Smoking in the Background - The Bush administration sits on some telling documents (Saddam's Iraq).

NRO ^ | December 21, 2005 | Deroy Murdock

[neverdem]

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December 21, 2005,

4:25 p.m.

Smoking in the Background

The Bush administration sits on some telling documents.

President Bush’s recent speeches and media appearances defending the Iraq war are welcome and much-needed. They also seem to be paying dividends. Support for his handling of Iraq stood at 46 percent, up 10 points since November, in a December 15–18 ABC News/Washington Post poll. Nevertheless, Team Bush still fails to deploy readily available ammunition to combat those who demand America’s retreat from Iraq.

On two key fronts — Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction and his generous support for Islamofascist terrorists — the Bush administration maddeningly conceals evidence that justifies the president’s decision to topple Hussein. This information should be rolled out to counteract the destructive arguments of Democratic chief Howard Dean, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senator John Kerry, and other Bushophobes who relentlessly carpet-bomb American efforts in Iraq.

Stephen Hayes reveals the latest squandered opportunities in the December 19 Weekly Standard. Hayes — the pioneering author of The Connection: How al Qaeda’s Collaboration with Saddam Hussein Has Endangered America — reportshere, here, and here on the Pentagon papers. These mainly unclassified Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) materials implicate Hussein’s government in multifarious mischief. Much of it violated Article H, Clause 32 of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, which prohibited Baghdad from supporting or associating with terrorists. The Pentagon’s HARMONY database identifies these memos, photographs, videotapes, and other records via highly tantalizing summaries:

“Possible al Qaeda Terror Members in Iraq”

“Money Transfers from Iraq to Afghanistan”

“Improvised Explosive Devices Plan”

“Chemical Agent Purchase Orders (Dec. 2001)”

“Correspondence between various Iraq organizations giving instructions to hide chemicals and equipment”

“Title: Order from Saddam Hussein to present $25k to Palestinian Suicide Bombers’ Families

Short Description: Order from Saddam to give money to suicide bombers’ families, letters from al-Kilani Said Ahmed, a leader of the National Islamic Front in Afghanistan (and who used to receive payments from Saddam).

Agency: DIA

Document Date: Mar-02

Document #: ISGP-2003-00014647”

“Category: Al Qaida

Title: Letters, logbook, training manual from Al Qaida Chemical Plant regarding Chem Warfare

Short Description: Contains papers concerning Iraqi officials, prices of equipment, training plans, and actions by high level officers all concerning chemical warfare

Agency: DIA

Document Date: Feb-02

Document #: ICSQ-2003-00025586”

“Title: IIS Correspondence for the Iraq Embassy in the Philippines and Iraqi MFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs].

Short Description: Various correspondence e.g. visa forms, trade delegations, full reports on the connections between Abu Sayaf and the Qadafi Charity Establishment. Report on a certain individual traveling to Pakistan and involvements with bin Laden.

Agency: DIA

Document Date: Mar-01

Document #: ISGP-2003-00014100”

“Does the correspondence between the Iraqi Embassy in Manila and the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs shed any new light on the $25 million ransom that Muammar Qaddafi paid Abu Sayyaf in the summer of 2000, ostensibly to secure the release of 25 Westerners held hostage by the Filipino al Qaeda affiliate?” Hayes wonders. “Who traveled to Pakistan? What was his involvement with bin Laden? Did he have anything to do with the Iraqi government?”

The following text might offer answers:

*“Title: Secret Meeting with Taliban Group member and Iraqi Government

Short Description: Mtg between al Qaida and Iraqi government and decision to operate

Agency: DIA

Document Date: Nov-00

Document #: ISGP-2003-00014127”

So, a record dated ten months before 9/11 indicates that Saddam Hussein’s employees clandestinely met Taliban and al Qaeda agents regarding a “decision to operate.” Meditate on that.

According to documents Hayes cites, the former director of Iraq’s Intelligence Directorate 4 met bin Laden on February 19, 1995. Baghdad considered bin Laden an “Iraqi intelligence asset” as far back as 1992, one communiqué reads. After bin Laden left Sudan for Afghanistan in May 1996, Hussein wanted “other channels through which to handle the relationship, in light of his [bin Laden’s] current location.” The Iraqi intelligence memo continued: “Cooperation between the two organizations should be allowed to develop freely through discussion and agreement.”

Naturally, the White House and Pentagon are busy defending Bush’s policies by translating and authenticating these and similar records and promoting them among congressional and journalistic supporters and detractors.

Wrong!

The Bush administration inexplicably suppresses such papers. They reject requests for unclassified files from Hayes, America’s most broadly published expert on Hussein’s terrorist credentials. Hayes, who generally supports the president on Iraq, is flummoxed: “The Bush administration seems remarkably uninterested in discovering, now that we have reams of material from Saddam’s regime, what the actual terror-related and WMD-related activities of that regime were.”

