Iraq - Al Quaeda link

[kallend 2,174]

Discredited:

www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5438743

(of course, the 9/11 panel could be the tool of a left-wing conspiracy).

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[billvon 3,131]

>(of course, the 9/11 panel could be the tool of a left-wing conspiracy).

From the Onion:

9/11 COMMISSION COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED

WASHINGTON, DC—According to key members of the Bush Administration, the tragic proceedings of the 9/11 commission, which devastated the political lives of numerous government officials, could have been averted with preventive action in 2002 and 2003.

(Picture above: Members of the 9/11 commission that destroyed countless political careers.)

"A few adept legislative maneuvers could have saved the reputations of hundreds," President Bush's counterterrorism chief Fran Townsend told reporters Monday. "Had we foreseen the dangers of the commission's deceptively simple requests, we could have spared dozens of victims from the shocking, public mangling of their careers."

"It's tragic," Townsend added. "All those political futures snuffed out as millions of Americans watched on television. And to think there was a remote chance that they could've gotten our president."

Although there were only 10 commission members, they worked with shocking efficiency, and served to carry out the decisions made with the help of a much larger network of government employees.

"The frighteningly resolute faces of commission chair Thomas H. Kean and vice-chair Lee H. Hamilton are familiar after several weeks of frenzied media coverage, but the commission's roots run deeper," Townsend said. "The thing that keeps me awake at night is the number of advisors who are still out there today, secretly evaluating our policies. We have no way of knowing who might be called forth by a panel in the future."

"You see the vast scope of the problem," Townsend added. "We're fighting a whole new type of enemy—one that hides among its victims."

National security advisor Condoleezza Rice said that her office did not receive any intelligence regarding the commission's scope until it was already in place, and therefore was unable to implement a strategy to thwart its efforts.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) agreed.

"Nobody saw this coming," Lieberman said. "With 20/20 hindsight, of course, we know that if [House Speaker Dennis] Hastert hadn't let Public Law 107-306 come to the floor in November of 2002, we could have saved many of our colleagues from their sad fates."

But Lieberman said that government officials should not look to place blame in the wake of the panel.

"Yes, if various departments had communicated certain intelligence, many of our colleagues would not have found themselves trapped under mounds of paperwork," Lieberman said. "But, as tempting as it is to point fingers, we need to move forward and look at how we can prevent another 9/11 commission from happening."

George Tenet, who recently resigned as director of the CIA, was among the high-profile casualties of the commission's investigation of key government agencies. According to Alan Fenton, Tenet's public-relations-crisis manager, Washington "seriously underestimated" the commission's power.

"Everybody thought, 'Ten guys, sitting together in some room somewhere, armed with only the power of subpoena—who could they hurt?'" Fenton said. "No one guessed that a commission this small could inflict so much political damage."

Defense lawyer Mark Agara, who has provided legal counsel for many of the commission's victims, blamed party insiders' short-sightedness on what he termed a "pre-9/11-commission mindset."

"A panel criticizing the actions that the administration took in response to the most devastating terrorist attack in history?" Agara asked. "People never considered the possibility. But now, here we stand—whole departments ripped apart, agencies in ruin, and, worst of all, the job security that government employees once took for granted gone forever."

Capitol Hill, ground zero for the investigation, is still reeling in the wake of the 9/11 commission. Americans from across the country continue to offer prayers and assemble candlelight vigils outside federal buildings that contain the offices of the fallen-in-stature.

"Think not only of these poor politicians, but of their families and their staffs," said Gerald Davis, spokesman for Stop The Panels, a group of advocates for the unseen victims of investigations. "Anyone who works for an important Washington politician has been touched by this tragedy."

[diablopilot 2]

When did the Onion become a serious news source?

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[kallend 2,174]

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When did the Onion become a serious news source?

Well, Fox News established the current standard.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[miked10270 0]

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When did the Onion become a serious news source?

When Reuters, The BBC World Service http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3812351.stm, Aljazeera http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/858CBBCD-B192-4AA9-A7FB-B7DF13CE9D4B.htm, World Net Daily http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040616/D838566G0.html, Associated Press and The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0616Sept11Panel16-ON.html ALL report the same thing!!!

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[diablopilot 2]

I wasn't doubting the content, I just wondered when the Onion switched from being a satyrical web based joke, to a credible news reporting agency.

I must of missed something.

