Exhaustive review finds no link between Saddam and al Qaida

basso · Mar 11, 2008

SamFisher said:

Doubtful. your retroactive support of Iraqi human rights is duly noted in any event.
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factual.

MR. MEOWGI · Mar 11, 2008

I miss Saddam.

pgabriel · Mar 11, 2008

MR. MEOWGI said:

I miss Saddam.
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i miss not being in 3 trillion dollar war that has no benifit to us

MR. MEOWGI · Mar 11, 2008

pgabriel said:

i miss not being in 3 trillion dollar war that has no benifit to us
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You would just want to spend the money on b*stard babies. We are better off this way.

mc mark · Mar 11, 2008

^^^WOW!!!

Apollo Creed · Mar 11, 2008

pgabriel said:

i miss not being in 3 trillion dollar war that has no benifit to us
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I think this is really all that needs to be said.

FranchiseBlade · Mar 11, 2008

basso said:

an important distinction i'm sure to saddam's millions of victims.
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I'm not minimizing that Saddam was a bad guy. But because Saddam was a bad guy doesn't mean you get to change the reasons for going to war after the fact.

pgabriel · Mar 11, 2008

MR. MEOWGI said:

You would just want to spend the money on b*stard babies. We are better off this way.
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at least they're americans

rimrocker · Mar 11, 2008

These should really be read from the bottom up as that's the chronological order and you can see the message change ever so slightly. All quotes from http://www.bushoniraq.com/

President Bush:

"The liberation of Iraq is a crucial advance in the campaign against terror. We've removed an ally of al Qaeda, and cut off a source of terrorist funding. And this much is certain: No terrorist network will gain weapons of mass destruction from the Iraqi regime, because the regime is no more."
Source: President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended, White House (5/1/2003).

"The regime . . . has aided, trained and harbored terrorists, including operatives of al Qaeda. The danger is clear: using chemical, biological or, one day, nuclear weapons, obtained with the help of Iraq, the terrorists could fulfill their stated ambitions and kill thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our country, or any other."
Source: President Says Saddam Hussein Must Leave Iraq Within 48 Hours, White House (3/17/2003).

"He has trained and financed al Qaeda-type organizations before, al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations."
Source: President George Bush Discusses Iraq in National Press Conference, White House (3/6/2003).

"One of the greatest dangers we face is that weapons of mass destruction might be passed to terrorists who would not hesitate to use those weapons. Saddam Hussein has longstanding, direct and continuing ties to terrorist networks. Senior members of Iraq intelligence and al Qaeda have met at least eight times since the early 1990s. Iraq has sent bomb-making and document forgery experts to work with al Qaeda. Iraq has also provided al Qaeda with chemical and biological weapons training. And an al Qaeda operative was sent to Iraq several times in the late 1990s for help in acquiring poisons and gases. We also know that Iraq is harboring a terrorist network headed by a senior al Qaeda terrorist planner."
Source: President's Radio Address, White House (2/8/2003).

"Before September the 11th, many in the world believed that Saddam Hussein could be contained. But chemical agents, lethal viruses, and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Imagine those 19 hijackers with other weapons and other planes -- this time armed by Saddam Hussein. It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known."
Source: President Delivers "State of the Union", White House (1/28/2003).

"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. Secretly, and without fingerprints, he could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists, or help develop their own."
Source: President Delivers "State of the Union", White House (1/28/2003).

"This [Saddam Hussein] is a person who has had contacts with al Qaeda."
Source: President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat; Remarks by the President on Iraq, White House (10/28/2002).

"He's a threat because he is dealing with Al Qaida. In my Cincinnati speech I reminded the American people, a true threat facing our country is that an Al Qaida-type network trained and armed by Saddam could attack America and leave not one fingerprint."
Source: President Outlines Priorities, White House (11/7/2002).

"He's had contacts with Al Qaida. Imagine the scenario where an Al Qaida-type organization uses Iraq as an arsenal, a place to get weapons, a place to be trained to use the weapons. Saddam Hussein could use surrogates to come and attack people he hates."
Source: Remarks by the President at Arkansas Welcome, White House (11/4/2002).

