ABCNews: New Documents from Saddam Hussein's Archives Discuss Bin Laden, WMDs

ABC News International ^ | March 17, 2006 | staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

U.S. Government Releases Papers From Saddam's Reign

March 16, 2006 — Following are the ABC News Investigative Unit's summaries of four of the nine Iraqi documents from Saddam Hussein's government, which were released by the U.S. government Wednesday.

The documents discuss Osama bin Laden, weapons of mass destruction, al Qaeda and more.

The full documents can be found on the U.S. Army Foreign Military Studies Office Web site: http://fmso.leavenworth.army.mil/products-docex.htm.

Note: Document titles were added by ABC News.

"Osama bin Laden and the Taliban"

Document dated Sept. 15, 2001

An Iraqi intelligence service document saying that their Afghani informant, who's only identified by a number, told them that the Afghani Consul Ahmed Dahastani claimed the following in front of him:

That OBL and the Taliban are in contact with Iraq and that a group of Taliban and bin Laden group members visited Iraq.
That the U.S. has proof the Iraqi government and "bin Laden's group" agreed to cooperate to attack targets inside America.

That in case the Taliban and bin Laden's group turn out to be involved in "these destructive operations," the U.S. may strike Iraq and Afghanistan.
That the Afghani consul heard about the issue of Iraq's relationship with "bin Laden's group" while he was in Iran.

At the end, the writer recommends informing "the committee of intentions" about the above-mentioned items. The signature on the document is unclear.

(Editor's Note: The controversial claim that Osama bin Laden was cooperating with Saddam Hussein is an ongoing matter of intense debate. While the assertions contained in this document clearly support the claim, the sourcing is questionable — i.e. an unnamed Afghan "informant" reporting on a conversation with another Afghan "consul." The date of the document — four days after 9/11 — is worth noting but without further corroboration, this document is of limited evidentiary value.)

"Election Campaign Laws in France"

Documents dated July-August 1999

Correspondence regarding election campaigns in France. This includes a document from the Iraqi intelligence service classified as "secret," ordering the translation of important parts of a 1997 report about campaign financing laws in France. It also includes a document from the foreign minister's office indicating the report was attached. The attached translated report included very detailed information about all the regulations regarding financing of election campaigns in France. Translation was done by someone called "Salam Abdul Karim Mohammed."

(Editor's Note: This is an intriguing document which suggests Saddam Hussein's regime had a strong interest in the mechanics and legalities of financial contributions to French politicians. Several former French politicians are implicated in receiving oil vouchers from Iraq under the U.N. Oil for Food program.)

[advance_copy]

And, of course, Drudge Report is all over this one... NOT.

[Matchett-PI]

bttt

[Ngamatapouri]

French!!!!!! thats why they invented perfume

[SittinYonder]

Have you seen this?

[eyespysomething]

ABCNews: New Documents from Saddam Hussein's Archives Discuss Bin Laden, WMDs,

Release of Classified PreWar Docs ping. If you want to be added or removed to the ping list, please Freepmail me.

Operation Iraqi Freedom Documents

[SittinYonder]

I love that Editor's Note

That editor's note is exactly why the MSM's days are numbered. The editor needs a kick in the b*lls.

The fact is, I saw "editor's note" and automatically skipped it in my reading ... your post made me go back up and read what it said.

[FlipWilson]

I am sorry folks. There was no link between Iraq and Al Queda and there were never ever any WMD's. The MSM and the far left (oh wait, what is the difference) have written that in stone and will NEVER EVER edit it. Even worse, the administration was content to let them write it, was caught flat footed as the partisan operatives in the CIA undermined them, and acquiesced to the "Bush lied people died" propaganda.

That it took so much time and pressure to get these documents and tapes released is simply astounding. These should have been released along with a concerted effort to refute those who believe and sold the notion that there were never WMD's and that America's enemies would never collaborate on an attack like 9/11 due to ideological differences. (If I had a dime for every time I heard how Al Queda would never collaborate with Saddam because they wanted to overthrow him. Just like we never would have collaborated with the Soviets to defeat Fascist Germany. Once the larger enemy was defeated, then we duked it out.) The notion of no collaboration between Iraq and Queda has is now taken as gospel and is ingrained in many a voter's mind (as is the no WMD's mantra).