Not an improvement if you ask me.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[benny 0]

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I wasn't doubting the content, I just wondered when the Onion switched from being a satyrical web based joke, to a credible news reporting agency.

I must of missed something.

Not an improvement if you ask me.

I don't think the Onion changed, it just seems to me that in the case above reality and humor are closely linked.

Never go to a DZ strip show.

[billvon 3,131]

> When did the Onion become a serious news source?

That's a joke! A joke!

You know, I swear. You can't even tell jokes any more. If I posted a story about how Ashcroft had pared the cumbersome ten parts of the bill of rights down to a manageable six, in the name of fighting terror of course, some people would take it seriously - because it wouldn't be much of a suprise to people. Ten years ago it would have just been funny. "Right, like anyone would try to change the constitution for such a silly reason." Not any more.

[diablopilot 2]

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That's a joke! A joke!

Bill "gets" it. Hoorah! There is hope.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[bodypilot90 0]

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of course, the 9/11 panel could be the tool of a left-wing cons

It is.

[kallend 2,174]

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of course, the 9/11 panel could be the tool of a left-wing cons

It is.

Don't you ever get uneasy defending the stream of lies coming from the Bush administration?

www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1342877p-7465730c.html
"Contradicting one of the Bush administration's justifications for launching the war against Iraq, the 9/11 commission said that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was hostile to Saddam's "secular regime" and sponsored insurgents who were trying to oust Saddam from power."

"The administration has stepped up its assertions that the war against Iraq was a war on terrorism, even as it has downplayed its previous statements that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that posed a threat to U.S. interests"

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Casurf1978 0]

Good points Kallend. Also OBL offered the Saudis 5000+ of his AQ trained troops to fight of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1991. OBL also offered them plans to kill Saddam. Saudis turned him down and went with the USA. Hard to believe Saddam would team up with a man who wanted to kill him.

[SpeedRacer 1]

Even after all evidence to the contrary is in, the administration is still Bushitting us once again:

In quotes: Iraq-al-Qaeda links
BBC News Online looks at some of the contrasting views held by senior US officials and organisations over claims of a link between Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.


US President George W Bush - 17 June 2004:

"The reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and al-Qaeda is because there was a relationship between Iraq and al-Qaeda."

9/11 Commission - 16 June 2004:

"We have no credible evidence that Iraq and al-Qaeda co-operated on attacks against the United States."


US Vice-President Dick Cheney - January 2004:

"There's overwhelming evidence... of a connection between al-Qaeda and Iraq".

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - January 2004:

"The most intensive searching over the last two years has produced no solid evidence of a co-operative relationship between Saddam Hussein's government and al-Qaeda."

US Secretary of State Colin Powell - January 2004:

"I have not seen smoking gun, concrete evidence about the connection, but I do believe the connections existed."

US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice - September 2003:

"Saddam was a danger in the region where the 9/11 threat emerged."


US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld - November 2002:

"Within a week, or a month, Saddam could give his WMD to al-Qaeda."

Fact is, there is no evidence that Saddam worked with Zarqawi. Indications are that he distrusted jihadists, and that Osama & Saddam hated each other.

But that doesn't stop the Bushit artists from continuing to shovel it high & deep.
Maybe if they say it often enough, we'll come to believe that Saddam and Osama are pretty much the same person.

Speed Racer
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[tunaplanet 0]

Wow, some people have serious comprehending issues.

Bush has stated from day one that there was a link between Iraq and Al Queda, as has been proven.

However, he has never said nor remotely made mention of any link between them organizing 9-11. In fact Bush has repeatedly stated there never was a link between the 2 regarding 9/11.

Not sure what's funnier/sadder, the media putting their own spin and lies on tv or the sheep that believe it.

Forty-two

[PhillyKev 0]

Funny, I haven't seen one news article or one post on here claim that Bush said Iraq had anything to do with 9/11.

What link between Iraq and AQ was proven? The one where ABL asked Saddam for help and was turned down?

[tunaplanet 0]

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I haven't seen one news article or one post on here claim that Bush said Iraq had anything to do with 9/11.

You need to keep up with current events better. Watch the news or read the paper once in a while.

Forty-two

[PhillyKev 0]

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I haven't seen one news article or one post on here claim that Bush said Iraq had anything to do with 9/11.

You need to keep up with current events better. Watch the news or read the paper once in a while.

I do. How about posting a reference. Good luck finding one.