Incredibly, the Pentagon’s Doc-Ex, or document exploitation project, may close December 31. Its roughly 700 translators in Doha, Qatar have analyzed 50,000 items among some two million captured in Iraq. This public-diplomacy treasure trove could remain hidden from the public. Far worse, intelligence data on potential mass-murder conspiracies may stay unread until after a Baathist-inspired attack kills more Americans or our allies.

The White House should pump up the volume and showcase these papers. Even now, proof that Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction and sponsored terrorist butchers, including Osama bin Laden, will demonstrate the necessity of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The alternative is to keep this vital evidence under wraps and hope that Howard Dean and the Congressional Defeat Caucus quietly disappear.

— Deroy Murdock is a New York-based syndicated columnist with the Scripps Howard News Service and a senior fellow with the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. His research on Baathist terrorist philanthropy is at www.HUSSEINandTERROR.com.

	http://www.nationalreview.com/murdock/murdock200512211625.asp

[cookcounty]

"I have my doubts that these documents are very damning at all. "

That's my take as well. Even though they've translated only 2%, you can be sure they were not translated randomly. They've pretty much got all that's there and while circumstantially an argument, a good argument, can be made, that is not good enough for the press. They would require a smoking A-bomb, or maybe two, in case the first was just a fluke.

[cookcounty]

" "Could they be saving ammunition for the 2006 election ?"

I doubt it. Then again, it's said Bush wasknown as the best poker player at Yale.

[Lancer_N3502A]

Because of who all's involved. France, Germany, Spain, Russia, China, Syria, Iran, North Korea, etc.

Imagine what would happen if we exposed France, Germany and Russia as having helped Iraq develop a whole new line of WMDs while Clinton stood by and did nothing. Alot of alliances would crumble. Not that I'd shed any tears on some, but we're gonna need the EU AND Russia in the coming war with China.

It would also reveal what we really know and how we know it. Could get alot of deep cover operatives killed.

Of special note is that more terrorist attacks occurred against the United States during the Clinton years than any other President in history. And Slick Willy did little or nothing about it, except take a payoffs from the UN.

[Pagey]

Read tomorrow BUMP!

[Once-Ler]

The Bush administration inexplicably suppresses such papers.

I think one reason the Bush Administration is not making the case for the Iraq war is there is not much advantage in do it at this time. The people who support the war today vastly out number those who do not. These reports are unlikely to sway liberals who believe all war is wrong and Bush's war doubly so. Moderates are not watching news and conservatives already support Dubya or oppose the war for reasons of a conspiracy of freemasons, communists, corporations, media, and all but a handful of politicians.

Taken to an extreme I'm not sure I would want irrefutable proof that WMD exist in Iraq, or the DNA remain of Bin Laden, if I was fighting this war. The vindication would be nice, but it would lead to an backhanded apology and a demand by the UN and our good allies France, Germany, Syria, and Saudi Arabia to get involved with reconstruction. Because of the unpopularity of the war outside of the US the terrorist have less access to the future of the Middle East.

I think these reports will be much more effective and convincing coming from the democratically elected government of Iraq. Maybe in about 10 months in an official report from Iraq intelligence a couple days before Saddam is executed.

[neverdem]

Crossing the Delaware, the Tigris, and the Euphrates - 1776 and 2003.

From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. IMHO, it's been more interesting lately. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

[Lancer_N3502A]

I think the four of us are on the same frequency...scary isn't it? Maybe we should start a conspiracy website...hehe

I have little doubt that we not only know who helped Saddam redevelop his WMD program after Gulf War I; but that we trailed French, German and Russian agents around Iraq watching them destroy relevant information to that effect before we invaded in Gulf War II. IMHO, Rockefeller should be tried for treason for tipping our hand as to WHEN we were going to invade as opposed to IF we were going to invade.

There can't be any doubt that Turkey blocked the 4th ID from moving down from the north and running head on into those convoys that were heading into Syria. I mean for the Love of God, NSA/CIA/CENTCOM probably had a dozen Keyhole satellites over the Middle east and watched it live on television.

[Echo Talon]

If you talk to a liberal and site facts they just plug their ears and start screaming. They need someone they can trust i.e. katie couric or dan rather you know someone like that to tell them, otherwise they wont listen.

[Once-Ler]

I see the long term WOT in a serial fashion: One country at a time, by whatever means is necessary.

Even before Iraq has faded from memory, all eyes are on Iran. We will mix American bases on both sides and ships and subs to the south with the paranoia of Mahmood Ahmadinejad. If he screws up and gives us an excuse Iran will be liberated by force. I bet he does nothing but rant until internal pressures replace him for his inaction with a kookier martyr. One who is more likely to give us the excuse we need.

If that takes too long I'm sure an opportunity to advance the WOT has already been laid out. I might go with a strategy that has proved successful already. Just like Iraq Dubya might hint at it in the SOTU. He and his administration could begin making the charges against Iran. The old media, the UN, and the rats will shriek and declare Dubya a madman bent of global domination. The rats will demand Dubya consult them and the President will merely say he has the authority to act as Command in Chief. This will push the rats over the cliff. Stories will leak of troop movements and the military will verify without explanation.

