Mark Eichenlaub has an outstanding overview of the recent Old Media reporting on the latest investigation into the depth of ties between Saddam Hussein’s regime and the Al Queda network of terrorist groups. His article highlights in perfectly plain sight just how a single, biased writer will bite on a rumor from a single anonymous source about a report that hadn’t even been revealed, and then a total falsehood becomes propagated by the Old Media. When the actual report came out, anyone and everyone reading it could see that it listed innumerable documented and confirmed connections between Saddam’s regime and the network of terror groups called, Al Queda.
“Media swings and misses on IDA’s Saddam report”
The storm began (as noted in Stephen Hayes must read piece) with a McClatchy news piece titled “Exhaustive review finds no link between Saddam, al Qaida.” The leak-based story essentially summarizes a 94 page report down to a single, unrepresentative phrase. For the record it should be noted that once the report was made available to the public it was revealed that its author’s actually say on page ES-3 that their report is not exhaustive (contrary to the early news report) stating that the list of Hussein era documents are “not an exhaustive list” beause some were in the possession of other U.S. government agencies.
This story was followed by headlines of a similar bent. Steve Schippert’s sample of some of the more prominent headlines provides readers with what the story’s narrative looked like a few days ago:
ABC: Report Shows No Link Between Saddam and al Qaeda
New York Times: Study Finds No Qaeda-Hussein Tie
CNN: Hussein’s Iraq and al Qaeda not linked, Pentagon says
Washington Post: Study Discounts Hussein, Al-Qaeda Link
AFP: No link between Saddam and Al-Qaeda: Pentagon studyAnd within hours the (mainstream media) die had been cast. Saddam was not linked to al Qaeda went the theme.
This one is definitely worth the read. Think about what it shows: NO ONE in the McLatchy Newspaper chain of editors, no one at ABC, no one at the New York Times, no one at CNN, no one at the Washington Post, no one at AFP, and no one at any of the blogosphere sites that posted the original article actually read the report. NONE. Old Media/traditional media outlets are supposed to be special because they have armies of fact checkers yet no one in any of these armies ever saw the actual report. The actual report contradicts the original article at almost every turn.
Is there a fact checker anywhere, or have these outlets collapsed into rumor parrots? Were it not for spellcheck, I wouldn’t have been surprised if a spelling error from the original made it to all the outlets. Would yuo?
Thanks for the link Scott. Nice spelling error at the end.
I wonder if these reporters are hanging their heads in shame about all this or just don’t care.
I’d be DEMANDING a chance to correct my story if I had gotten it that wrong.
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news;_ylt=A0geu85_Yd1HYzoA9.tXNyoA?ei=UTF-8&p=saddam%20qaeda&fr2=tab-web&fr=moz2
Just look at this list of “news” stories in a quick search. ALL of them say “no link.” What kind of country do we live in where this kind of garbage is tolerated?
Pingback: Brutally Honest
And the damage of this is, anyone I come in contact with, who I happen to ask, “Have you heard about the latest Pentagon report that came out regarding Saddam-al Qaeda links?” The answer everytime, thus far, has been either, “No, I haven’t heard”, or, “Yeah, that the Pentagon admits there were no ties. So it only confirms what we already know: Bush lied, no wmds, no links between Saddam and 9/11…”
For me to even try and get people to even question what they’ve heard for several years now….basically, when you go against conventional MSM beliefs, you’re kind of looked at as another conspiracy nut. It’s my word vs. the NYTimes, ABC, CBS, WaPo, MSNBC, PBS, CBC, CNN, etc. Journalists on tv and in print have credibility; I apparently must be getting my news from fringe sites and the side of the internet that is not to be believed.
Stevie remains unavailable for comment.
Agreed. I find it completely amazing that after all these years we have multiple examples of documented ties-close ties/ties that more than warranted the invasion, and the msm buries the report before it’s even released. Now the report’s out, and no one’s reading it. Hayes’ article on it alone confirms years of allegations corroborated in multiple means, and now confirmed via captured and authenticated documents. Tell that to someone, and they look at ya like a Paulbot. Sad. ‘Course all that will change as soon as President H Clinton has to explain why she’s not pulling troops out.
