The Inside Straight

Iraqi Pre-War Tapes Surface Again : Damning Saddam's Inner Circle

Some of you may have read - and wondered about the Iraqi pre-war tapes,films, and documents. Some have denounced them - angrily - as fakes , because they provided  evidence that Saddam was not some sort of heroic figure, but a stone cold killer in the mold of Stalin, Mao, and Hitler.

Like them, he kept records: vast numbers of documents , official films , videotapes, and audiotapes.Some of his audiotapes surfaced today in the court where the remainder of Saddam's "inner circle" is on trial for genocide. (Saddam's remaining charges have been dismissed -under Iraqi law - on the grounds his execution makes them moot - but, sure as God made little green apples, some of our more stubborn "Saddam Worshippers" will insist this is proof the charges were phoney ! )

Moving right along , let's see what CNN (a staunch Saddam defender from way back !) had to report about these "smoking gun" tapes.

The CNN headline says : "Iraqi Tapes Tell of Extermination Plan".

So: What are we talking about here ? The extermination of mice or insects ? CNN - which once refused to report Saddam's crimes, because it would have jeapordized its lucrative financial arrangements with "the Great Hero" , finally admits it was men,women,and children who were being exterminated . Kurds who opposed Saddam's dictatorship: about 180,000 of them.

Saddam and his followers, talking it over on the tape, make their plans very clear - as this excerpt will show.

"I will strike them with chemical weapons and kill them all," a voice identified by prosecutors as that of Majeed, Hussein's cousin and a senior aide, is heard saying.

"Who is going to say anything? The international community? Curse the international community," the voice continued.

"Yes, it's effective, especially on those who don't wear a mask immediately, as we understand," another voice, identified as Hussein, is heard saying on another tape.

"Sir, does it exterminate thousands?" a voice asks back.

"Yes, it exterminates thousands and forces them not to eat or drink and they will have to evacuate their homes without taking anything with them, until we can finally purge them," Hussein responds.

Okay, Saddam Worshippers : There is your "hero" in all his glory : gloating over the prospect of killing thousands of Iraqi Kurds.

As you weep for "poor hanged Saddam" think about this:

Chief Prosecutor Munqith Faroon also played on Monday video showing women and children lying dead on village streets and mountain slopes after what he said was a chemical attack ordered by Hussein.

"These are the honorable battles they claimed to have launched against the enemy," he told the court.

Rep. Hoekstra on NY Times' Revelations -Saddam's Nuke Program

"Yesterday's article by the New York Times highlights a number of important issues with respect to Iraq's WMD programs, as well as the importance of the documents that have been recovered in Iraq," said U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. "I am pleased that the document release program continues to stimulate public discussion of these issues.

"With respect to the possibility that documents may have been released that should not have been released, I have always been clear that the Director of National Intelligence should take whatever steps necessary to withhold sensitive documents. In fact, as of today the DNI had withheld 59 percent of the documents that it had reviewed, and has become more risk-averse over time. If the DNI believes that the documents that were released were in the safe 40 percent, imagine what the 60 percent being withheld must contain.

"That said, it is also important to emphasize that the IAEA, contrary to its assertions, never raised any concerns about this material with the United States Government before going to the press. Similarly, the DNI's office has informed me that no agency of the U.S. Government had raised any issues about the potential or actual release of these documents before yesterday. If there were such problems, they would have been better addressed through the appropriate channels rather than the press.

"These documents also raise several additional issues of interest. First, it is extraordinary that the New York Times now acknowledges that the captured documents demonstrate that '[Saddam] Hussein's scientists were on the verge of building an atom bomb, as little as a year away.' This only reinforces the value of these documents in understanding the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's regime. Only 1 percent of the estimated 120 million pages of captured documents have been reviewed, and we must continue working to promptly understand these materials. If there is concern about Saddam's nuclear program, there should be similar concern about potential connections between Saddam and al-Qaeda suggested in the documents.

"Second, my staff's preliminary review of the documents in question suggests that at least some of them may be internal IAEA documents. There is a serious question of why and how the Iraqis obtained these documents in the first place. We need to explore that carefully - I certainly hope there will be no evidence that the IAEA had been penetrated by Saddam's regime.