At the hight of the rat and media hysteria, I would reveal irrefutable proof of WMD in Iraq if I had it. Preferably found by the Iraq military.

Then in a prime time address to Congress, the President would calmly lay out a convincing presentation for the next phase of the WOT. He will ask Congress for it's approval. The rats will be screwed again. If they capitulate they lose their base voters, and they lose moderate voters when they obstruct. However when they lose their base they also lose their donors so they will choose political suicide over financial suicide. Dubya will ask the American people to give him a Congress who will work with him.

This point might actually be a better time to reveal any secret proof of WMDs.

Once Dubya gets approval from Congress, he then talks to the UN and tells them he has all the authority he needs. He is going to defend America and there are only 2 things they can do.
1. nothing
2. like it

[SFC Chromey]

My guess, is to limit the US from ever protecting itself "arbitrarily" again. T

he UN will say, "Look at the mistakes you made with Iraq, how can we believe what the US is telling us?"

Bush meanwhile will play his games at correspondents dinners, even though we really DID find yellow cake in Iraq.
I know, I'm a complete conspiracy nut, but nothing else explains it cleanly.

[JesseJane]

Wonder how this may fit with this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1543035/posts

Islamist state in Europe?

By Jeffrey T. Kuhner

Published December 18, 2005

The Bush administration has decided to get involved in another dangerous nation-building project -- in the volatile Balkans.

More ominously, the effects of this intervention will lay the groundwork for an Islamist state in the heart of Europe.

Recently, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the leaders of Bosnia's three main groups -- Muslims, Serbs and Croats -- met in Washington to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Dayton Accords, which ended Europe's worst bloodletting since 1945. The administration should have limited itself to a symbolic remembrance. Instead, it pressured Bosnia's political representatives to sign an agreement demanding constitutional reforms by early next year. The plan seeks to establish a centralized, unitary republic dominated by a strong government in Sarajevo. The ultimate goal is to forge a more cohesive state that will finally eradicate the country's ethnic divisions. Bosnia's current political system, with its rotating tripartite presidency, parallel administrations and vast bureaucracy, is neither rational nor efficient. Reform is needed. The American-backed plan, however, is a recipe for disaster. It is a form of radical social engineering that will have to be imposed against the wishes of the country's Serb and Croat populations.

More importantly, it will pave the way for potentially turning Bosnia into Europe's first Islamic republic. This will destabilize not only the Balkans, but the entire European continent.

[snipped to end]

---

I must've missed this news on the tube....

[Just mythoughts]

So the liberals need an investigation, "special" prosecutor so they can LEAK the "INTEL". Old Rockey's probably got a vault filled with notes he can't talk about all ready for the NYTimes.

Liberals are in the corner and only a few have seen the intel and they can't talk to anybody outside their numbered intel seers else they 'out' themselves. Boy there is really a certifiable quagmire and the liberals have stepped in their own snares.

[Alia]

I wonder, does anyone think that they will use Saddams connections to terrorism in the trial?

Yes, I think so. There are hundreds of cases against Saddam Hussein. The vollies have just begun.

[Peach]

Freema -- thank you for this ping and remembering my interest in this matter! It is a topic that fascinates me.

I had long assumed the administration was holding their cards closely for some strategic reason. After an interview by an administration official and the description of that interview by a few freepers, I started to worry the administration doesn't understand the importance of releasing this kind of information.

It's a mystery and one I hope is solved in my lifetime. Anyway, I've sent this to my e-mail and will put it in with the rest of my files later on today after I re-read it and decide how to title it so I can find it again quickly.

Thanks again!

[varon]

I assume "strategery" is involved in this nondisclosure

It's very "possiblistic". ;-)

[Dilbert56]

The President said the intelligence was wrong on WMDs. Some of it most certainly was. The aluminum tubes and the information provided by CURVEBALL.

I wonder if the Administration thinks these documents were also forged by Plame & Co., like the Niger documents intended to "poison the well".

[Grampa Dave]

One of the reasons any data is being withheld is very simple:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1545931/posts

Russia to take Syria's side if conflict with U.S. arises - Russian MPs
RNA ^


Posted on 12/23/2005 4:57:59 AM PST by MARKUSPRIME


Russia will take Syria's side if charges against Syrian officials with involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri cause a conflict between the United States and Syria, two Russian parliamentary members said Tuesday.

"If Russia is to choose between its two strategic allies, it will undoubtedly take Syria's side," said Shamil Sultanov, a coordinator of an inter-faction association, Russia and the Islamic World: A Strategic Dialogue."

We are hearing about possible cruise missiles from a former USSR satellite being shipped to Iran via Russia.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I can tell you why. Because the LSM will spike it and it won't get out anyway.

Bush is playing his cards close to his chest. He can very well bring alot of this out in his SOTU address, when the entire world is watching.

If 1/10 of what has happened since the first trade center bombing in 93 got out into the MSM, the Democrats would never win another local, state or national election.

[TheForceOfOne]

President Bush is playing Texas Hold'em and winning.

[freema]

You're welcome, easy to remember as I have the same fascination (and hope)!