I’ve said this elsewhere, but it bears repeating. The quote was dug up by Hayes and is in his article. It’s but one of the 94pgs of proof. btw, the classified version of the report is 350pgs!
The report says it all:
Let’s repeat that:
Al Queda is a network of terrorist groups. Support the groups in the network…you’re supporting Al Queda. Support several of the groups as Saddam did, and you’re REALLY supporting the Al Queda network. This support didn’t go unrewarded. Recall that the 911 plot was set in motion in direct response to the US attacks on Saddam’s Iraq after Operation Desert Fox.
The left always ignores this Clinton Administration action which says the AlQueda and Iraq has a working relationship.
________________________________________
06 November 1998
TEXT: US GRAND JURY INDICTMENT AGAINST USAMA BIN LADEN
United States District Court
Southern District of New York
• Press Release (PDF format)
• Usama Bin-Laden Indictment (PDF format)
• Usama Bin-Laden, Muhammad Atef, et al. Indictment
o Introduction and Counts 1 thru 3 (PDF format)
o Counts 4 thru 238 (PDF format)
New York — A U.S. Federal Grand Jury in New York on Nov. 5 issued an
indictment against Usama Bin Laden alleging that he and others engaged
in a long-term conspiracy to attack U.S. facilities overseas and to
kill American citizens.
The indictment noted that Al Qaeda, Bin Laden’s international
terrorist group, forged alliances with the National Islamic Front in
Sudan and with the government of Iran and with its associated group
Hezballah to “work together against their perceived common enemies in
the West, particularly the United States.”
Additionally, the indictment states that Al Qaeda reached an agreement
with Iraq not to work against the regime of Saddam Hussein and that
they would work cooperatively with Iraq, particularly in weapons
development.
According to the indictment, Bin Laden’s group also tried to recruit
Americans to travel through the United States and the West to deliver
messages and to conduct financial transactions to aid their terrorist
activities. The indictment also states that Al Qaeda used humanitarian
work as a conduit for transmitting funds to affiliate terrorist
groups.
The indictment also claims that Bin Laden’s supporters purchased land
for terrorist training camps; bought warehouses where explosives were
stored; transferred bank accounts using various aliases; purchased
sophisticated telecommunications equipment; and transferred money and
weapons to Al Qaeda and affiliated terrorist organizations.
The indictment also states that beginning in 1993, Al Qaeda began
training Somali tribes to oppose the United Nation’s humanitarian
effort in Somalia. In October, members of Al Qaeda participated in an
attack on U.S. military personnel where 18 soldiers were killed and 73
others wounded in Mogadishu. In another reference, the indictment
noted that an unnamed “co-conspirator” transported weapons and
explosives from Khartoum to Port Sudan for transshipment to the Saudi
Arabian peninsula.
The Grand Jury document, which usually does not provide a great amount
of details in advance of a prosecution, also stated that Bin Laden and
“others” tried to develop chemical weapons and attempted to obtain
nuclear weapons components in 1993.
The indictment noted that Bin Laden issued his Declaration of Jihad
with the aim of recruiting others to “kill Americans and encouraged
other persons to join the jihad against the American enemy.”
Following is the text of the indictment:
(Begin text)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- V-
USAMA BIN LADEN,
a/k/a “Usamah Bin-Muhammad Bin-Laden,”
a/k/a “Shaykh Usamah Bin-Laden,”
a/k/a “Mujahid Shaykh,”
a/k/a “Abu Abdallah,”
a/k/a “Qa Qa,”
Defendant
COUNT ONE
Conspiracy to Attack Defense Utilities of the United States
The Grand Jury charges:
Background: Al Qaeda
1. At all relevant times from in or about 1989 until the date of the
filing of this Indictment, an international terrorist group existed
which was dedicated to opposing non-Islamic governments with force and
violence. This organization grew out of the “mekhtab al Khidemat” (the
“Services Office”) organization which had maintained (and continues to
maintain) offices in various parts of the world, including
Afghanistan, Pakistan (particularly in Peshawar) and the United
States, particularly at the Alkifah Refugee Center – in Brooklyn. From
in or about 1989 until the present, the group called itself “Al Qaeda”
(“the Base”). From 1989 until in or about 1991, the group was
headquartered in Afghanistan and Peshawar, Pakistan. In or about 1992,
the leadership of Al Qaeda, including its “emir” (or prince) USAMA BIN
LADEN the defendant, and its military command relocated to the Sudan.
