[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Page one....see Link for additional comments.

[joseph20]

I love that Editor's Note. Did they really have to add that? Sheesh. It's obvious what side they are on.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Blogs weigh in:

March 16, 2006
Unlocking History At Leavenworth

********************AN EXCERPT*******************************

The documents released by John Negroponte and hosted on a military website at Leavenworth promise to rewrite the long history of Iraq and its place in the war on terror. Just the first few documents have shown links between Saddam's regime and terrorism, including a strong reference to the 9/11 attack by Saddam's own intelligence service. ABC News has begun their own translation of the key documents, as have others in the blogosphere.

Let's start with the document that mentions 9/11, a report from the IIS regarding a conversation with a Taliban official:

Our source in Afghanistan No 11002 (for information about him see attachment 1) provided us with information that that Afghani Consul Ahmad Dahestani (for information about him see attachment 2) told him the following:

1. That Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban in Afghanistan are in contact with Iraq and it that previously a group from Taliban and Osama Bin Laden group visited Iraq.

2. That America has proof that the government of Iraq and Osama Bin Laden group have shown cooperation to hit target within America.

3. That in case it is proven the involvement of Osama Bin Laden group and the Taliban in these destructive operations it is possible that American will conduct strikes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

4. That the Afghani Consul heard about the subject of Iraq relation with Osama Bin Laden group during his stay in Iran.

5. In light of this we suggest to write to the Commission of the above information.

Please view… Yours… With regards

Signature:……, Initials : A.M.M, 15/9/2001

Foot note: Immediately send to the Chairman of Commission

Immediately after 9/11, the US suspected that al-Qaeda had masterminded the attacks, confirming it within days. Until the 20th, when Bush made his speech, the government had not clearly and publicly stated its position to the Taliban. However, the IIS reported four days after the fact that the Taliban believed the US had proof of cooperation between Iraq and Osama bin Laden to attack American targets. The Taliban went out of its way to warn Saddam that the US would retaliate against Iraq when we got the proof together. That explicitly shows cooperation between the two governments. Moreover, the same people who sheltered and sponsored Osama bin Laden turned immediately to Saddam after the attacks for coordination on their response. They would have had no reason to do so -- except knowing that Osama and Saddam had a working relationship in fostering terrorist attacks against America.

***************************************

See link for more...................

[sam_paine]

U gotta be kiddin me!

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

Maybe Bush has seemed confident all along that history would vindicate him because Bush has been confident all along that history would vindicate him.

[advance_copy]

ping

[advance_copy]

Also noting Saddam's interest in French political campaign finance laws. Seems obvious that this was an effort by Saddam to scope out a path for oil-for-food money into French campaigns, which would help ensure a veto on the UN Security Council.

[Echo Talon]

cBS will be all over this... LOL

[staytrue]

the french should rename their ruling political party to "bribes 'r us".

[Echo Talon]

Someone Ping Bill Maher and George Clooney :)

[DakotaRed]

Editor's Note: ~snip~ this document is of limited evidentiary value

Isn't this the same ABC news that all but danced for joy at Dan rather's forged documents about Bush's TANG attendance during the 04 campaign? Maybe if Bush had released them through a Kinkos they would have added credibility?

[BurbankKarl]

These guys are funny.....I read through some of these yesterday.....why doesnt Brian Ross interview me?

Do they really think they are the gatekeepers of information for the country?

I see that the new Media Myth is that Saddam and his cronies were talking about WMDS etc because they thought Israeli Intelligence would over hear, and not attack them thinking there would be retaliation.

Does ABC News focus on the repeated references to the friends of Russia and France helping Saddam out during the UN votes? Those transcripts were posted sometime today.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks for the ping!

http://www.up-ship.com/Stuff/Humor/hum065.gif

[1035rep]

Bookmark

[GiovannaNicoletta]

bookmark

[rod1]

The ract that ABC even shows it and then tries to discredit the information is a big step forward. it means they fell they can't igore it anymore with the blogspehere erupting. Now that it has been laid out by MSM outlets, the debate can REALLY begin.

[zip]

ping

[Coop]

The controversial claim that Osama bin Laden was cooperating with Saddam Hussein is an ongoing matter of intense debate.

Really? But the Democrats and media keep telling us that there's no evidence of any such relationship. What's to debate?

[mewzilla]

I've got a question: If the MSM finds anything really incendiary further linking AQ to Saddamn and/or WMD, will they release the info? Or will they spike it?

[IrishMike]

What WMD's ?

[SittinYonder]

Have you seen this?

[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.