"This is a man who has had Al Qaida connections. I want you to think about a scenario in which he becomes the arsenal and the training grounds for shadowy terrorists so that he can attack somebody who (sic) hates and not leave any fingerprints behind. He is a threat."
Source: Remarks by the President at Missouri Welcome, White House (11/4/2002).

"It's a man who has got connections with Al Qaida. Imagine a terrorist network with Iraq as an arsenal and as a training ground, so that a Saddam Hussein could use this shadowy group of people to attack his enemy and leave no fingerprint behind. He's a threat."
Source: Remarks by the President in Texas Welcome, White House (11/4/2002).

"Saddam Hussein is a man who told the world he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, but he's got them . . . . And not only that, [he would] like nothing more than to hook up with one of these shadowy terrorist networks like Al Qaeda, provide some weapons and training to them, let them come do his dirty work, and we wouldn't be able to see his fingerprints on his action."
Source: Iraq Must Disarm Says President in South Dakota Speech, White House (11/3/2002).

"And I also mentioned the fact that there is a connection between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein."
Source: President Condems Attack in Bali, White House (10/14/2002).

"We know that Iraq and al Qaeda have had high-level contacts that go back a decade. Some al Qaeda leaders who fled Afghanistan went to Iraq. These include one very senior al Qaeda leader who received medical treatment in Baghdad this year, and who has been associated with planning for chemical and biological attacks. We've learned that Iraq has trained al Qaeda members in bomb-making and poisons and deadly gases."
Source: President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat; Remarks by the President on Iraq, White House (10/7/2002).

"The regime has longstanding and continuing ties to terrorist groups, and there are Al Qaida terrorists inside Iraq."
Source: George W. Bush Delivers Weekly Radio Address, White House (9/28/2002).
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VP Cheney (in the right chronological order... these are just a few from the pre-war period):

"VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Well, I want to be very careful about how I say this. I'm not here today to make a specific allegation that Iraq was somehow responsible for 9/11. I can't say that. On the other hand, . . . new information has come to light. And we spent time looking at that relationship between Iraq, on the one hand, and the al-Qaeda organization on the other. And there has been reporting that suggests that there have been a number of contacts over the years. . . . There is -- again, I want to separate out 9/11, from the other relationships between Iraq and the al-Qaeda organization. But there is a pattern of relationships going back many years. And in terms of exchanges and in terms of people, we've had recently since the operations in Afghanistan -- we've seen al-Qaeda members operating physically in Iraq and off the territory of Iraq. . . .
QUESTION: But no direct link?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: I can't -- I'll leave it right where it's at. I don't want to go beyond that. I've tried to be cautious and restrained in my comments."
Source: Meet the Press, NBC (9/8/2002).

"His regime has had high-level contacts with al Qaeda going back a decade and has provided training to al Qaeda terrorists."
Source: Remarks by the Vice President at the Air National Guard Senior Leadership Conference, White House (12/2/2002).

"There is also a grave danger that al Qaeda or other terrorists will join with outlaw regimes that have these weapons to attack their common enemy, the United States of America. That is why confronting the threat posed by Iraq is not a distraction from the war on terror."
Source: Remarks by the Vice President at the Air National Guard Senior Leadership Conference, White House (12/2/2002).

"His regime aids and protects terrorists, including members of al Qaeda. He could decide secretly to provide weapons of mass destruction to terrorists for use against us."
Source: Vice President's Remarks at 30th Political Action Conference, White House (1/30/2003).

"I have argued in the past, and would again, if we had been able to pre-empt the attacks of 9/11 would we have done it? And I think absolutely. We have to be prepared now to take the kind of bold action that's being contemplated with respect to Iraq in order to ensure that we don't get hit with a devastating attack when the terrorists' organization gets married up with a rogue state that's willing to provide it with the kinds of deadly capabilities that Saddam Hussein has developed and used over the years."
Source: Meet the Press, NBC (3/16/2003).