From in or about 1991 until the present, the group also called itself
the “Islamic Army.” The international terrorist group (hereafter
referred to as “Al Qaeda”) was headquartered in the Sudan from
approximately 1992 until approximately 1996 but still maintained
offices in various parts of the world. In 1996, USAMA BIN LADEN and Al
Qaeda relocated to Afghanistan. At all relevant times, Al Qaeda was
led by its “emir,” USAMA BIN LADEN. Members of Al Qaeda pledged an
oath of allegiance to USAMA BIN LADEN and Al Qaeda.
2. Al Qaeda opposed the United States for several reasons. First, the
United States was regarded as “infidel” because it was not governed in
a manner consistent with the group’s extremist interpretation of
Islam. Second, the United States was viewed as providing essential
support for other “infidel” governments and institutions, particularly
the governments of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the nation of Israel and
the United Nations, which were regarded as enemies of the group.
Third, Al Qaeda opposed the involvement of the United states armed
forces in the Gulf War in 1991 and in Operation Restore Hope in
Somalia in 1992 and 1993. In particular, Al Qaeda opposed the
continued presence of American military forces in Saudi Arabia (and
elsewhere on the Saudi Arabian peninsula) following the Gulf war.
Fourth, Al Qaeda opposed the United States Government because of the
arrest, conviction and imprisonment of persons belonging to Al Qaeda
or its affiliated terrorist groups, including Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman.
3. Al Qaeda has functioned both on its own and through some of the
terrorist organizations that have operated under its umbrella,
including: the Islamic Group (also known as “al Gamaa Islamia” or
simply “Gamaa’t”), led by co-conspirator Sheik Oxar Abdal Rahman; the
al Jihad group based in Egypt; the “Talah e Fatah” (“Vanguards of
conquest”) faction of al Jibad, which was also based in Egypt, Which
faction was led by co-conspirator Ayman al Zawahiri (“al Jibad”);
Palestinian Islamic Jihad and a number of Jihad groups in other
countries, including Egypt, the Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia,
Eritrea, Kenya, Pakistan, Bosnia, Croatia, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon,
the Philippines, Tajikistan, Chechnya, Bangladesh, Kashmir and
Azerbaijan. In February 1998, Al Qaeda joined forces with Gamaa’t, Al
Jihad, the Jihad Movement in Bangladesh and the “Jamaat ul Ulema e
Pakistan” to issue a fatwah (an Islamic religious ruling) declaring
war against American civilians worldwide under the banner of the
“International Islamic Front for Jibad on the Jews and Crusaders.”
4. Al Qaeda also forged alliances with the National Islamic Front in
the Sudan and with the government of Iran and its associated terrorist
group Hezballah for the purpose of working together against their
perceived common enemies in the West, particularly the United States.
In addition, al Qaeda reached an understanding with the government of
Iraq that al Qaeda would not work against that government and that on
particular projects, specifically including weapons development, al
Qaeda would work cooperatively with the Government of Iraq.
5. Al Qaeda had a command and control structure which included a
majlis al shura (or consultation council) which discussed and approved
major undertakings, including terrorist operations.
6. Al Qaeda also conducted internal investigations of its members and
their associates in an effort to detect informants and killed those
suspected of collaborating with enemies of Al Qaeda.
7. From at least 1991 until the date of the filing of this Indictment,
in the Sudan, Afghanistan and elsewhere out of the jurisdiction of any
particular state or district, USAMA BIN LADEN, a/k/a “Usamah
Bin-Muhammad Bin-Laden,” a/k/a “Shaykh Usamah Bin-Laden,” a/k/a
“Mujahid Shaykh,” a/k/a “Abu Abdallah,” a/k/a “Qa Qa,” the defendant,
and a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein (hereafter
“Co-conspirator”) who was first brought to and arrested in the
Southern District of New York, and others known and unknown to the
grand jury, unlawfully, willfully and knowingly combined conspired,
confederated and agreed together and with each other to injure and
destroy, and attempt to injure and destroy, national-defense material,
national-defense premises and national-defense utilities of the United
States with the intent to injure, interfere with and obstruct the
national defense of the United states.
