or Representatives Of Terrorist Organizations" In Iraq. ("The 9/11 Commission Report," National Commission On Terrorist Attacks Upon The United States, 7/04, p. 58)

9/11 Commission Detailed Number Of Contacts And Relationship-Building Measures Between Iraq And Al Qaeda In Late 1990s:

• In 1997, "Bin Ladin Sent Out A Number Of Feelers To The Iraqi Regime, Offering Some Cooperation." ("The 9/11 Commission Report," National Commission On Terrorist Attacks Upon The United States, 7/04, p. 66)
• In 1998, "Two Al Qaeda Members Reportedly Went to Iraq" And "An Iraqi Delegation Traveled To Afghanistan To Meet First With The Taliban And then With Bin Ladin." ("The 9/11 Commission Report," National Commission On Terrorist Attacks Upon The United States, 7/04, p. 66)
• "According To The Reporting, Iraqi Officials Offered Bin Ladin A Safe Haven In Iraq. Bin Ladin Declined, Apparently Judging That His Circumstances In Afghanistan Remained More Favorable Than The Iraqi Alternative." ("The 9/11 Commission Report," National Commission On Terrorist Attacks Upon The United States, 7/04, p. 66)

The Senate Intelligence Committee Report:

CIA "Reasonably Assessed" Contacts Between Iraq And Al Qaeda. "The Central Intelligence Agency reasonably assessed that there were likely several instances of contacts between Iraq and al-Qaida throughout the 1990s, but that these contacts did not add up to an established formal relationship." ("Report On The U.S. Intelligence Community's Prewar Intelligence Assessments On Iraq," Senate Select Committee On Intelligence, 7/7/04, p. 346)

CIA's Conclusion That Iraq Gave "Safehaven" To Al Qaeda "Was Reasonable." "The Central Intelligence Agency's assessment on safehaven - that al-Qaida or associated operatives were present in Baghdad and in northeastern Iraq in an area under Kurdish conrol - was reasonable." ("Report On The U.S. Intelligence Community's Prewar Intelligence Assessments On Iraq," Senate Select Committee On Intelligence, 7/7/04, p. 347)

The British Parliamentary Inquiry ("Butler Report"):

Butler Report Found "Evidence Of An Association Between The Iraqi Regime And Al Qaida." "There was, however, other evidence of an association between the Iraqi regime and Al Qaida. Contacts between Al Qaida and the Iraqi Directorate General of Intelligence had dated back over four years. 'Fragmentary and uncorroborated' intelligence reports suggested that in 1998 there were contacts between Al Qaida and Iraqi intelligence. Those reports described Al Qaida seeking toxic chemicals as well as other conventional terrorist equipment. Some accounts suggested that Iraqi chemical experts may have been in Afghanistan during 2000. But in November 2001, the JIC concluded that: '... there is no evidence that these contacts led to practical co-operation; we judge it unlikely because of mutual mistrust.'" (Lord Butler Of Brockwell, "Review Of Intelligence On Weapons Of Mass Destruction," Report Of A Committee Of Privy Counsellors To The House Of Commons, 7/14/04, p. 119)

Al Zarqawi Was Given Safe Haven And Medical Treatment In Baghdad After Fleeing U.S. And Coalition Forces In Afghanistan. "Following the expulsion of Al Qaida from Afghanistan and their arrival in northern Iraq, Abu Musab al Zarqawi (a senior Al Qaida figure) was relatively free to travel within Iraq proper and to stay in Baghdad for some time. Several of his colleagues visited him there." (Lord Butler Of Brockwell, "Review Of Intelligence On Weapons Of Mass Destruction," Report Of A Committee Of Privy Counsellors To The House Of Commons, 7/14/04, p. 120)

Intelligence Indicates Numerous Meetings And Contacts Between Iraq And Al Qaeda. "In October 2002, the JIC said that: 'Although Saddam's attitude to Al Qaida has not always been consistent, he has generally rejected suggestions of cooperation. Intelligence nonetheless indicates that ... meetings have taken place between senior Iraqi representatives and senior Al Qaida operatives. Some reports also suggest that Iraq may have trained some Al Qaida terrorists since 1998. Al Qaida has shown interest in gaining chemical and biological (CB) expertise from Iraq, but we do not know whether any such training was provided. We have no intelligence of current cooperation between Iraq and Al Qaida and do not believe that Al Qaida plans to conduct terrorist attacks under Iraqi direction.'" (Lord Butler Of Brockwell, "Review Of Intelligence On Weapons Of Mass Destruction," Report Of A Committee Of Privy Counsellors To The House Of Commons, 7/14/04, p. 120)

[FormerLib]

Any chance you could post the Kerry quotes to which he is referring? That would bring it all full circle, I think.

[tomnbeverly]

Absolutely excellent ... why isn't this up on a chart board tonight so it can be discussed.... Also regarding Haliburton... I would love this response. VP - " saying that I profited from Haliburton contracts in Iraq is like saying that Heinz Kerry foundations knew they were funding terrorist organizations around the world", pause.... just ludacris. End of discussion.