Posted on 09/28/2004 2:01:28 PM PDT by christie
.
1999 ABC News Report : The Osama - Hussein Connection
http://www.radioamerica.org/audio/MR_ABC-Osama-Hussein-connections.mp3
Here is a transcript of the linked MP3 file.
-- Sheila MacVicar, ABC News, January 14, 1999
'". . . [Mamdouh Mahmud] Salim, alleged to be a key military advisor and believed to be privy to bin Laden's most secret projects, is also apprehended. The US government alleges that he was under secret orders to procure enriched uranium for the purpose of developing nuclear weapons.
These are allegations bin Laden does not now deny. "It would be a sin for Muslims not to try to possess the weapons that would prevent the infidels from inflicting harm on Muslims, but how we could use these weapons if we possessed them is up to us.
With an American price on his head, there weren't many places bin Laden could go, unless he teamed up with another international pariah, one also with an interest in weapons of mass destruction. Osama believes in the 'enemy of my enemy is my friend, and someone I should cooperate with.' That is certainly the current case with Iraq. Saddam Hussein has a long history of harboring terrorists: Carlos the Jackal, Abu Nida, Abu Abbas. The most notorious terrorist of their era all found shelter and support at one time in Baghdad.
Intelligence sources say bin Laden's long relationship with the Iraqis began as he helped Sudan's fundamentalist government in their efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Three weeks after the bombing, on August 31st, bin Laden reaches out to his friends in Iraq and Sudan. Iraq's vice president arrives in Khartoon to show his support for the Sudanese after the US attack. ABC News has learned that during these meetings, senior Sudanese officials, acting on behalf of bin Laden, asked if Saddam Hussein would grant him asylum.
Iraq was indeed interested. ABC News has learned that in December, an Iraqi intelligence chief, named Farouk Hijazi, now Iraq's ambassador to Turkey, made a secret trip to Afghanistan to meet with bin Laden. Three intelligence agencies tell ABC News they cannot be certain what was discussed, but almost certainly, they say, bin Laden has been told he would be welcome in Baghdad.''
And intelligent sources say that they can only speculate on the purpose of an alliance. What could bin Laden offer Saddam Hussein? Only days after he meets Iraqi officials, bin Laden tells ABC news that his network is wide and there are people prepared to commit terror in his name who he does not even control.
'It's our job to incite and to instigate. By the grace of God, we have done that.'"
There is a link also on my site Connect the Dots . . . Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden
ping
great find
Well, that's not surprising. I knew that all along.
good find, but not that the media cares what it said way back then. Things said during the Bent One's time don't apply now.
I always enjoyed Sheila MacVicar's reporting. ABC axed her for some reason...I don't know if she's with any other network anymore.
Nice find - what made you do this? One would think that the Republicans would be all over this. Send this to Rush and Sean!
bump...
excellent. Thank you. I am emailing this to all my friends.
Someone send this Drudge and Hannity
Thanks so much for the ping, christie!
Connect-the-dots ping! Just wanted to make sure you have this for your archives...
Thanks! Just put it in my list.
Atta Girl!! A gold star for you!
Index bump.
Good catch I wonder if the news media needs a memory jog.
there is always the list of media outlet contacts located in my profile. . .
ping
Here's a mention by the MRC on MacVicar's report. From the link:
1. Nets Pounce on No bin Laden-Saddam Link, But Bush Believed Media The networks pounced Wednesday night on how the 9-11 Commission decided, as CNN’s David Ensor put it in echoing the commission’s exaggeration of administration claims, “the commission staff report says Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11 and backs that up with some evidence.” CBS’s John Roberts stressed how the commission undermined President Bush, describing the Iraq connection as “one of President Bush’s last surviving justifications for war in Iraq.” Roberts charged: “The report is yet another blow to the President’s credibility.” ABC’s Terry Moran proposed: “After the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq undermined President Bush’s main argument for going to war, this new finding by the 9-11 Commission challenges his case on another front.” Unmentioned by ABC, how maybe the Bush administration believed there was a bin Laden-Iraq connection because they believed ABC News. In 1999, ABC’s Sheila MacVicar trumpeted how “ABC News has learned that” a top Iraqi official “made a secret trip to Afghanistan to meet with bin Laden. Three intelligence agencies tell ABC News they cannot be certain what was discussed, but almost certainly, they say, bin Laden has been told he would be welcome in Baghdad.”
They don't care, but I don't mind reminding them.
I send to Drudge, he doesn't post!!!
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.