"Finally, it is disappointing but not surprising that the New York Times would continue to participate in such blatant and transparent political ploys, including what I believe are improper efforts by the IAEA to interfere with U.S. domestic affairs. The sad reality is that the New York Times has done far more damage to U.S. national security by the disclosure of vital, classified, intelligence programs than is likely to be caused by the inadvertent disclosure of decades-old information that had already been in the hands of Saddam's regime."

Iraq Secular ? Intelligence Files Suggest Otherwise !

Much has been made of the proposition Iraq,under Saddam Hussein,was "strictly secular". Glancing at the captured Iraqi Intelligence Service documents , it is clear-though the regime may have been secular at one time-it had gotten pretty devout after the First Gulf War.

This is a list of captured documents released to the public today. There are two pages, one and one half of which are devoted to religious matters !

Now let's change the subject a bit.

The Iraqi regime was well aware they were unlikely to succeed in defending the nation once Operation Iraqi Freedom began ...so, they issued some top secret instructions.

This letter is in pdf format - one page long. ( It has already been translated.)

If any of the events that followed seem to match the scenario laid out in this letter, you are now better informed than most of the "journalists" now filing jihadist offerings from the safety of their Iraqi hotels.

Captured Documents Reveal Iraq HAD Re-Started Nuclear Program

Crazy as it may seem: despite all the pressure of inspections ,and the prospects of imminent military action against his brutal regime, Saddam Hussein re-started his nuclear weapons program - as shown in these captured Iraqi Intelligence Service documents - recently translated by "J Veritas" : a naturalized American citizen , who grew up in Lebanon , and whose "first" language is Arabic.

You will see from the documents, this effort was underway as late as 09/18/02. (Outside the United States 09/18/02 is written " 18/09/02" )

"Veritas" ( Joseph Shahda ) has given me permission to reproduce his translation here.

Documents CMPC-2004-003978.pdf and CMPC-2004-002191.pdf contain memos dated from 1999 to 2002 that talk about projects sponsored by the Iraqi Atomic Nuclear Agency to rebuild some of their nuclear facilities and equipment. All the projects were dated after the UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in December 1998.

These facilities and equipments were part of Iraq's clandestine nuclear weapon program before the 1991 Gulf War.Some were destroyed by the bombing and some were dismantled by the UN weapon inspectors.

Rebuilding these nuclear facilities and equipments was totally prohibited per the UN sanctions.

The projects include rebuilding of Iraq Radioactive Waste Treatment Station (RWTS) that was destroyed by bombing during operation Desert Storm in 1991.

Another project was to rebuild the RadioChemistry laboratories. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the RWTS and the RadioChemistry Laboratories were part of Iraq clandestine nuclear program (http://www.iraqwatch.org/un/IAEA/s-1997-779-att-3.htm, see section 3.4 of the link).

Document CMCP-2004-003978 outlines a project by the Iraq Atomic Agency to repair “Furnaces” bearing the Dicosa brand. Nuclear facilities require very specialized “furnaces” and this type of furnace was prohibited according to the UN (http://www.iraqwatch.org/un/IAEA/s-1995-215.htm, see point 57 and 58).

Beginning of partial translation of page 31 of CMPC-2004-003978

In the Name of God the Most merciful the Most Compassionate

The Republic of Iraq

The Iraqi Atomic Energy Agency

Number: 22/7897

Date: 28/9/1999 (09/28/99 our dating)

Administrative Order

Number 6335

Based on the approval of Mr. Chairman of the Agency on 25/9/1999 and the requirement for the job it was decided:

1. The execution of the RWTS project per the direct implementation.

2. The Chairman of the engineering department will be allowed the power of buying and contracting to implement the project and in one single offer up to one million Dinars. (Approx. $330,000. US)

4. The committee of purchasing and offers analysis in the engineering department will execute all the works related to the project.

Signature

Naaem Hussein Muhawesh

The director of Human resources.

28/9/99

End of partial translation of page 31 of CMPC-2004-003978

Beginning of translation of page 10 of CMPC-2004-003978

In the Name of God the Most merciful the Most Compassionate

The Iraqi Atomic Energy Agency, Engineering department

Number: 40/6/228

Date: 4/3/2001

Administrative Order

Number 9

1. A Committee will be formed to fix the Dicosa Furnaces from the gentlemen whose names are listed below and a work plan will be submitted three weeks from the above date.

