Posted on 09/23/2002 8:56:24 AM PDT by truthandlife
A group of Qaida activists conducted experiments with chemical weapons a few months ago in Iraq. The experiments were conducted in northern Kurdish Iraq, in an area controlled de facto by a extremist Islamic group known as Ansar al Islam.
It is doubtful that Saddam Hussein knew in advance about the experiments, but due to Ansar al Islam's close ties to conservative elements in Iran, Iraqi intelligence is making special efforts to penetrate the organization. While Iraqi agents may not have known of the experiments before they took place, they most certainly knew of it after the fact.
Halbaja, the Kurdish town where Saddam Hussein's troops used chemical weapons to kill thousands because he believed they were helping Iran during the war between the two countries, is in the same area where Ansar al Islam maintains de facto control.
It is not known if the experiments a few months ago included tests on living subjects whether human or animal. Until the end of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Qaida experimented with chemical weapons in Afghanistan. The U.S. assault, however, scattered its experts, who were forced to find refuge in various places.
In addition to the problem of where to conduct their experiments, the organization now faces a problem where to store various chemicals. Qaida's efforts to acquire chemical munitions is part of its plan to surprise several targets and cause as many casualties as possible.
Iraq is perceived by them as a convenient place to work. Saddam's government is not in full control of the entire territory.
In the northern area, defined as Kurdish, Ansar al Islam has taken control over some sections of the territory.
Ansar al Islam is known to have close ties with Qaida, as well as ties with the Iranians who agreed to provide shelter to Qaida operatives, including those responsible for the terrorist attack on the synagogue in Jerba, Tunisia, last April.
Meanwhile, Qaida transferred various chemical materials through Turkey, that were meant for use against American targets in Turkey or were on their way to Chechnya to attack Russian targets.
FWIW, I suspect that this story just represents an internal disagreement in the Israeli government.
If Hussein is involved, then Israel needs to go along with the US plan to depose him.
If Iran is responsible, then Iran is the greater threat to Israel, so they don't have to cooperate with the US plan...
Disagree. Saddam is arrogant enough to feel that he could "control" the al Quiada.Given the alternatives, he would probably lend tacit support to them. There is the old arab adage of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". We would all be well served to remember that
Semper Fi
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