Terrorist Behind September 11 Strike was Trained by Saddam

The Telegraph ^ | December 14, 2003 | Con Coughlin

[quidnunc]

Iraq's coalition government claims that it has uncovered documentary proof that Mohammed Atta, the al-Qaeda mastermind of the September 11 attacks against the US, was trained in Baghdad by Abu Nidal, the notorious Palestinian terrorist.

Details of Atta's visit to the Iraqi capital in the summer of 2001, just weeks before he launched the most devastating terrorist attack in US history, are contained in a top secret memo written to Saddam Hussein, the then Iraqi president, by Tahir Jalil Habbush al-Tikriti, the former head of the Iraqi Intelligence Service.

The handwritten memo, a copy of which has been obtained exclusively by the Telegraph, is dated July 1, 2001 and provides a short resume of a three-day "work programme" Atta had undertaken at Abu Nidal's base in Baghdad.

In the memo, Habbush reports that Atta "displayed extraordinary effort" and demonstrated his ability to lead the team that would be "responsible for attacking the targets that we have agreed to destroy".

The second part of the memo, which is headed "Niger Shipment", contains a report about an unspecified shipment — believed to be uranium — that it says has been transported to Iraq via Libya and Syria.

Although Iraqi officials refused to disclose how and where they had obtained the document, Dr Ayad Allawi, a member of Iraq's ruling seven-man Presidential Committee, said the document was genuine.

"We are uncovering evidence all the time of Saddam's involvement with al-Qaeda," he said. "But this is the most compelling piece of evidence that we have found so far. It shows that not only did Saddam have contacts with al-Qaeda, he had contact with those responsible for the September 11 attacks."

-snip-

[alnick]

I always thought that it looked like the glove fit him too. He spread his fingers apart to make it seem as though it was tight.

[Political Junkie Too]

Plus, he was wearing a pair of thin latex gloves over which he put on the other glove.

-PJ

[lentulusgracchus]

Interesting poster our guys found.

Can anyone read the Arabic legend? That might tell us what is being shown here besides Saddam smoking a cigar while the World Trade Center burns. I'm very interested in a translation.

[lentulusgracchus]

Seems that the Syrian president has some explaining to do

Yeah, no kidding. And I thought he was such a nice kid....

"Oh, Ruuuucyyyyyy.....You got some 'splainin' to dooo!"

[lentulusgracchus]

Hillary must be having a hissy-fit! Oh, to see her head spin!

As long as she doesn't start spewing pea soup at the same time.

That always creeps me out.

[lentulusgracchus]

BREAKING NEWS -- CBS NEWS IS BREAKING WITH REPORTS THAT IRAQI SOURCES ARE SAYING WE'VE CAPTURED SADDAM.........

REPEAT, IRAQIS ARE SAYING WE'VE BAGGED SADDAM!!!!

U.S. MILITARY GIVING OUT BIG FAT "NO COMMENT"!!

YEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

[knighthawk]

Iraq's coalition government claims that it has uncovered documentary proof that Mohammed Atta, the al-Qaeda mastermind of the September 11 attacks against the US, was trained in Baghdad by Abu Nidal, the notorious Palestinian terrorist.

Middle East list

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

[MeekOneGOP]

Major operative or the likes would have been a better way to phrase it, I suppose. But that there is a link in any form is major.

Saddam captured now ! Just on the news early this morning ! Yay !

[Calpernia]

Ping (sorry if they are double pings...I'm behind in news)

[yoe]

Halleluiah and Amen!!

[Paul Ross]

The RAT cretins have also been piling all over themselves saying there was no uranium shipped illegally to Iraq. Nope, not from Niger. Logistically impossible. Affirmed by an 'expert' who was sent to sip lemonade in Niger and run up the expense account.

[truthandlife]

THIS GUY WAS NO NBC NEWS THIS MORNING WITH TOM BROKAW!!!!!!!!! I DON'T THINK BROKAW THOUGHT THIS GUY WAS GOING TO BRING THIS UP. THIS IS A HUGE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[truthandlife]

I know that Saddam's capture is important but this story might not even make it on the news landscape if people don't start talking about it. This is just as important as Saddam's capture. Please everyone you know needs to BUMP.

[MEG33]

Tom Brokaw had the author on NBC and interviewed him this morning!We are aware!

[Quilla]

BUMP!

[armymarinemom]

Does Drudge have the flu or has he just turned Anti-American? He has been sleeping on this story all night and was the last one to report Saddam's capture.

[tutstar]

bttt

[MeekOneGOP]

Yet another Bush LIE !
There is NO link to Saddam and 9-11 !
None whatsoever !!!

[Sockdologer]

Bumped!

[hellinahandcart]

Start with this one, okay?