Bush considering attack on suspected al Qaeda chemical and biological weapons test facility in Iraq

CNN ^ | Aug 19, 2002

[jern]

White House considering attack on suspected al Qaeda chemical and biological weapons test facility in Iraq, U.S. officials tell CNN. Details soon. For the latest news, watch CNN or log on to AOL Keyword: CNN

[michigander]

Iraq Mission Aborted

President Bush Calls Off Operation to Take Out Al Qaeda Poison Gas Laboratory

W A S H I N G T O N, Aug. 19 — The CIA and the Pentagon began planning a covert operation into Northern Iraq to destroy what appeared to be a budding chemical weapons laboratory several years ago, but late last week, the president called it off, sources told ABCNEWS.

U.S. forces had been monitoring a small group of al Qaeda operatives for weeks as they experimented with poison gas and deadly toxins — killing barnyard animals and at least one human, sources told ABCNEWS.

Intelligence sources say the al Qaeda operatives were under the protection of a small radical Kurdish group called Ansar al Islam. Officials say there is no evidence Saddam Hussein's government had any knowledge of their activities.

SNIP

[michigander]

Update: Use this Link for the article.

Iraq Mission Aborted (Peter Jennings looks likes he's happy w/himself)

[Naplm]

the headline should read.. President Bush Calls Off Operation to Take Out Al Qaeda Poison Gas Laboratory, Says He Bomb It When He Bombs The Rest Of Iraq!

[michigander]

BLU-118/B Thermobaric Weapon

Knock, Knock! Anybody home?

[RightWhale]

al Qaeda operatives were under the protection of a small radical Kurdish group called Ansar al Islam

IN Iraq, but not Saddam's Iraq. Interesting that the article says some Kurds are harboring terrorists.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Well that thermobarbaric bomb didn't work so well on the Hobbit Hole, did it? 19,000+ posts at their new thread, and counting.

[meenie]

This is getting real unsettled. We have Al Qaeda in Kurdish territory in Iraq that Sadaam has no autonomy in. We were to use them as some of our allies in the move against Sadaam. Now we have to make the choice of alienating the Kurds by bombing the hell out of a chemical facility in their territory.

It doesn't help the situation any by knowing where the logical place the Al Qaeda would like to use them. We better get our borders closed if it's not too late already. This is getting serious.

[michigander]

that thermobarbaric bomb

thermobarbaric eh?

Guess them Hobbits shouldn't be messin' 'round!
Also,:
Thermobaric Bomb Destroys Hobbit Hole

[F16Fighter]

"My hope of hopes is that these "leaks" are intentional and to keep the evildoers guessing."

Personally, I'm getting a bit sick and tired of all these d@mn trial baloons regarding the Iraqs. We've got the goods on them, so let's just eliminate the chemical/biological weapons facility for starters and just deal with the flaming Libs and usual second-guessers thereafter.

[txrangerette]

Many Kurds ARE working with us. They
helped us to ID this target operated
by terrorist Kurds. We are there in
N. Iraq. That says a lot. Carry on,
guys!

[Don Carlos]

I wonder if it will be a surprise attack...

Well, yeah! (In my best "Valley Girl" imitation)

I can keep a secret! Can't you???

[Go Gordon]

This is getting real unsettled. We have Al Qaeda in Kurdish territory in Iraq that Sadaam has no autonomy in. We were to use them as some of our allies in the move against Sadaam. Now we have to make the choice of alienating the Kurds by bombing the hell out of a chemical facility in their territory.

OR

Maybe we just sent a signal to Sadaam that those Kurds in the North that hate his guts have chemical weapons (insinuating that they might just be targeted for Saddam)

[ladyinred]

I wonder if it will be a surprise attack...

LOL! I keep wondering why the press is telling story after story like this. Clearly the media is out of control and almost as dangerous to our national security as the terrorists.

[Humidston]

Wouldn't it be funny if someone at the White House has been tasked with phoning in dummy "leaks" to the press - every time one of those Boners tries to make foolish press statements?

I like the concept....

[Jeff Chandler]

Maybe the leaks are being leaked to different senators to determine which ones leak? Trouble is: THEY ALL DO!!!!!

[eureka!]

Re#29 In due course, I think. And yes, the longer we wait, the more time the rats and presstitutes have to weaken our resolve. In any event, steady as she goes, the grownups are back...

[F16Fighter]

"The longer we wait, the more time the rats and presstitutes have to weaken our resolve."

Already that appears to be happening and we appear to be back-pedaling...

Bottomline? Either Saddam is a legitimate threat to our security and safety of the world OR he's not. Since it's already been determined he IS, it's only a matter of WHEN the massive airstrike hit the chemical/biological facility -- my guess is after the upcoming elections.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I wonder if CNN had been around in WWII, how many more boys would have died because they leaked our D-day plan?

[F16Fighter]

"Why do we need to keep looking for pretexts for starting a war?"

"Pretext"??

I guess you feel Saddam has been building baby formula factories since 1998 -- the last time any Iraqi facility has been inspected. Before 1998, inspectors uncovered millions of pounds of various poisoneous gases, armaments, and devices for war. And while we're at it, we'll merely ignore any proof that has surfaced that Saddam has been funding terrorism and anyone willing to masquerade as a bomb.

P.S. -- Say "hi" to the gang down at the Neville Chamberlain Institutute.