[swarthyguy]

Circles within circles.

Milt Bearden's new book, The Main Enemy, written with James Risen an overview of Bearden's activities in the ColdWar talks about how both State and the CIA were correct in fingering Libya and Iran, respectively.

He quotes Qaddafi as sayiing "this is the way things are done, reponsibility, planning and logistics are split between parties, states and non states, multiple trails laid."

When asked about the ole SunniShia split, Qaddafi remarks that one can work even with an enemy to achieve a goal.

And then there's this nagging voice going, Saudi disinfo?

[swarthyguy]

Above in regards to PanAm103 Lockerbie.

[Angelus Errare]

It could easily be a little of both. If Iran had contact with or assisted the actual hijackers, the Saudis could have financed their operations once they reached the US. That has some rather interesting policy implications to it, since it implies that at the absolute least somebody in Riyadh or Tehran is in cahoots - though it does fit with what we know to date about Saudi and Iranian involvement with al-Qaeda.

I actually think that this whole "ideological disagreement" nonsense should have been thrown out the window the moment we learned that al-Qaeda made a deal with Charles Taylor, a nominally Christian despot, to help them out with the West African diamond trade.

And isn't it interesting that none of the Western news outlets are carrying the claims that this witness actually made?

[marron]

And then there's this nagging voice going, Saudi disinfo?

I don't think its either-or. We know that there has been a long list of coincidences involving Iraq and Osama's agents. We also know that with Afghanistan closed to them the remaining Al Qaedists have taken refuge in Pakistan and Iran. And we know that the primary sources of funding are Saudi, including Saudi Royals, including some in government.

So its important to put the pieces of the puzzle together but not for the point of figuring out if it was Iran, or Iraq, or Saudi Arabia, when there were elements of all three involved at various times.

We have our work cut out for us.