Hijacker 'Given Anthrax Flask By Iraqi Agent'

The Times (UK) ^ | 10-27-2001 | Daniel McGrory

[blam]

SATURDAY OCTOBER 27 2001

Hijacker 'given anthrax flask by Iraqi agent'

BY DANIEL MCGRORY

INTELLIGENCE agents from Prague to Swansea are uncovering a trail of clues that point to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq having a hand in al-Qaeda’s terrorist missions. Iraqi ministers have spent the week protesting Baghdad’s innocence to the United Nations, but will not say why some of its diplomats who met Mohammed Atta, one of the suspected September 11 hijackers, disappeared from their European posts after that date.

Nor will Baghdad explain why Saddam’s agents were spotted at various times this year with Atta in Germany, Spain, Italy and the Czech Republic.

Many in the Pentagon are sure Saddam helped to orchestrate the simultaneous hijackings and the anthrax attacks, but President Bush and Tony Blair have yet to be convinced. To get proof of the Baghdad connection, senior officials in the Bush Administration even sent a former CIA director to Britain on a covert mission.

Intelligence officers in Washington have deliberately leaked the testimony of an Iraqi defector hiding in Turkey who said that Saddam set up a terrorist training school on the outskirts of Istanbul to practice hijacking a Boeing passenger aircraft. The CIA says that it is assessing the claims.

Meanwhile, a special FBI team sent to Europe to uncover al-Qaeda cells say that they are studying a report from Prague that anthrax spores were given to Atta during his last meeting in Prague in April with Ahmed Khalil Ibrahim Samir al-Ani, the Iraqi consul. “If it can be shown that Atta was given a flask of anthrax,” a Western intelligence official said, “then the link will have been made with Osama bin Laden and with Iraq.”

What is known is that Atta made at least four visits to the Czech Republic to see Mr al-Ani. Czech intelligence officers who saw them embrace at Ruzyne Airport admit that they had no idea who the man greeting Saddam’s envoy was. When they were followed to the headquarters of Radio Free Europe the suspicion was that they may have been plotting to bomb it.

Yesterday the German newspaper Bild suggested a more sinister motive for their meetings. The claim, according to Israeli security sources, is that Atta was handed a vacuum flask of anthrax by his Iraqi contact. From Prague, it is believed Atta flew to Newark. From New Jersey, letters laced with anthrax were sent to broadcasters and politicians in New York, Washington and Florida. Czech officials have been to Washington to reveal all they know, but they can’t question the Iraqi envoy because Mr al-Ani was deported from Prague in April for “activities incompatible with his status as a diplomat”.

Stanislav Gross, the Czech Interior Minister, confirmed yesterday a meeting in Prague between Atta and Mr al-Ani just weeks before the envoy was expelled.

US scientists believe the anthrax spores sent to Tom Daschle, the Senate Majority Leader, had been treated with a sophisticated chemical additive only three countries can manufacture: Russia, America and possibly Iraq.

Former UN weapons inspectors suggest that Saddam could have helped bin Laden to get nuclear material. Critics of the Pentagon’s view say that Iraq would not share its nuclear secrets, but might watch for others trying to buy on the black market.

(Go to the Times site for the rest of the article)

[Dan Day]

You still don't get it. He wants the anthrax to be traced back to him. Otherwise, the threat to use it has no deterrence value whatsoever.

Too much like a bad spy movie.

If he wants us to know it's him, all he has to do is send a telegram or issue a press release.

[Clinton's a rapist]

You're totally wrong. Saddam doesn't want to use the anthrax against us. He wants to live. If he uses it, deterrence has failed and he is toast. It's not complicated.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

Phoenix would be an apt location. The legend of the Phoenix indicates that every so often (the time varies from culture to culture, but I've heard 1000 years), the Phoenix builds its own funeral pyre. As it dies, it is reborn, and rises from the ashes to begin life anew.

On another thread I mentioned the symbolism. Phoenix has a team called the SUNs, and the SUN was the first anthrax target. President Bush was rumored to throw out the first pitch (the SON of Saddam's enemy no. 1). Muslims praying in the U.S. would face east, towards Mecca, and towards the sunrise.

Of course, the terrorists had no way of knowing that the Diamondbacks would make it to the World Series this year. They could have just lucked out, and happened to pick Phoenix, not knowing there would be a 40000+ concentration of potential casualties (fans) packed close together.

[blam]

"Maybe I'm tired and not thinking this through too well...but that's my
opinion for now.

Yup. Maybe me too but, I keep thinking of all the grinding equipment we used when 'grinding' intergrated circuits. I don't remember the tolerances but single digit micron range does not seem foreign. I don't know if that is the kind of milling that they're talking about but, it's not to difficult.

[Rocko]

Didn't Saddam use anthrax against the Kurds?

[WRhine]

You still don't get it. He wants the anthrax to be traced back to him. Otherwise, the threat to use it has no deterrence value whatsoever.

