Saddam link to terror group

The Daily Telegraph ^ | April 17, 2003 | Philip Smucker and Adrian Blomfield

[MadIvan]

Saddam Hussein's regime was linked to an African Islamist terrorist group, according to intelligence papers seen by The Telegraph. The documents provide the first hard evidence of ties between Iraq and religious terrorism.

Secret dossiers detailing the group's discussions with the Iraqi Intelligence Service were found in the spies' Baghdad headquarters, among the detritus of shredding.

The papers show how Iraq's charge d'affaires in Nairobi, Fallah Hassan Al Rubdie, was in discussion with the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan guerrilla group with ties to other anti-western Islamist organisations.

While the United States has long argued that Saddam's regime was aiding Islamist groups, it has struggled until now to provide compelling evidence.

In a letter to the head of the Iraqi spy agency, a senior ADF operative outlined his group's efforts to set up an "international mujahideen team".

Its mission, he said, "will be to smuggle arms on a global scale to holy warriors fighting against US, British and Israeli influences in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Far East".

The letter, dated April 2001, was signed: "Your Brother, Bekkah Abdul Nassir, Chief of Diplomacy ADF Forces".

Nassir offered to "vet, recruit and send youth to train for the jihad" at a centre in Baghdad, which he described as a "headquarters for international holy warrior network". It was not clear whether the centre was established.

"We should not allow the enemy to focus on Afghanistan and Iraq, but we should attack their international criminal forces inside every base," the letters said.

The ADF emerged in 1996, when it launched a rebellion against President Yoweri Museveni's government. In December 2001 the movement was placed on the US list of terrorist organisations.

Throughout its campaign the ADF has been provided with weapons and funding by the Islamist government in Sudan, one of more than half a dozen states Washington accuses of sponsoring terrorism.

The key figure behind the ADF is widely acknowledged to be a fundamentalist Islamic cleric, Sheikh Jamil Makulu.

According to the Ugandan government and western intelligence sources, Sheikh Makulu became friendly with Osama bin Laden in the early to mid-Nineties, when the al-Qa'eda chief was living in Khartoum.

The IIS's headquarters were only loosely guarded by US special forces yesterday. The Telegraph entered the building through one of the many holes left by devastating bombing.

[harrowup]

The letter, dated April 2001, was signed: "Your Brother, Bekkah Abdul Nassir, Chief of Diplomacy ADF Forces".

Nassir offered to "vet, recruit and send youth to train for the jihad" at a centre in Baghdad, which he described as a "headquarters for international holy warrior network". It was not clear whether the centre was established.

"We should not allow the enemy to focus on Afghanistan and Iraq, but we should attack their international criminal forces inside every base," the letters said.

Bogus Alert

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads ups!

[ellery]

bttt

[Pan_Yans Wife]

It's not only what Bush SAYS that is important, but also what he DOESN'T SAY.

[Illbay]

So he "doesn't say we're NOT at war with Islam?"

If that's what you're trying to say, you're wrong.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Hmmm... just how many radical fundamentalist Muslims do you think we have hunted down or killed since September 11th?

Saying that Islam is a religion of peace doesn't change a damn thing.

The one who starts the war, sets the terms of what victory looks like. Osama bin Laden started a Holy War. We have obliged by routing the Taliban and Hussein. By responding with force, we accepted their challenge.

The subtle difference is, from our viewpoint, it is a clash of civilizations, not a war of Islam against our Judeo/Christian foundation. Our civilization will prevail, in the end. And, to the eyes of the Middle East, we will have badly damaged Islam.

[Illbay]

Hey, there are some radical Christian Identity folks out in the hills in Montana. They want to overthrow the government!

Better round up ALL CHRISTIANS. They're dangerous. Obviously, anyone who says that "Christianity is a religion of peace" is lying.

[truth_seeker]

"The UK papers are hitting them hard. Ours are still soft soaping all this stuff."

I give average Brits credit for supporting the military actions, once it became inevitable.

Many of them have more close contact with the muslims in their midst, some of whom were openly inciting violence.

Information like this will wind up in the American press/news. There is a time lag, from when it hits the UK press, the internet, Fox, and finally the "mainstream" networks and papers.

[ThomasMore]

I'd never associate with any 'Religious' group....the perfect crime."

Very probable. I personally believe that Saddam was the originator of 9/11. He got Bin Laden and his lunatics to do the dirty work; but Saddam was the guy who ordered the "hit". He had it in for the U.S. ever since the Gulf War. Tried to have Bush I assassinated, failed and got his vengeance in NY on 9/11. Just my theory.

[b4its2late]

BTTT

[BOBTHENAILER]

According to the Ugandan government and western intelligence sources, Sheikh Makulu became friendly with Osama bin Laden in the early to mid-Nineties, when the al-Qa'eda chief was living in Khartoum

The RAT response will be something along the lines of : "Sure, Osama had lots of friends, Sen. Patty Murray, Rep. Jim McDermott, David Bonior, among many others. This fails to "Make the Case".

[justshutupandtakeit]

Tell that to the 95% public school graduates in the armed forces which just kicked down Saddam's door. They might not have your disdain for American education.

[Grampa Dave]

You mentioned a few of the Ba athist America Political Party, aka the Rats, Sen. Patty Murray, Rep. Jim McDermott, David Bonior, who would have excuses for any Ba athist or Islamofacist mass murderer.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I have no quibble with whether or not Islam and Christianity are seen as religions of peace. But, just saying this, doesn't give any non-believer the true picture of what these religions are actually founded upon. Thumbnail sketches do not give enough information. Read more of the Koran, and you will see what I mean.

My point is that fundamentalist Islam, and shia law do much more damage to their cause, when they identify with terror. Remember all of the imams declaring fatwas against the US? Don't you understand that this is a political, and well as a religious command by the imams?

And, diplomatic language is much more complicated than you seem to realize. I suggest you look through some of the president's comments about Islam, review the context and audience more clearly, and then look through the statements from different members of the administration. The over-all picture changes, when you realize that the president's message is much more complex than just saying, peace, peace, peace.

[ex-Texan]

Well ... I'm shocked, shocked I tell you ...

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I think most people who are informed about the condition of public education in the United States, particularly in California, would agree with me. The socialists have done a great deal of damage in their effort to indoctrinate our children in their agenda, including inattention to "the basics" (history, government, mathematics, science). That was my point.

I have the greatest respect for those in our armed forces (and this includes members of my family), who have performed admirably in the Iraq campaign. I suggest that these citizens are first and foremost of exemplary character, notwithstanding their exposure to public education (probably due to family influence), and that military training and conditioning fully prepared them for the duty that they performed on behalf of our country (I assume you are a US citizen). I hope I have clarified things for you.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Cheap shots and generalizations about public education are wrong. There are many fabulous teachers in the public schools and many of them are serving in the reserves.

Most of the critics I have seen here about Public education don't have a clue about education and laud impossible schemes. Only the uninformed believe that private schools are less free of the politically correct crap plaguing education. Which schools are flaunting gay pride and such crap- many of the elite private schools and very few of the public schools outside NY, Cali and liberal areas.

My late wife was a teacher in the Chicago Public schools. She was a teacher whom any kid would have been lucky to have and no one ever worked harder at any job than she.

Wish ass remarks still don't change the fact that the vast majority of our armed forces are educated in the public schools of this country. These are not the perfumed princes of the private schools or the home-schooled out there putting their lives on the line but public school graduates. Dishonor their education if you will but I'll have no part of it.

[Nogbad]

Ping

[Vigilantcitizen]

More fuel for the fire.

[Peach]

I added to my link page "Saddam knew 9/11 was coming". Thank you!