Dia’a Jalil Hussein (Chairman of the Committee), Farouk Mohamad Saleh (member), Adnan Salim Jerjeis (member), Hadi Ibrahim Jasem (member), Hussein Naif Abed (member), Said Minjel Ayez (member), Saharook Abed Allah Abdan (member)

2. The Chairman of the committee will be allowed the privileges of the Finance department chairman for the purpose of executing the project.

Signature

Dr. Hisham Mahmood Ahmad

Engineering Department Chairman

End of translation of page10 of CMPC-2004-003978

Beginning of translation of page of CMPC-2004-002191

In the Name of God the Most merciful the Most Compassionate

The Iraqi Atomic Energy Agency, Chemistry and Solutions Department

Number: 5000/19/1749

Date: 18/9/2002 (09/18/02)

To: The Engineering Department

Subject: The Radio-Chemistry Laboratories

We confirm our letter numbered 5000/1311 on 13/7/2002 regarding the allocation of required funds to rehabilitate the administration annex of the Radio-Chemistry Laboratories including the shaded roofs and according to the prepared design and descriptions and at a cost of 34 million Dinars. (About $ 10 million US)

Up to now,this work has not started despite the allocation of funds two months ago in addition to the unaccomplished detailed design for the Radio-Chemistry Project.

We would like to point to paragraph (3) from our letter above in which the plan calls for completion the rehabilitation of the administration annex and detailed design for the Radio-Chemistry project before the end of the year 2002 and according to this year investment plan for the Chemistry Department.

We hope to receive the schedule to accomplish the work with all possible speed and not to exceed the end of the year 2002.

With regards…

Signature

Dr. Hisham Mahmood Ahmad

Chemistry and Solutions department Chairman

Date: 18/9/2002 (09/18/02)

Just as a footnote, I've seen several translated Iraqi documents which refer to yearly or two-year plans ; in which goals are set out, and a status report (usually a single sentence or phrase ) is submitted.Iraq was - among other things-a Socialist state, and judging by the sheer volume generated, its key bureaucrats spent a lot of time "covering their butts with paper".

This is a fairly typical example of a two-year plan. It's dated 1999 and deals with IED training and production goals.

So far, the Iraqi documents are a "grab bag" , and you never know what will surface : 16 pages of illegible scrawls, memos about nuclear planning , or "stirring" videos of bulldozers in action !

Thanks again, J Veritas !!

Sanctions and Saddam : An International Joke

Myth Number 2: UN Sanctions were effective against Saddam Hussein

The American people - indeed the people of the world - have been told -over and over again : UN sanctions were effective in preventing Saddam Hussein from developing weapons of mass destruction , and , as a result , there was no need to invade Iraq.

I sometimes wonder if those who hold this view have inherited -virtually intact- the condescending colonialist views of the old British Empire. The Iraqis,in this context,would be regarded privately as "bloody Wogs" : a "lesser breed without the Law", who would back down when confronted by the "New Raj" - otherwise known as the United Nations.

 

The text of this 75 page  UNSCOM report - written in 1988 - will suggest the Iraqis were otherwise inclined . It details the persistent,methodical evasion of imposed sanctions for a period of several years.

As far as I know, the UN never released this document - but they gave the Iraqi government a copy - in English - which the Iraqi Intelligence Service squirreled away in their files.

I've run across several UNSCOM reports in the IIS files - (apparently about the only way we have of seeing these documents, as the UN itself is not a particularly forthcoming organization). One that caught my eye was a dreary multi-page list of "exceptions" reported by UNSCOM inspectors , who were looking at Saddam's Bio-weapons program.( "Programme" in UN-speak.)

The Iraqis - like the Russians , and everyone else who adopted "Russian" Bio-warfare doctrine ,maintained Dual Use facilities , that could be converted from ordinary pharmaceutical production into Bio-warfare production with a minimum of time and effort.

When the UNSCOM inspections began , hundreds of these dual use facilities were inspected; and equipment that could be used for Bio-warfare was tagged ,and, wherever possible, sealed. " So much for that !", the inspectors crowed.