Overt Acts
8. In furtherance of the said conspiracy, and to effect the illegal
object thereof, the following overt acts, among others, were
committed:
a. At various times from at least as early as 1991 until at least in
or about February 1998, USAMA BIN LADEN, the defendant, met with
Co-conspirator and other members of Al Qaeda in the Sudan, Afghanistan
and elsewhere;
b. At various times from at least as early as 1991, USAMA BIN LADEN,
and others known and unknown, made efforts to obtain weapons,
including firearms and explosives, for Al Qaeda and its affiliated
terrorist groups;
c. At various times from at least as early as 1991 USAMA BIN LADEN,
and others known and unknown, provided training camps and guest houses
in various areas, including Afghanistan and the Sudan, for the use of
Al Qaeda and its affiliated terrorist groups;
d. At various times from at least as early as 1991, USAMA BIN LADEN,
and others known and unknown, made efforts to produce counterfeit
passports purporting to be issued by various countries and also
obtained official passports from the Government of the Sudan for use
by Al Qaeda and its affiliated groups;
e. At various times from at least as early as 1991, USAMA BIN LADEN,
and others known and unknown, made efforts to recruit United States
citizens to Al Qaeda in order to utilize the American citizens for
travel throughout the Western world to deliver messages and engage in
financial transactions for the benefit of Al Qaeda and its affiliated
groups;
f. At various times from at least as early as 1991, USAMA BIN LADEN,
and others known and unknown, made efforts to utilize non-Government
organizations which purported to be engaged in humanitarian work as
conduits for transmitting funds for the benefit of Al Qaeda and its
affiliated groups;
g. At various times from at least as early as 1991, Co-conspirator and
others known and unknown to the grand jury engaged in financial and
business transactions on behalf of defendant USAMA BIN LADEN and Al
Qaeda, including, but not limited to: purchasing land for training
camps; purchasing warehouses for storage of items, including
explosives; transferring funds between bank accounts opened in various
names, obtaining various communications equipment, including satellite
telephones and transporting currency and weapons to members of Al
Qaeda and its associated terrorist organizations in various countries
throughout the world;
h. At various times from in or about 1992 until the date of the filing
of this Indictment, USAMA BIN LADEN and other ranking members of Al
Qaeda stated privately to other members of Al Qaeda that Al Qaeda
should put aside its differences with Shiite Muslim terrorist
organizations, including the Government of Iran and its affiliated
terrorist group Hezballah, to cooperate against the perceived common
enemy, the United States and its allies;
i. At various times from in or about 1992 until the date of the filing
of this Indictment, USAMA BIN LADEN and other ranking members of Al
Qaeda stated privately to other members of Al Qaeda that the United
States forces stationed on the Saudi Arabian peninsula, including both
Saudi Arabia and Yemen, should be Attacked;
j. At various times from in or about 1992 until the date of the filing
of this Indictment, USAMA BIN LADEN and other ranking members of Al
Qaeda stated privately to other members of Al Qaeda that the United
States forces stationed in the Horn of Africa, including Somalia,
should be attacked;
k. Beginning in or about early spring 1993, Al Qaeda members began to
provide training and assistance to Somali tribes opposed to the United
Nations intervention in Somalia;
l. On October 3 and 4, 1993, members of Al Qaeda participated with
Somali tribesmen in an attack on United States military personnel
serving in Somalia as part of Operation Restore Hope, which attack
killed a total of 18 United States soldiers and wounded 73 others in
Mogadishu;
m. On two occasions in the period from in or about 1992 until in or
about 1995, Co-conspirator helped transport weapons and explosives
from Khartoum to Port Sudan for transshipment to the Saudi Arabian
peninsula;
n. At various times from at least as early as 1993, USAMA BIN LADEN
and others known and unknown, made efforts to obtain the components of
nuclear weapons;
o. At various times from at least as early as 1993 USAMA BIN LADEN and
others known and unknown, made efforts to produce chemical weapons;
