Atta didn't meet with Iraqi intelligence agent as once alleged

Associated Press ^ | 4-30-02 | JOHN J. LUMPKIN

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON (AP) --

[Rustynailww]

no need to go after iraq afterall.

[Shermy]

This Michael Isikoff "story" popping up again, as discussed at:

Czech Officials Say Story That Atta Met with Iraqi Agent in Prague May Be Wrong (4/28)

[Nogbad]

I will begin to believe
we know the facts about this story
(and others like it)
when the source is a named high government official,
preferably George W. Bush.

[Leto]

Why we investigated a report passed on by the Czeck goverment that Atta was in Prague and found out the information was incorrect. Where is the problem? What should we have done?

[Hans]

This is not believable. The Czech's filmed Atta's meeting with the Iraqi General.

[Leto]

We should go after Iraq. They blocked and ultimatly kicked out the UN Inspectors in violation of the agreement ending the Gulf War. Clinton should have taken out Saddam already but... Now Bush will have to do the job. End of Story, whether Atta was connected to Iraqui Intel or not is irrelevant.

[Coop]

Looks like he didn't learn from Pappy's mistakes.

Seems to me President "Pappy" Bush waited 5 1/2 months to get forces in place, then beat the living tar out of Iraq's "formidable" army. Didn't seem like a mistake to me, and I was over there.

Oh wait, let me guess. You're now going to say that it was a mistake leaving Hussein in power (which has absolutely nothing to do with your initial point about delays), aren't you? President Bush the Elder gave his word that we'd limit our attack to removing Iraq from Kuwait. He kept his promise. A lot of us wished we could have continued and destroyed Hussein, but I respected the President's decision and his work in putting together that coalition.

[LarryLied]

Looks like he didn't learn from Pappy's mistakes.

And what mistakes were those?

[mombonn]

Your screen name and your disparaging of the Presidents Bush lead me to believe you are a fan of the IMPEACHED ex-president.

[Travis McGee]

The fact that this story was leaked to "no stained dress" Isikoff, tame info stooge and designated "reliable" leak taker, makes it suspect.

Even more suspect is the timing. Why now? Why are these supposed "inside intelligence" stories suddenly deemed important to leak to the public? Why right now?

Probably to counteract the effects of these stories:

"Homegrown Anthrax Theory Debunked".

[wheezer]

President Bush the Elder gave his word that we'd limit our attack to removing Iraq from Kuwait. He kept his promise. A lot of us wished we could have continued and destroyed Hussein, but I respected the President's decision and his work in putting together that coalition.

Thanks for making those important points.

Too many people have taken to characterizing the non-elimination of Saddam by Bush Sr. as a mistake, or a sign of weakness, when it was simply living up to one's word, as pledged, to all the parties involved.

[KC_Conspirator]

I agree with you. Notice how these claims have all of a sudden popped up? I think that this story has been leaked by the sissy state department again, who are against standing up to dictators but love placating them. The reason I say this is because (of course) no officials have been named, which always seems to be the calling card of enabling state department officials who speak to the Washington ComPost and the New York Slimes.

[Mitchell]

I have no idea whether Atta really met with an Iraqi agent or not, and I wouldn't be surprised if we never know. Intelligence agencies usually don't release information; when they do, they don't release enough information to enable a judgment of its truth or falsity to be made. They're always afraid of releasing information that they didn't intend to release (surveillance methods used, identities of informers, etc.).

[Mitchell]

I think you are correct; the timing is very suggestive.

[piasa]

Yup. They keep trying to debunk Atta's visit, but Atta was there more than one time. And if I remember correctly, he wasn't the only person associated with al Qeada to spend time in Czechoslavakia.

I will look back over my files. Did you see the other thread I flagged you to?

[Travis McGee]

Intelligence services, or particular officers or factions within them, do not just take these spy vs spy stories to their pet journalists without a specific motive.

I was listening to Ollie North last night. As you can imagine, he has very strong sourced in the Pentagon and elsewhere. He says that what is going on with stories such as the invasion of Iraq plans and timeline being leaked is that Clinton appointed pacifists and anti-Americans in the Pentagon and intelligence agencies and State Dept are doing their very best to sabotage and prevent such an attack by leaking everything they read or hear about the planning.

If so, they should be marched to a wall and shot.

[Nogbad]

I have no idea
whether Atta really met
with an Iraqi agent or not,
and I wouldn't be surprised
if we never know.

I expect
that on the eve of an attack on Iraq
there would be a dramatic speech
from the White House
in which many details of these meetings
would be made public.

(Just as we saw those photos of the missile silos
during the Cuban missile crisis.)