When the inspectors made a return trip, a year later,they found hundreds and hundreds of violations of the imposed "sanctions": broken seals, misssing seals,missing tags,and - worst of all - missing equipment.

When they asked about these "exceptions" they got " The-dog-ate-my-homework" excuses. Huge stainless steel fermentation vats - used to brew "biologicals" - were said to have been diverted to "ice cream manufacture",and spray dryers were just....gone.

How did the UN react to this rather massive violation of sanctions ? Very quietly.

The tags and seals were re-affixed ...and the final report said the facilities had passed inspection.

One of the methods Iraq used - or attempted - in an effort to manipulate the imposition of sanctions was large scale bribery. Rolf Ekeus,the UN diplomat who supervised UNSCOM inspections until 1996 is quoted :

According to the journalist Christopher Hitchens, Ekéus "told me that he'd been offered by Tariq Aziz in person, to his face, a bribe of a million and a half dollars to change his inspection report. That was going on throughout the entire process. Rolf wouldn't, of course, agree to take it, but if they were asking him, it means they were asking everybody."

By now, everyone knows about the "Oil for Food" program - (and its attendant scandals) - but relatively little has been said about the fact Iraq was operating its own "Oil for Money" program - right under the noses of UN inspectors- at the same time.

It was a relatively simple operation: the Iraqi government merely turned three valves - closed with much fanfare by the UN - back on ; and oil began flowing to Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. The oil was sold at a discount,and was paid for with US $ 100 bills : of which there were great stacks in the Iraqi treasury.

Saddam used the money to buy vast truckloads of weapons , ammunition , radar systems, and high-end computers; to hire weapons specialists from France, Germany,Russia, Turkey ,and Italy; to build 17 palaces : some of which were designed to survive anything short of a direct nuclear hit.

The Iraqi armed forces were re-equipped , and trained to a high state of readiness ; Fedayeen guerrillas were recruited from surrounding Arabic countries,and as many as 8,000 Palestinians were imported for specialized military training in guerrilla warfare.

One would think, after over a decade of UN sanctions, Iraq would have been in very bad straits . The ordinary people were - but the government,the military,and the weapons scientists were living "the good life" - as attested to by page after page of Iraqi Intelligence dossiers on salary increases, bonuses, and awards of brand new homes.

There was still plenty of cash left over: When Operation Iraqi Freedom began , and it became clear the Iraqi government would fall, Saddam sent his son Qusay and a companion to the Iraqi Central Bank to pick up a little "walkin' around money"  (Translation courtesy of Joseph Shahada -"Veritas")

Posted on 09/07/2006 7:42:11 AM PDT by jveritas

Document http://70.168.46.200/Released/09-06-06/CMPC-2004-001648.pdf dated March/19/2003 is hand written order from Saddam Hussein to the governor of Iraq Central Bank to give his son Qusay Saddam Hussein and another crony named Hikmat Mazban Ibrahim a total of ONE Billion Dollars so it will be protected from what he called the “American Aggression”. Of course this money was meant to be smuggled to some foreign secret bank accounts for Saddam family. This money was found by the US troops shortly after the fall of Saddam regime and handed later on to the free Iraqi government.

Translation of http://70.168.46.200/Released/09-06-06/CMPC-2004-001648.pdf

Top Secret

In the name of God the most merciful the most compassionate

Mr. Governor of the Iraqi Central Bank

We authorize through this letter that Mr. Qusay Saddam Hussein and Hikmat Mazban Ibrahim to receive the following:

1. Nine hundred and twenty millions American Dollars

2. Ninety millions Euros.

In order to protect it from the American aggression

Do what is necessary

Signature

Saddam Hussein

President of the Republic

19/3/2003

Were UN sanctions effective ? You be the judge !

Saddam's "National Priority" : Nuclear Weapons

Saddam Hussein wanted nuclear weapons-in the worst way,and pursued that goal with a single-mindedness that was almost legendary.

After several attempts to obtain plutonium, Saddam finally persuaded the French to build him a heavy water reactor ; and, after a bit of palm greasing, they did so: dubbing the finished reactor "Osirak" (Osiris-god of the dead + Iraq). It was a "breeder" reactor: capable of producing plutonium - and it scared hell out of Iraq's neighbors.