It isn't too late for the Administration to actually inject a truth float into the MSM and dems fantasy parade. As a matter of fact, it is necessary as the latest trend from the dems is to downplay 9/11 as if it were an isolated event and not that big a deal in the larger scope of things. In other words, lets put our heads back in the sand like during the Clinton years.

But, the Administration needs a plan that is better than, "hey, lets just release these documents/tapes and the truth will get out via the MSM who truly have our, and the country's, bestest interests at heart." The MSM is welded to their Bush lied story line and having evidence of WMD's or Saddam's links to terrorism show up would be, at the least, inconvenient. As can be seen from the ABC editor's notes, they won't permit it. Moreover, they just won't report it as it does not move their agenda ahead. (Who can blame them really, as the MSM is a propaganda branch of the democrat party. Thus, why would they do anything to help the other party out?)

The Administration can't take a passive approach with these documents/tapes (autopilot seems to be the state of operation for this Administration lately on a wide variety of issues). They need to make everyone they can available for interviews to Fox, to Rush, to Sean, to whoever to discuss these documents. The President, God forbid, needs to set a new, new tone and thump the podium about these and call them what they are, EVIDENCE!!! Even better, how about an advertisement or two telling people who has really been lying while our soldiers have been dying.

[91B]

My hope is that if a member of the media finds it and the editors decide to spike it, someone would leak it to one of the big blogs (Heck even post it on FR).

That would completely destroy the MSM, and good riddance.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

There's a trophy photo that GI will be able to pass on to his grandchildren with pride.

[roses of sharon]

LOL, it matters not what the President says or does, or what documents say or don't say. The MSM will simply have a CIA source to counter whatever comes out.

The script has been written.

The MSM has even managed to purge the entire decade of the 90's to fit their hate Bush agenda, remember the hundreds of articles on Saddam, Iraq, OBL, WMD, UN sanctions, ect, all asking Clinton to take out Saddam, bring democracy, to get rid of the threat of WMD, ect.

Time mag even quotes Bob Graham, Dem chairman of the intell committee, after 9/11, SAYING that they had credible evidence that Iraq was on the list.

The only thing left is revenge, the MSM must die, and we must destroy them.

[GianniV]

Did the DNC or George Clooney write that Editor's Note?

[GianniV]

They had to include that Editor's Note. Do you know how many angry liberals are driving around with "Bush Lied" bumper stickers? It would take forever to get those off of their Volvos.

[Dan(9698)]

While the "Editor's Note" is very dismissive, you've just gotta know that this is a warning shot from the Administration.

Why would this be a "warning shot FROM the Administration"?

This is the usual "Journalist" take on anything that conflicts with the Democrat talking points.

[rdcorso]

The media appears as if it would rather destroy itself than admit the president was right.I can't wait to see the reaction of the democrats who screamed the loudest that president Bush lied about Iraq's WMDs.Will they cut off their penis like the media or will they admit they made a mistake?The truth will come out eventually as long as the republicans stick to their guns.

[Echo Talon]

LOL! I think you could stuff a crate of chemical weapons up their backside and they would still deny it.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well said!

[pointsal]

GOLLY SAKES

I am smiling...THANKS

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

For ABC News, Unnamed Sources are Questionable. Sometimes.

[HardStarboard]

>>> .....Bush has been confident all along that history would vindicate him.<<<

The "poker player" gives his detractors little peek at his hole cards.

Stay tuned!

[cwb]

Exactly! What's so ironic about all of this is that it was the MSM that originally carried the ball on all these claims...long before Bush even came into office. Yet, they not only have the nerve to call Bush a liar, they've completely exonerated themselves in the role they played in promoting these stories.

Their bias and hatred is so deep, that they can't even accept that they may have been right, right from the start. There is some sick pathology at work here that the MSM would rather continue to destroy Bush...with a lie, than rehabilitate their own image, which is even in worse shape than Bush's. This is the same media that will rely on the most suspect of sources when it resolves to the detriment of Bush...yet, will blindly discard any source that exculpates him. These people are some sick individuals were bias is the least of their problems.