[tunaplanet 0]

Keep up. You'll see them. You have to do some work on your own. Can't have everything handed to you on a silver platter. Have to work a little from time to time.

Watch the news some time.

Forty-two

[PhillyKev 0]

In other words, you don't have any. Wondering who is having the "comprehending" issues.

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

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Quote

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of course, the 9/11 panel could be the tool of a left-wing cons

It is.

Don't you ever get uneasy defending the stream of lies coming from the Bush administration?

I was pushed to my limit of queasiness watching leftists continuously defending that piece of shi t Clinton.

Couldn't get any sicker after that.

-

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[sundevil777 102]

Certainly not discredited. In fact a member of the commission publicly talked of his dismay on how many press reports distort their conclusion. (I'll link this story later)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,122870,00.html

I understand how difficult it is for liberals to be out of power, it wasn't easy for conservatives either.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[Casurf1978 0]

The heart of this "link" is if Saddam could've or would've helped OBL and AQ attack the USA. Answer is easy, no. Why would Saddam help a man who wanted him dead and who was willing to fight him in Kuwait back in 1991?

[solinari 0]

James Thompson former govener of Illinois and 9/11 commission member stated in an interview today that the New York Times, and other news reporting agencies jumped the gun by reporting misleading information to the American people in regards to the Iraq-Al-qaeda connection. He stated that many news agencies did not wait for the actual report to be released, before broadcasting their stories. What was actually stated in the report was that Iraq and Al-qaeda did not collaborate in regards the attacks on Sept.11th. What the report did state was that there was a connection between Iraq and Al-qaeda. One of the major players involved in this issue is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi a man with ties to Al-qaeda , who escaped from Afganistan after helping to set up al-qaeda training camps(connection there), and lost a leg in the process when the U.S. bombed Afganistan. He then fled to Iraq to receive medical treatment in a facility run by Uday Hussein(connection there).Why would he choose to flee to Iraq? I think it is safe to assume that he had connections there. He then was thought to be involved in the assassination of Laurence Foley. From there he decided to form an alliance with Ansar al-Islam an Iraqi terrorist organization(connection there). He is now suspected to be in Falluja with 2 former Iraqi generals, and has claimed responsibility for multiple bombings, and the assassination of Nick Berg(connections there). Did he just happen upon a couple of generals amidst the rubble? I think it is safe to assume he had made a few connections prior to fleeing to Iraq. There are also more interactions between Al-qaeda leader UBL and Iraq, prior to the war (connection there), but I'm a slow typer, and am not going to get into those details at this time, because I believe I made my point. I just think it is important to relate the facts, which is not what the papers have been doing in regards to this story. Everything that the administration has said involving a connection between Iraq and Al-qaeda has been accurate, even if the connections appear weak to certain individuals. I guess it all comes down to your own unique perspective of the situation and facts. IMO I think that it is irresponsible of the news papers to report misleading stories to the American public because of a partisan political views.

[PhillyKev 0]

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What was actually stated in the report was that Iraq and Al-qaeda did not collaborate in regards the attacks on Sept.11th.

And I haven't seen anyone try to claim that GWB said as much.

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He then fled to Iraq to receive medical treatment in a facility run by Uday Hussein(connection there).Why would he choose to flee to Iraq? I think it is safe to assume that he had connections there.

So he received treatment in a hospital overseen by a gov't official, so there must have been a connection between him and that gov't? That's quite a leap.

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Ansar al-Islam an Iraqi terrorist organization(connection there).

A Kurdish terrorist organization. You know, the Kurds, those guys who tried to overthrow SH after Gulf War I, and who he gassed, and who want to form their own autonomous nation.

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There are also more interactions between Al-qaeda leader UBL and Iraq, prior to the war (connection there), but I'm a slow typer, and am not going to get into those details at this time, because I believe I made my point.

If your point was that there was a bunch of loose speculation and stretched conclusions, similar to the WMD intelligence, then, yes, you've definitely made your point.

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I guess it all comes down to your own unique perspective of the situation and facts. IMO I think that it is irresponsible of the news papers to report misleading stories to the American public because of a partisan political views.

And I think it is irresponsible and heinous that the administration would mislead congress and the public because of their partisan views.

[solinari 0]

Like I said before it all comes down your own unique perspective, I'm definately not going to influence any of your opinions, nor do I wish to take the time to try. Happy Skydiving and blue skies.