On June 7,1981 , Israeli warplanes bombed the reactor - before it could be fueled-thus knocking it out of commission without subjecting the Iraqis to a radioactive disaster.

The world-as might be expected-screamed bloody murder about this "vicious Zionist attack" -while privately heaving a sigh of relief : The threat of a nuclear Iraq had been destroyed...or so it seemed.

The Iraqis went right back into the bomb business : salvaging what they could out of Osirak,and setting up new projects. This time, they decided to start enriching uranium. (Enriched uranium works just as well as plutonium.It is more tedious to isolate isotopic U-235, but it is a somewhat less hellacious material to work with than its extremely poisonous,highly flammable alternative !)

By the time Desert Storm rolled around, the Iraqis were using several state-of-the-art enrichment methods, and had set up a fairly massive nuclear development program.

On January 16,1991, US warplanes bombed carefully selected Iraqi nuclear research facilities: prompting a rather sniffy denial in the March, 1991 Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists that Iraq was anywhere near developing nuclear weapons.

George H.W. Bush was the president ,and , with his popularity waning , it probably seemed a good time to show a little solidarity with the "beleaguered Iraqis".

The Bulletin took great joy in claiming UN sanctions had already done more damage to Saddam's nuclear program than any bombing raids could.

In August,1991,however, the Federation of American Scientists published a list of nuclear research facilities that were still going strong.

Which estimate was right ? By way of an answer, let's go to 7/06/94 , when Saddam Hussein (Man #1 on the transcript) has a heart-to-heart chat with 6 of his nuclear scientists.

(In case you're wondering, this is part of the massive Iraqi Intelligence Service document trove. The regime kept records of almost everything - often in mind-numbing detail.)

One of the scientists says the UNSCOM inspections have slowed down the scale of his work: he has to do everything in a small lab, instead of a big research facility-but he's coping rather nicely, thank you !

He's doing a lot of plasma research. Saddam isn't quite sure what he's talking about-and winds up getting the 50 cent lecture. Finally he captures the Great Man's undivided attention by explaining how useful plasma research is in making atomic and hydrogen bombs. His project gets the green light !

Nuclear research is supposedly being handled by the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission, which is studying all manner of good things - such as how to refine uranium ore - ( the infamous yellowcake)-and produce uranium hexaflouride at the same time.At least, that's what these captured documents appear to be about. (Note: the pdf imagery is shaky and unstable-perhaps deliberately so.)

The Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission seems to have been involved in a wide range of enterprises,and to have received very substantial funding right up to the bitter end.

For example, between 2001 and 2003 , IAEC awarded contracts with a (rough) total value of  557 million U$.

The contracts were ostensibly for "electricty generating plants" - which should raise a few eyebrows in and of itself.( When US forces entered Iraq in 2003, they found an antiquated,neglected, and barely functional electrical generating infrastructure ; and restoring power was a major undertaking.)

So what was IAEA spending its money on ? The following is from Joseph Shahada (Veritas),who has been translating many of the Iraqi documents as an act of love for the United States - his adopted country.

Beginning of the translation of ISGQ-2005-00023243

In the name of God the most Merciful the most compassionate

The Republic of Iraq

The Atomic Energy Organization

The Chairmanship of the Chemistry and Materials and Department

Date: 19/9/2002

Secret

To the Respected Brother Dr. Abdel Satar Al Taa’i.

Subject: List of the primary materials.

In regards to the phone conversation, the local material from the list sent according to our letter 215 on 9/11 were brought back so please replace with the attached list.

With regards

Signature

Dr. Hisham Mahmod Ahmad

Chairman of The Chemistry and Materials department.

Secret.

3. Material: Thionyl Chloride, Description: GPR. Quantity: 1 KG.

10. Material: Phosphorus Oxycholride: Description: GPR. Quantity: 3.5 Liter

30. Material:Thiophosphoryl Chloride. Description: 97%. Quantity: 1 Liter.

42. Phosphorus Pentasulfide. Description: 99%. Quantity: 5,500 KG.

Shahada notes the last item mentioned is a precursor for nerve gas , and that Iraq was forbidden to manufacture or import it. What,you may ask,has this item to do with the "peaceful use of atomic energy" ?