"And Saddam Hussein becomes a prime suspect in that regard because of his past track record and because we know he has, in fact, developed these kinds of capabilities, chemical and biological weapons. . . We know that he has a long-standing relationship with various terrorist groups, including the al-Qaeda organization."
Source: Meet the Press, NBC (3/16/2003).

"As former Secretary of State Kissinger recently stated: "The imminence of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the huge dangers it involves, the rejection of a viable inspection system, and the demonstrated hostility of Saddam Hussein combine to produce an imperative for preemptive action." If the United States could have preempted 9/11, we would have, no question. Should we be able to prevent another, much more devastating attack, we will, no question. This nation will not live at the mercy of terrorists or terror regimes."
Source: Vice President Speaks at VFW 103rd National Convention, White House (8/26/2002).
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Powell:

"The more we wait, the more chance there is for this dictator with clear ties to terrorist groups, including al-Qaida, more time for him to pass a weapon, share a technology, or use these weapons again."
Source: Remarks at the World Economic Forum, State Dept (1/26/2003).

"QUESTION: You referred in your speech to the links between al-Qaida and Iraq. Now, even some of our secret service chiefs say publicly there is no evidence of that.
SECRETARY POWELL: We do have evidence of it. We are not suggesting that there is a 9/11 link, but we are suggesting -- we do have evidence -- of connections over the years between Iraq and al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations."
Source: Interview with European Editors, State Dept (1/26/2003).

"QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you have spoken, in Davos most recently, about a connection between Iraq and terrorist groups, including al Qaida. Are you saying there is evidence that that has happened in the past, or is there evidence currently that there's still a connection? SECRETARY POWELL: I think we have said consistently all along, through last fall and into this year, that we have seen contacts and connections between the Iraqi regime and terrorist organizations, to include al Qaida. As we have been able to focus on this more and look back in time, I think we're more confident of that assessment and we see no reason not to believe that such contacts and the presence of al Qaida elements or individuals in Iraq is a reasonable assumption, and we have some basis for that assumption."
Source: Briefing on the Iraq Weapons Inspectors' 60-Day Report: Iraqi Non-cooperation and Defiance of the UN, State Dept (1/27/2003).

"QUESTION: What have you got on the other front linking Iraq with al Qaida and Usama bin Laden? POWELL: We do have information that suggests that there have been links over the years, and continue to be links, between the Iraqi Government and al Qaida. And the more we look at this the more we are able to look back in time and connect things with people who have come into our custody and other information has become available to us. It's clear that there is a link."
Source: Interveiw by ITN Television of Great Britain, ITN (1/29/2003).

"And, perhaps most critically, the President confirmed that Iraq has open channels and ties to terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda."
Source: "We Will Not Shrink From War", Wall Street Journal (2/3/2003).

"But what I want to bring to your attention today is the potentially much more sinister nexus between Iraq and the Al Qaeda terrorist network, a nexus that combines classic terrorist organizations and modern methods of murder. Iraq today harbors a deadly terrorist network headed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi an associate and collaborator of Usama bin Laden and his al-Qaida lieutenants. . . . From his terrorist network in Iraq, Zarqawi can direct his network in the Middle East and beyond. . . . We are not surprised that Iraq is harboring Zarqawi and his subordinates. This understanding builds on decades-long experience with respect to ties between Iraq and al-Qaida. . . . A detained al-Qaida member tells us that Saddam was more willing to assist al-Qaida after the 1998 bombings of our embassies . . . . Some believe, some claim, these contacts do not amount to much. They say Saddam Hussein's secular tyranny and al-Qaida's religious tyranny do not mix. I am not comforted by this thought. Ambition and hatred are enough to bring Iraq and al-Qaida together, enough so al-Qaida could learn how to build more sophisticated bombs and learn how to forge documents, and enough so that al-Qaida could turn to Iraq for help in acquiring expertise on weapons of mass destruction."
Source: Remarks to the United Nations Security Council, United Nations (2/5/2003).

