This is NO surprise, to anybody who cared about the truth. ------------------------ http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/28/1048653833092.htm March 28 2003, 9:41 AM Near Basra, Iraq: British military interrogators claim captured Iraqi soldiers have told them that al-Qaeda terrorists are fighting on the side of Saddam Hussein's forces against allied troops near Basra. At least a dozen members of Osama bin Laden's network are in the town of Az Zubayr where they are coordinating grenade and gun attacks on coalition positions, according to the Iraqi prisoners of war. It was believed that last night (Thursday) British forces were preparing a military strike on the base where the al-Qaeda unit was understood to be holed up. A senior British military source inside Iraq said: "The information we have received from PoWs today is that an al-Qaeda cell may be operating in Az Zubayr. There are possibly around a dozen of them and that is obviously a matter of concern to us." If terrorists are found, it would be the first proof of a direct link between Saddam's regime and Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington. The connection would give credibility to the argument that Tony Blair used to justify war against Saddam - a "nightmare scenario" in which he might eventually pass weapons of mass destruction to terrorists. On Wednesday Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, said the coalition had solid evidence that senior al-Qaeda operatives have visited Baghdad in the past. Rumsfeld said Saddam had an "evolving" relationship with the terror network. The presence of fanatical al-Qaeda terrorists would go some way to explaining the continued resistance to US and British forces in southern Iraq, an area dominated by Shi'ite Muslims traditionally hostile to Saddam's regime. Heavy fighting continued around the besieged city of Basra yesterday after British forces destroyed 14 Iraqi tanks which had struck out towards the Al Faw peninsula. Military commanders have decided against launching an attack on Basra because of fears the operation would result in a Stalingrad-style street battle. It is estimated the Iraqi military forces in the area have been reduced to 30 per cent fighting strength but have now embedded themselves within civilian buildings in the city. Armed raids have destroyed transmitters and taken state radio and television off the air in Basra and effectively cutting off its communications with Baghdad. British tanks from the 7th Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats, could be sent into Basra if there is a sudden civilian uprising against Saddam's forces. Last night, forces around the city heard loud explosions as coalition helicopter gunships were sent into the area. This is a pooled despatch from Gethin Chamberlain of The Scotsman.
The only problem I have with this article is that a direct link between Iraq and Al Queda was established several times. M. Atta met with Iraqi officials in Prague, a fact that Czech government officials maintain to this day. Iraqi defectors tell of Al Queda operatives that trained at Salmon Pak which is South of Baghdad. Ramses Yousef, in jail for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, is another link between Al Queda and Iraq.
First, I believe there is a connection. However, based on this article, i dont feel this is the smoking gun. This could very well be a rogue cell of Al Queda. 12 men out of 100,000 Iraqi troops is not a strong link. However, if they find an Al Queda cell in Baghad or working with the Republican Guard, I feel that would be VERY significant.
As much as Osama hates Saddam, I don't see why these guys wouldn't want to, in there minds, help the Iraqi people in fighting the "Great Satan."
The fact that there might be a connection NOW is, I would think, expected... 1) Al Queda considers itself at war with the US. 2) SInce we have declared war on Iraq and invaded, Iraq now considers itself at war with us. You would expect that it's recruiters, huddling under bomb shelters, would be asking for resumes of volunteer soldiers, and turning away anyone who their research reveals has a past connection with terrorism? Is that realistic? What would the fact the Al Queda would try and help in any war against the US, or that Iraq would currently be willing to accept military help wherever they could get it have to do with 9-11? We helped many people who are in Al Queda during Afghanistan...are we accused of being behind 9-11? ( OK, I know there is that fringe loony theory, but I mean in reality.)
Actually some of your facts are off. One minister maintains that claim that there was a meeting, others disagree. There is evidence that Salmon Pak trained terrorists, but not Al Qaeda terrorist.
But the key question though is whether or not Iraq and Al-Queda had links prior to 09-11 and prior to this war. That there is a link now is expected since both are now enemies of the US and under US attack. But does the fact that Al-Queda members offering their mercenary services to Saddam prove that Al-Queda and Iraq were linked in the past prior to the US invasion of Iraq and prior to 09-11? By itself definitely not.
