Posted on 01/26/2006 11:16:59 PM PST by edpc
EST Iraqi General: Bin Laden Visited Baghdad
The Iraqi general who served as a top lieutenant to Saddam Hussein said Thursday that he personally witnessed Osama bin Laden inspecting Iraqi air force facilities in Baghdad.
Speaking in halting English, former Iraqi Gen. Georges Sada described the bin Laden visit to ABC Radio's Sean Hannity.
"I can make sure one thing - I know - I have seen by my eyes. It was in '84, '85, Osama bin Laden himself was coming to Iraqi air force headquarters."
Gen. Sada explained: "At that time he was looking for contracts to build air fields in Iraq."
The top Hussein lieutenant said he had no idea if the visit was part of any alliance between bin Laden and the Iraqi dictator. Bin Laden's 1984 trip to Baghdad has never before been revealed, though a 1998 visit during which the al Qaeda chief allegedly met with Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz was reported by the Weekly Standard two years ago.
In an interview that appeared in Thursday's New York Sun, Gen. Sada confirmed that Saddam had spirited his weapons of mass destruction out of the country before the U.S. invaded in March 2003.
"Saddam realized, this time, the Americans are coming," he told the Sun. "They handed over the weapons of mass destruction to the Syrians.”
Gen. Sada's allegations are detailed at length in his newly released book, "Saddam’s Secrets.”
I think this guy may just be looking for his 15 mins of fame. After all, he is promoting his book.
I'm skeptical.
So no one witness to anything or part of anything can reveal it if they are writting a book? Absurd. Anyone who writes a book wants to publicize it.
Thanks for the post edpc.
This isn't outlandish. Saudi Arabia supported Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War and that's probably why bin Laden was there.
I agree w/ that -- but where was this Iraqi general 3 years ago?
Three years ago today he was still head of the Iraqi airforce and one of Saddam's top guys.
hmm..Is he promoting the book from prison? Is he going to be charged with anything?
Nope, as I understand it he is free. Now you make me doubt my statement about where he was 3 years ago. We will soon know as he gets more ink and interviews. Thanks for your observation.
"They handed over the weapons of mass destruction to the Syrians.”This is the bigger story than a 1984 visit by OBL. In 1984, OBL wasn't even working for the DNC yet. Hadn't really started his anti-American campaigns yet.
I think this guy may just be looking for his 15 mins of fame. After all, he is promoting his book.
I'm skeptical
Call me skeptical, too. Having a former Iraqi general peddling his book on Fox News while Iraq's former rulers are on trial for various crimes is a little too bizarre for me.
What next, OBL caused Chernobyl?
Info bump here.
Not all oh SH officers were criminals. He states he was one of the officers that talked SH out of using WMD's on Israel. I may be wrong but I think he was retired before we went into Iraq in '03 but was recalled briefly during the 1st gulf war.
Seems like that was near the time Pakistan's nuclear "Walmart" represenative A. Q. Khan visited Saddam. Bin Laden probably didn't want to miss out on the nuke agreements or the sweet mint tea.
It wasn't until I read it worded like this that I perceived that we nmay be seeing an established Hussein behavior pattern:
Remember when (during Desert Shield/Desert Storm) Saddam saved the remainder of his air force by evacuating it to his "enemy", Iran?
It doesn't strike me as odd - nor should it. If OBL had visited the US over twenty years ago it wouldn't change the fact I wish his head put on a pike. It was such a different political world (for the US) two decades ago.""
If the world had stopped Hitler over 60 years ago, the world would be a different place also.
AND, the nutcase "elected" to be president of IRAN would not have a reason to run off at the mouth like he has rabies and verbal diarreha
Do you have some inside information to share with us?
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