Read the so-called ‘No Al-Qaida Link’ Pentagon study, and notice all the al-Qaida links

Several news agencies are reporting that a Pentagon-sponsored study found “no al-Qaida link” to Saddam Hussein, despite the study’s own words that Saddam’s forces and al-Qaida at times “would work together.”

I think “work together” would be considered a link.

Saddam and al-Qaida didn’t trust each other and maintained their basic independence, but the Iraq and Terrorism study finds that the two groups had a “de facto link.”

Use affiliated operatives. Read the report’s own summary, and then decide whether you can say honestly that Saddam and al-Qaida had no link whatsoever:

While these documents do not reveal direct coordination and assistance between the Saddam regime and the al Qaeda network, they do indicate that Saddam was willing to use, albeit cautiously, operatives affiliated with al Qaeda as long as Saddam could have these terrorist-operatives monitored closely. Because Saddam’s security organizations and Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network operated with similar aims (at least in the short term), considerable overlap was inevitable when monitoring, contacting, financing, and training the same outside groups. This created both the appearance of and, in some way, a “de facto” link between the organizations. At times, these organizations would work together in pursuit of shared goals but still maintain their autonomy and independence because of innate caution and mutual distrust.

How were they linked? Let me count the ways.

The common bonds. No, Saddam didn’t plan 9-11 with Osama bin Laden, and Saddam almost certainly had nothing to do with 9-11. No U.S. official in authority ever said he did. No, Saddam and bin Laden weren’t directly, publicly or officially coordinating their terrorism programs on a day-to-day or month-to-month basis. No, they didn’t sign a mutual aid treaty. No responsible U.S. official ever claimed they did.

But did they use each other’s operatives, work together at times, have considerable overlap, harbor affiliates and in some ways form a “de facto link”? That’s exactly what the report says.

And one more time: Saddam needed no al-Qaida tie to justify the forced ouster of his totalitarian regime. Saddam, who was required by U.N. resolutions to end his repression, was responsible for at least 10 times -- maybe 100 times -- more killings than al-Qaida. To think, some people wanted to keep him in power! The shame.

Frank Warner

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Update: I notice ABC-TV is withdrawing from the “no link” claim and now saying the report found “no direct connection.” Sorry, but that’s not news.

When President Bush went to the United Nations on Sept. 12, 2002, to make his case for action against Saddam, he said, “Al Qaeda terrorists escaped from Afghanistan and are known to be in Iraq.” That’s true. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his band ran from Afghanistan to Iraq. In his State of the Union address of Jan. 28, 2003, Bush also said, “Evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications, and statements by people now in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of al Qaeda.” The new Pentagon study confirms that.

Comments

[NOTR]

The essence of the argument presented here is that since there was an "overlap" between Saddam and other well known terrorists and terrorist organization, the overlap establishes a cohesion amongst the evil that is contrary to their contrarian nature. And, therefore the Invasion of Iraq was justifiable based on the overlap.

If overlap establishes cohesion, one need only look in our collective mirror to see a vast conspiracy of everyone. We funded and supported Bin Ladin through our connections illustrated in Charlie's War, which if taken in the same vein means that Charlie Wilson is in on 9-11. Likewise, it should be remembered that we cut a deal with the Iranians, who then helped, in our invasion of Afghanistan. The we kicked the Iranians in the cojones with the Axis of Evil.

It helps to remember that, in the Middle East, the shortest distance between two points is definitely NOT a straight line. Any appearance of a straight line is either deception or illusion.

It also should be noted that Iran was faced by two Sunni threats before 9-11, Saddam and the Taliban. Courtesy of American blood and treasure, those two threats were deleted. And now we bitch about our own creation.

One also should remember that the Ox that is not being gored in the Middle East is the Russian Bear. Likewise our Leftistas are continuing assault on American energy interests through restriction of energy sources (coal, oil, nuclear power, etc) while their Cold War allies have emerged on the global market at a conglomerate of Luhkoil, Gazprom, and Kalashnikov.

To believe that the Pentagon, State Department and the intelligence services are not penetrated by Philby clones is wishful thinking.

[George]

"The essence of the argument presented here is that...the Invasion of Iraq was justifiable based on the overlap."

Nice straw man argument. There was no such claim that that the Al Qaida link was the justification to invade Iraq. It is just a point for the sake of accuracy that should not be overlooked.

[jj mollo]

NOTR, You state something as fact which you should be aware has been argued at great length. The blowback argument has some merit, but we did not fund Osama. In fact he helped fund the same people that we were funding and we can be said to have tacitly supported him by not fighting against him. We were not in charge, however. We catalyzed the defeat of the USSR, but we certainly didn't have complete control over everyone involved.

I read a report from one western reporter who had contact with Osama in Afghanistan, but his report was that no Americans were safe in Osama's vicinity. I doubt that he would have cooperated in any direct fashion with the US.

[Frank Warner]

Even the Afghans didn't want the johnny-come-lately Arabs around in Afghanistan in the 1980s. And keep in mind, Osama didn't show up full-time until the Soviets already had decided to withdraw.

Peter Bergen is the author who met Osama. His book, "The Osama bin Laden I Know," documents who funded whom. The U.S. provided the Stinger missiles and funded the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviets, breaking Communist morale. The Saudis funded the Arabs who joined the fight.

But NOTR has an important point. The shortest distance between Middle East repression and Middle East democracy is not a straight line. We have to support a few new democracies at a time, and be prepared for the setbacks and irrational crosscurrents.

With resolve, the region will be free to enjoy freedom's lasting peace.