Posted on 03/08/2003 3:51:54 PM PST by blam
C.I.A. Warns U.S. Troops of Attacks in Iraq by Terror Groups
Sat Mar 8, 2:58 PM ET
By THOM SHANKER and DAVID JOHNSTON The New York Times
WASHINGTON, March 8 The Central Intelligence Agency has warned that terrorists based in Iraq are planning attacks against American and allied forces inside the country after any invasion, government counterterrorism officials say.
The agency's previously undisclosed assessment has circulated among senior Bush administration officials. It describes both the risks of terror attacks on American forces inside Iraq if an invasion occurs and the danger of similar attacks on troops already massing in the region.
The assessment goes beyond the threat posed by Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s military forces, predicting for the first time that groups that the Bush administration has said are given haven by Mr. Hussein's government may become engaged in the war, even if Iraq's military is defeated and the government overthrown. The administration has said that terrorists operating inside Iraq are affiliated with Al Qaeda, and that they are either tolerated by the Baghdad government or are based in parts of the country where the government exercises little control.
The conclusions are based on recently collected intelligence in the form of intercepted communications, "glimpses" of four to eight midlevel Qaeda operatives said to have been spotted in Iraq and an analysis of the organization's prior tactics, according to administration officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
Why just yesterday there was no grounds for the US to attack Iraq. Now terrorists Iraq doen't know are going to kill Americans and Brits with WMD that Iraq doesn't have.
I grow weary of the constant drumbeat of fear, this is worse than 1991 when there were more unknowns and more iraqis.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.