"QUESTION: Another rationale provided by the administration for action against Saddam is his connection to al Qaida. Tom Friedman, in the New York Times, wrote this: "I am also very troubled by the way Bush officials have tried to justify this war on the grounds that Saddam is allied with Usama bin Laden or will be soon. There is simply no proof of that, and every time I hear them repeat it, I think of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution from the Vietnam times. You don't take the country to war on the wings of a lie."
SECRETARY POWELL: I don't think it's a lie. I think there is information and evidence that there are connections. We have talked about Mr. al-Zarqawi and some of the people who are in Baghdad who are linked with al-Qaida and Usama bin Laden and who were there with the certain knowledge of the Iraqi regime. We have seen connections and we are continuing to pursue those connections. . . . And the fact that there is also an al-Qaida connection, I think certainly adds to the case."
Source: Interview on NBC's Meet the Press with Tim Russert, NBC (3/9/2003).
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Condi:

"MS. RICE: There is plenty to indict Saddam Hussein without a direct link to 9/11. He clearly has links to terrorism. QUESTION: All right. And links to terrorism would include al Qaeda? I just want to be certain. MS. RICE: Links to terrorism would include al Qaeda, yes."
Source: Fox News Sunday, Fox News (9/15/2002).

"QUESTION: Is there any question in your mind about the al Qaeda connection? Did Powell totally convince people today in that area? RICE: There is no question in my mind about the al Qaeda connection. It is a connection that has unfolded, that we're learning more about as we are able to take the testimony of detainees, people who were high up in the al Qaeda organization. And what emerges is a picture of a Saddam Hussein who became impressed with what al Qaeda did after it bombed our embassies in 1998 in Kenya and Tanzania, began to give them assistance in chemical and biological weapons, something that they were having trouble achieving on their own, that harbored a terrorist network under this man Zarqawi, despite the fact that Saddam Hussein was told that Zarqawi was there."
Source: Larry King Live, CNN (2/5/2003).

"Well, we are, of course, continually learning more about these links between Iraq and al Qaeda, and there is evidence that Secretary Powell did not have the time to talk about. But the core of the story is there in what Secretary Powell talked about. This poisons network with at least two dozen of its operatives operating in Baghdad, a man who is spreading poisons now throughout Europe and into Russia, a man who got medical care in Baghdad despite the fact that the Iraqis were asked to turn him over, training in biological and chemical weapons."
Source: Fox News Sunday, Fox News (2/16/2003).

"Now the al-Qaida is an organization that's quite disbursed and --and quite widespread in its effects, but it clearly has had links to the Iraqis, not to mention Iraqi links to all kinds of other terrorists. And what we do not want is the day when Saddam Hussein decides that he's had enough of dealing with sanctions, enough of dealing with, quote, unquote, "containment," enough of dealing with America, and it's time to end it on his terms, by transferring one of these weapons, just a little vial of something, to a terrorist for blackmail or for worse."
Source: Face the Nation, CBS (3/9/2003).
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Rummy:

"Since we began after September 11th, we do have solid evidence of the presence in Iraq of al Qaeda members, including some that have been in Baghdad. We have what we consider to be very reliable reporting of senior-level contacts going back a decade, and of possible chemical- and biological-agent training. And when I say contacts, I mean between Iraq and al Qaeda. The reports of these contacts have been increasing since 1998. We have what we believe to be credible information that Iraq and al Qaeda have discussed safe haven opportunities in Iraq, reciprocal non-aggression discussions. We have what we consider to be credible evidence that al Qaeda leaders have sought contacts in Iraq who could help them acquire weapon of -- weapons of mass destruction capabilities. We do have -- I believe it's one report indicating that Iraq provided unspecified training relating to chemical and/or biological matters for al Qaeda members. There is, I'm told, also some other information of varying degrees of reliability that supoprts that conclusion of their cooperation."
Source: Defense Department Regular Briefing, Defense Department (9/26/2002).

"[T]here is no question but that there have been interactions between the Iraqi government, Iraqi officials, and al-Qaeda operatives. They have occurred over a span of some eight or ten years to our knowledge. There are currently al-Qaeda in Iraq."
Source: Secretary Rumsfeld Live Interview with Infinity CBS Radio, Infinity-CBS Radio (11/14/2002).

