German spy chief sees al Qaeda regrouping (says Iraq imported chemicals to make WMD's before war)

Yahoo News ^ | July 23 2003 | Reuters

[knighthawk]

BERLIN (Reuters) - The head of Germany's foreign intelligence agency was quoted on Wednesday as saying al Qaeda was regrouping and still posed a threat.

August Hanning, head of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), also told the Muenchner Merkur newspaper he believed that both ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda head Osama bin Laden were still alive.

Hanning said German intelligence believed bin Laden was hiding in the border region between Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Pakistan and his al Qaeda network, which Washington blames for the September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities, was preparing for new action.

"Al Qaeda is weakened but still able to act," he told the newspaper. "Al Qaeda is busy building up new structures. The network is trying to reestablish itself, particularly in Afghanistan, Pakistan and southeast Asia."

Hanning warned against jumping to conclusions about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq -- still not discovered three months after Saddam's overthrow -- noting that the necessary materials for chemical weapons were imported before the war.

"These chemicals have still not been found. We are still asking ourselves where these substances are. Before the war there were loads of facts that made us suspicious. This suspicion continues up until today," he said.

[knighthawk]

Iraq has mobile 'bioweapons labs' (German intelligence service believes)

[knighthawk]

Hanning warned against jumping to conclusions about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq -- still not discovered three months after Saddam's overthrow -- noting that the necessary materials for chemical weapons were imported before the war.

"These chemicals have still not been found. We are still asking ourselves where these substances are. Before the war there were loads of facts that made us suspicious. This suspicion continues up until today," he said.

Middle East list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[knighthawk]

Connected to the German mobile labs:

Australian PM Howard claims weapons proof

AT least one of three vehicle trailers found by the US military in Iraq was a mobile biological weapons platform, John Howard said yesterday.

The Prime Minister's claim was the first official confirmation by a coalition political leader that suspected vehicle trailers had actually been used to produce weapons of mass destruction.

After weeks of intense speculation about the use of the vehicle trailers, Mr Howard told parliament that confirmation of a third suspect mobile weapons platform had come from US and British intelligence agencies.

[My2Cents]

I guess Pres. Bush can't quote Australian intelligence sources....I suspect it's only a matter of time before the US issues a comprehensive report on Saddam's WMD program, with discussion of where the weapons went, those that remained in the country, and what Iraq's capability was to produce WMD had the Coalition not take the matter into their own hands. Bottom line: the world is safer today because Saddam's regime has been replaced.

[driftless]

Based on recent incidents, I assume that the libs will call Bush a liar if he quotes Howard. I'm still trying to understand how they called him a liar because he repeated what British intel told us. Tim Russert, who I usually respect, was all atwitter on Imus's show last week about the "lie". For the life of me I can't understand how they can confuse what Brit intel told us (and still stands by) and what the CIA said which Bush didn't even mention. And whatever he said in the SOTU speech, he said it after congress had approved the war resolution. Russert went down a step in my respect for him.

[dixiechick2000]

knighthawk, I believe I read almost a year ago that Iraq purchased the mobile labs from Germany so, surely, they would know about them.

If I am wrong about that, I'm sure someone will correct me.;o)

[My2Cents]

The reason the leftists called it a "lie" is because they have no ability to discern the truth. To the morally ambivalent, whatever they disagree with is a "lie," and conversely, the "truth" is whatever supports their agenda.

[knighthawk]

No, you are right:

Germany provided chemical, biological warfare mobile labs to Iraq in the late 80's
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/845369/posts

[squidly]

Hanning warned against jumping to conclusions about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq

Thanks, but I'd rather run around like a ninny screaming WHERE'S THE WMD... BUSH LIED.... WHERE'S THE WMD??

*sarcasm*

[dixiechick2000]

Thank you so much! I thought I had read that, but couldn't remember where.

You are a gem!;o)

[Monty22]

Sharon said this stuff all went to Syria before the war.

I believe him.

[SandRat]

Calling the 9 DemoRatDwarfs, calling the 9 DemoRatDwarfs, calling the alpoMedia, calling the alpoMedia -- have any of you read this?

No!?

Now that you've read it will you tell the American people the truth?

NO!?

Why am I not surprised, it points out exactly who really lies.

[GOPJ]

bump

[knighthawk]

as always: At your service!