Why would you think Saddam, with our troops in the region, would want GW to know that he is behind the Anthrax attacks in the U.S.? Doesn't add up for obvious reasons. I am not saying Saddam Hussein is not involved in this Anthrax terrorism. I am saying it makes no sense to tell GW this. To flip this card to GW is like asking to be nuked. Heck, George Bush Senior was ready to nuke Iraq during the Gulf War if they used chemical or biological weapons in their own country as a defensive act!

[blam]

"Didn't Saddam use anthrax against the Kurds?"No Chemicals, nerve gas I think. ....and on Iran too I think.

[Clinton's a rapist]

I would not be at all surprised if more specific threats have been sent, although what has been publicly revealed (including the anthrax trademark signature) is probably sufficient to do the job. OTOH, some element of deniability is of value in the unconventional war Saddam is fighting. For his ends, the ideal threat would balance three factors:

• Bush must be convinced that Saddam presents a credible threat of massive retaliation if the US moves to remove him over 9/11.
• There should be enough deniability or ambiguity about the source of the anthrax that Bush could avoid pointing the finger at Iraq, as we did over the 1993 WTC bombing.
• Longer term, probable authorship should be clear enough that Saddam can boast of his achievement to his allies in the new pan-Islamic axis.

The current campaign seems well-calibrated to achieve all three objectives.

[McAdams]

My big concern is his sleepers here: you know, the ones with the anthrax. concern, yes. but that won't stop us. the brave new world is here and islamic extremists are about to enter the hereafter.

[Clinton's a rapist]

To flip this card to GW is like asking to be nuked.

How obtuse can you get? Knocking down the WTC and trying to destroy the Capitol and the White House was plenty enough provocation to get Saddam killed. He's using the threat of unleashing WMD against Americans to ward off exactly that retaliation.

[habs4ever]

So, he wants to live, and won't use his anthrax, so just a few incidents here and there is supposed to be enough to prevent the US from destroying his arsenal, his labs, his entire country? He revealed his intent by using the weapons, and now he thinks he can call the tune? No, he can't be put back in his box and use the threat of blackmail to ensure his safety, that's why if he has something, he has to use in an offensive manner now, or his advantage is moot.This is where your premise logically falls apart.And logic has never been Saddams strong suit.

[Nogbad]

Saddam is a cruel sadistic dictator but he has to be smart to rule Iraq for so long.

???

Yeah. He invaded Iran. That was smart, wasn't it? He invaded Kuwait. That was smart, wasn't it? Bright fellow, that guy.

[Clinton's a rapist]

So, he wants to live, and won't use his anthrax, so just a few incidents here and there is supposed to be enough to prevent the US from destroying his arsenal, his labs, his entire country?

Those weren't incidents, they were advertisments. There is basically nothing we can do to stop his agents killing Americans in vast numbers. That's what the coating on that anthrax means.

[rebapiper]

First Daschle's letter more poten worse than anyones. The news media ran with it and Daschle says, he may have over reacted. But Gephardt wants to keep the Daschle spin going and so is the news media. I don't think 31 people in Daschle office handled one piece of mail. I think the Democratic party is responsible for this Anthrax scare. Their playing politics with our lives. I think now the copy cat Anthrax scare is getting out of hand but the Dems have gained publicity and popularity and ANthrax is just what they needed to pull their party up. Right now Daschle has got head as big as all out doors and now he can even stop the President of this country from nominating anyone, Daschle will stop Bush from getting his judges appointed. Gephardt will put government security in airports. Let the airlines off the hook and give Gephardt the airline security Blood Money. They same blood money that Gore was getting from the airlines.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

Prescient post. Yes, it is quite likely that OBL or Saddam no longer possess the capability to pull off a big 'stunt'.

Thanks...

It occurs to me that perhaps bin Laden and company WANT us to think there will be a big event. They WANT us to cower in fear, stop buying things, stop trusting our government. Meanwhile, while waiting for the 'critical mass' event that will cause us to hit back hard, we get our legs swept out from under us right under our noses (how many metaphors did I just use? I must have mixed some of them!)

By the time we realize there is no 'big event' coming, we will be realizing the true extent of the damage done to us. It's like Linus, sitting in the pumpkin patch, waiting for the Great Pumpkin. Meanwhile, he's missing Halloween. Gosh, that sounds like something Ross Perot would say.

[habs4ever]

The other flaw in your theory is that he didn't need to unleash anthrax at all, just be content with the WTC and Pentagon and go on his merry way, and he still gets his result.Now, he's asking to the US to seek him out and reward him and his country with a potential nuclear conflict.If he's a smart as you think, why bring anthrax into the picture at all???

[Rocko]

I'd heard the anthrax wasn't quick enough so he turned to C.

[rebapiper]

The whole Daschle Anthrax stinks to high heaven. Listen to everything Daschle has said. The Dems are loving it and Daschle now thinks he's President, Gephardt and Hitlary don't want to take a back seat to Daschle so I'm wondering if Daschle will have to fight off the other fame seekers.

[habs4ever]

check my post #54...Saddam loses his advantage by using his maximum anthrax arsenal now, if he has it here in such quantity to do major damage.He's running out of time, not the US.