"The regime plays host to terrorists, including Al Qaida, as the president indicated."
Source: Donald Rumsfeld and Richard Myers Hold Regular Defense Department Briefing, Defense Department (1/29/2003).

"QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, today in a broadcast interview Saddam Hussein said: "There is only one truth, Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction whatsoever." And he went on to say, "I would like to tell you directly we have no relationship with Al Qaida."
SECRETARY RUMSFELD: And Abraham Lincoln was short."
Source: Donald Rumsfeld Holds Defense Department Briefing, Defense Department (2/4/2003).

"Iraq is part of the global war on terror. Stopping terrorist regimes from acquiring weapons of mass destruction is a key objective of that war, and we can fight the various elements of the global war on terror simultaneously, as General Myers will indicate in his remarks. A principle goal in the war on terror is to prevent another September 11th or a weapons of mass destruction attack that could make September 11th seem modest by comparison, and to do it before it happens."
Source: Testimony of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Senate Armed Services Committee (9/19/2002).

"Well, there's no question but that Iraq has relationships with countries that are on the terrorist list. They also have relations with terrorist networks. They also have al Qaeda currently in the country, among other -- Abu Nidal just, they say, committed suicide with four or five slugs to the head; that's a hard thing to do -- but he was in Iraq. So there's no question about those relationships."
Source: Testimony of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld before the House Armed Services Committee, House Armed Services Committee (9/18/2002).
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Sad.

We really need to make sure these people never come close to power ever again.

basso · Mar 11, 2008

rimrocker said:

We really need to make sure these people never come close to power ever again.
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i agree, we should constitutionally bar Bush from ever being president again.

MR. MEOWGI · Mar 11, 2008

pgabriel said:

at least they're americans
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The illegal Latinas?

Apollo Creed · Mar 11, 2008

basso said:

i agree, we should constitutionally bar Bush from ever being president again.
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This gave me a chuckle. Finally, a post I'm on board with

rimrocker · Mar 11, 2008

basso said:

i agree, we should constitutionally bar Bush from ever being president again.
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I'm talking about all people who think like you.

pgabriel · Mar 11, 2008

MR. MEOWGI said:

The illegal Latinas?
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yeah, the ones who come over here and actually contribute to this country's economy by keeping your $.99 tacos $.99. what has iraq done for you.

or are you just angry about something else this morning as usual and want to rail on innocent kids, in true eastern religion like fashion

MR. MEOWGI · Mar 11, 2008

pgabriel said:

yeah, the ones who come over here and actually contribute to this country's economy by keeping your $.99 tacos $.99. what has iraq done for you.

or are you just angry about something else this morning as usual and want to rail on innocent kids, in true eastern religion like fashion
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$.50 of the $.99 is diaper tax.

pgabriel · Mar 11, 2008

MR. MEOWGI said:

$.50 of the $.99 is diaper tax.
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and the other .49 is to to go to moon to bring back some rocks

MR. MEOWGI · Mar 11, 2008

pgabriel said:

and the other .49 is to to go to moon to bring back some rocks
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One of the biggest accomplishment in the history of mankind.

Much more than feeding tacos to a room full of b*stard babies.

SamFisher · Mar 11, 2008

pgabriel said:

yeah, the ones who come over here and actually contribute to this country's economy by keeping your $.99 tacos $.99. what has iraq done for you.

or are you just angry about something else this morning as usual and want to rail on innocent kids, in true eastern religion like fashion
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I fear something bad may have happened to the Angry Lama, which may explain his recent turn for the nasty in the last few months. He needs to relax, I know some girls from the Emperor's club who may be able to....squeeze him in.

London'sBurning · Mar 11, 2008

MR. MEOWGI said:

You would just want to spend the money on b*stard babies. We are better off this way.
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b*stard IN A BASKET! b*stard IN A BASKET!

pgabriel · Mar 11, 2008

MR. MEOWGI said:

One of the biggest accomplishment in the history of mankind.

Much more than feeding tacos to a room full of b*stard babies.
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the more you keep calling innocent children bastards, the better it is for your soul.

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Exhaustive review finds no link between Saddam and al Qaida

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Exhaustive review finds no link between Saddam and al Qaida

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