Clinton Let Bin Laden Slip Away and Metastasize - By Mansoor Ijaz

L.A. Times ^ | December 2001 | Mansoor Ijaz

[The Finman]

Clinton Let Bin Laden Slip Away and Metastasize

Sudan offered up the terrorist and data on his network. The then-president and his advisors didn't respond.

By MANSOOR IJAZ

President Clinton and his national security team ignored several opportunities to capture Osama bin Laden and his terrorist associates, including one as late as last year.

I know because I negotiated more than one of the opportunities.

From 1996 to 1998, I opened unofficial channels between Sudan and the Clinton administration. I met with officials in both countries, including Clinton, U.S. National Security Advisor Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger and Sudan's president and intelligence chief. President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir, who wanted terrorism sanctions against Sudan lifted, offered the arrest and extradition of Bin Laden and detailed intelligence data about the global networks constructed by Egypt's Islamic Jihad, Iran's Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas.

Among those in the networks were the two hijackers who piloted commercial airliners into the World Trade Center.

The silence of the Clinton administration in responding to these offers was deafening.

As an American Muslim and a political supporter of Clinton, I feel now, as I argued with Clinton and Berger then, that their counter-terrorism policies fueled the rise of Bin Laden from an ordinary man to a Hydra-like monster.

Realizing the growing problem with Bin Laden, Bashir sent key intelligence officials to the U.S. in February 1996.

The Sudanese offered to arrest Bin Laden and extradite him to Saudi Arabia or, barring that, to "baby-sit" him--monitoring all his activities and associates.

But Saudi officials didn't want their home-grown terrorist back where he might plot to overthrow them.

Full Article Here
 

[pepperdog]

Are you serious? He supported Kerry? I always respected him. I'm going to have to rethink my opinion.

[NewLand]

Can we get Ijaz to run for anything? Where's he live?

I really like him. He's the kind of guy we need more of.

Did you not read his statement in the posted article?

As an American Muslim and a political supporter of Clinton...

Double whammy. I don't trust the guy. And, many of his "predictions" have been wrong.

[rj45mis]

and the current administration has simply looked the other way so they could blame the previous administration?

okay, explain this statement to me. how has Bush looked the other way and when has he blamed the previous admin? inquiring minds want to know.

[freekitty]

The Clintons know if this 911 stuff gets a hold it will be the beginning of the end for them. Wonder what else is in store.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

His legacy is a right wing plot...

[shield]

bttt

[Rocko]

The Clintons know if this 911 stuff gets a hold it will be the beginning of the end for them. Wonder what else is in store.

It won't get any better for them. Hopefully, this will help us avoid a second Clinton co-presidency.

[Guenevere]

He's very articulate and makes good sound bites...often appearing to offer us help and information...

..but according to him, he's a former Clinton supporter and according to a post, he's also a Kerry supporter...

..so, is he a schizoid?

[The Finman]

Thanks everyone...I work over on President Reagan's web site and I don't make it over here as much as I would like too. But I really started to feel the ground shake and the political tides turn back towards our favor, and I thought this blow back with Chris Wallace kind of capped it off nicely.

Anyway, I have had fun bash them over the head with this article today, and I hoped that you all could do the same. :)

Thanks!

The Finman

P.S. I had to use the pseudonym "rigiodal" over at youtube.com since everything with "FIN" was already taken. ;)

[Leofl]

Bookmark

[wingsof liberty]

The truth hurts, doesnt it, Bill? I pray to see GOP commercials prior to November elections that say "Do you want this kind of protection from terrorists (Clinton red faced, unable to admit his own failures) or this (Bush signing The Patriot Act into law, followed by Reid smiling while he says "We killed The Patriot Act") America - make your choice

[zbigreddogz]

Jeeze, I feel totally blindsided.

I'm really surprised. I've seen him on TV many times and every time he's been right on when it comes to security issues.

I personally don't mind that he's a muslim, he's clearly not in the same category as the jihadists, but he's clearly got no judgement if he's a Kerry/Clinton supporter. I wonder why the heck such a sensible guy on security would support Kerry?

[Czar]

"For some reason, Clinton has decided to have one of his minions refute each and every one of these accusations."

Might have something to do with trying to salvage what's left of his "legacy" which is now pretty much in tatters.

Let the legacy shredding continue...

[sonic109]

can someone PLEASE explain to me why no one ever forced Sandy Berger to explain exactly what documents he stole .Thats the key right there. I bet those documents would really ruin Klinton's legacy .

[neefer]

Here's a PR piece on the other. Of most interest to me...
"Ijaz's father, Dr. Mujaddid Ahmed Ijaz (deceased), a prominent American physicist, was an early pioneer in developing the intellectual infrastructure of Pakistan's nuclear program. Ijaz earned All-American weightlifting status while attending UVA and was born in Florida in 1961. He was raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia."

[neefer]

other=author

[ThreePuttinDude]

I too was surprised to find this out. He does seem to have
his security head screwed on straight though.

He does have a good delivery, clear and professional.

[Bean Counter]

Haven't heard much from Mansoor Ijaz for quite some time...

[Dinah Lord]

Hey true_blue

You sound like a Mansoor Ijaz fan (as am I)_

Here's a little "small world after all" background for you.

The Big Man (my husband) was in the Library Bar at the Lanesborough Hotel in London a few months ago and who should walk in and sit down right next to him?

Mansoor Ijaz.

Being a dyed in the wool FNC junkie, Mansoor was a familiar and honored face to the Big Man.

After covertly studying him he went over and introduced himself to the adorable Mr. Ijaz, complimenting him on his aggressive stance against terror and shaking his hand.

Returning to his nearby table, the Big Man then proceeded to shamelessly eavesdrop as Mansoor pitched a start up firm involved in a technological solution to Port Security.

The Big Man said they were throwing around big numbers, too.

Hey, a Mansoor has to make a living, right?

He makes the list of one of the people I would most like to sit next to on an airplane. On a long flight.

Cheers - Dinah

[P-40]

Sudan offered up the terrorist and data on his network. The then-president and his advisors didn't respond.

And what did Bubba tell the 9/11 Commission about this? From their report...

President Clinton, in a February 2002 speech to the Long Island Association, said that the United States did not accept a Sudanese offer and take Bin Ladin because there was no indictment. President Clinton speech to the Long Island Association, Feb. 15, 2002 (videotape of speech). But the President told us that he had “misspoken” and was, wrongly, recounting a number of press stories he had read.After reviewing this matter in preparation for his Commission meeting, President Clinton told us that Sudan never offered to turn Bin Ladin over to the United States.President Clinton meeting (Apr.8, 2004). Berger told us that he saw no chance that Sudan would have handed Bin Ladin over and also noted that in 1996, the U.S. government still did not know of any al Qaeda attacks on U.S. citizens. Samuel Berger interview (Jan. 14, 2004).