p. On or about August 23, 1996, USAMA BIN LADEN signed and issued a
declaration of Jihad entitled “Message from Usamah Bin-Muhammad
Bin-Laden to His Muslim Brothers in the Whole World and Especially in
the Arabian Peninsula: Declaration of Jihad Against the Americans
Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Mosques; Expel the Heretics from
the Arabian Peninsula” (hereafter the “Declaration of Jihad) from the
Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan. The Declaration of Jihad included
statements that efforts should be pooled to kill Americans and
encouraged other persons to join the jihad against the American
enemy”;
q. In or about late August 1996, USAMA BIN LADEN read aloud the
Declaration of Jihad and made an audiotape recording of such reading
for worldwide distribution; and
r. In February 1998, USAMA BIN LADEN issued a joint declaration in the
name of Gamaa’t, Al Jihad, the Jihad movement in Bangladesh and the
“Jamaat ul Ulema e Pakistan” under the banner of the “International
Islamic Front for Jihad on the Jews and Crusaders,” which stated that
Muslims should kill Americans — including civilians — anywhere in
the world where they can be found.
(Title 18, United States code, Section 2155(b).)
rpkinmd,
Glad you posted that. It’s always good to highlight the court documents when the dhims start squawking “no connection”.
In additionto what you posted, there was another court case in which Iraq was found to be connected with 9/11. Iraq was actually sued by some of the families.
I’ll find the link when I have a few minutes later today.
Of course Stevie is sequestered in his Mommy’s basement and is remaining silent on yet another set of damning facts.
“Ties” are not responsiblity. Considering the free pass that the Bush Administration has given to Bush Family friends, the Saudi Royal Family that has supported al Qaeda’s recruiting schools for years, I do not see these “ties” as justifying George W. Bush’ s ordering an invasion.
You’re right Steve. Ties are not responsibility, and neither are friends in the royal Saudi family (not all of whom support recruiting schools. That said, I do think it’s terrible that more hasn’t been done to limit Saudi support for Madrassas, and yes the Bush Administration bears some responsibility for that. As a result, I will not give him a free pass by re-electing him this fall.
Now, having dealt with the weak attempt at topic shift to the Saudi Royal family, does anyone care to comment on the report which investigated some of the captured documents in Iraq?
It says Saddam’s regime supported groups that were/are part of the Al Queda terrorist group network
It says Saddam’s regime worked with them
It says Saddam’s regime was a terrorist threat to the United States
and oh…SO much more!
Re: “As a result, I will not give him a free pass by re-electing him this fall.”
Only because he is not on the ballot. Were he to decide to run, you would obediently vote for him, Constitution or no.
Ooooooh….he’s astute, Scott. No sneaking one over on Philly Steve.
Steve’s wrong that I’d vote for GWB in 2008. I don’t think he’d make it through the primary process a third time, but what’s more interesting is that Steve will cast a vote in just a few months where by pulling the lever he authorizes the continuance of the war in Iraq…no matter who he votes for. Still, it’s interesting to see him dodge commenting on the report.
The DoD report confirms that Iraq was supporting at least four Islamic terrorist groups in the al Qaeda network – Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Afghani Islamic Party, Ansar al Islam and Army of Muhammad
It also appears from the DoD report that Iraq was training, financing and supplying the Egyptian Islamic Group when it attacked the World Trade Center in 1993.
Finally, Iraqi Intelligence Service Documents indicate that Iraq was helping al Qaeda terror group Egyptian Islamic Jihad plan terrorist operations against the Egyptian government which were carried out in 1993. This would be the direct operational link between Iraq and al Qaeda which the DoD declined to find.
http://citizen-pamphleteer.blogspot.com/2008/03/partners-in-business-of-terror-saddam.html
Pingback: Flopping Aces » Blog Archive » » Americans deserve insight, not old news, on Iraq War, So Where Is It?
Pingback: Media Mythbusters Blog » Blog Archive » BREAKING - Iraqi Documents Show al-Qaida Ties