I've browsed through the IAEC contract summaries. (You can too: here   and here. )

The translator noted at least 4 contracts appeared to be pure fiction. They were payable in Euros: E 1,500,00, E 75,000, E 75,000, and E 213,000.

I noticed 3 contracts payable in US Dollars  : $ 430,700 ,$ 129,000, and $ 86,000.

(The thought occurs the Euro and Dollar contracts might have been bribes - but everyone knows UNSCOM inspectors are incorruptible !)

One of the more amusing ones was a contract for 591,000 Dinars -(then worth 33 cents;now worth 67 cents) - for "fixing door locks and painting a door". There was also an entry of 525,000 Dinars for :"bleaching the Fish and Seaweed Laboratory Building".

If you're the skeptical sort, you may have reached the (politically incorrect) conclusion there was a whole lot of sub-rosa activity going on the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission ; and you can probably understand why the United States did a lot of highly strategic bombing , and -once the shooting had died down a bit-made a special point of airlifting several tons of partially enriched uranium out of Iraq altogether.

The UN squawked about that particular bit of "unilateralism" (perhaps a bit too much *) ; but at least it will be a while before Iraq can present a nuclear threat to its neighbors.

* There have been persistent rumors about UN personnel and retired diplomats being in the "strategic metals" business. Yellowcake is considered "peaceful use" material and is not accounted for. If nobody knows for sure how much yellowcake is in a country,nobody can say for sure how much of it has been stolen and sold elsewhere. (But we know such rumors are false : right ? Right ??)

Saddam Hussein's Ties to Terrorism -Part 2 : Osama bin Laden

It is "high fashion" these days to insist Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with Osama bin Laden , and to call for forced mental health counselling of anyone who suggests Saddam had any prior knowledge of -or role in - 9/11.

It wasn't always so !

In point of fact , the idea of cooperation between Saddam and Osama was widely reported prior to 9/11 (when the Clinton administration was calling for regime change in Iraq) , and right after 9/11 (when the nation as a whole - media included-was most fearful of its own safety.)

Right after 9/11, Jane's - a rather respectable European publication suggested strongly the Iraqi government was at least a sponsor of 9/11.

It was not that surprising a conclusion. The Guardian , in 1999 , spoke convincingly of strong links between Saddam and Osama . ( The Guardian is "somewhat inclined to the left" , and may have been feeling a mite pettish that day .)

Another British newspaper - The Telegraph-News - reported in 2003 its own reporters had found documents inside the ruins of an Iraqi Secret Service facility, that described meetings between representatives of Osama and Saddam.

Lo, and behold ! Even the 9/11 Commission had information of a relationship between Osama and Saddam , according to this Weekly Standard article.

There is even an account in The Times of India ,concerning ABC's interview of a woman who was Saddam's long-time mistress :

WASHINGTON: A woman claiming to have been Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's mistress for more than 30 years told ABC News that she witnessed at least one meeting between Saddam and top terror suspect Osama Bin Laden.

In an interview to be broadcast Thursday, Parisoula Lampsos, 54, said that during the mid-1980s, Bin Laden, blamed for the terror strike of September 11 that killed more than 3,000, visited one of Saddam's palaces in Iraq.

She alleged that the Iraqi leader's eldest son, Uday, told her the two met again about a decade later, an exchange that saw Saddam giving money to the Saudi-born millionaire exile.

Finally, The Telegraph News provides another nugget: Atta, leader of the 9/11 hijackers underwent training in Iraq during the summer of 2001-according to the Iraqi Provisional Government. ( The article explains that Atta had a number of passports, and was able to enter and leave the US almost at will.)

One might ask : if the media perception of and reporting of available information was colored by political and emotional needs then , are the same factors still at work ?

I'm inclined to think they had it right the first time , and that there was a good reason why the Taliban in Afghanistan contacted their Iraqi Intelligence counterparts to pass the following warning along :

This is the text of a document seized from Iraqi Intelligence files during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

It is one of the translated documents aired by ABC TV in March,2006, and may have been printed in your hometown newspaper.

Please keep in mind it was written on 09/15/01.


In the name of God the merciful the compassionate
Presidency of the Republic
Intelligence Service
2/913/5th directorate

Sir: Director General of the 5th directorate

Subject: Information
Our Afghani source #002 (info on him in paper slip ‘1’) has informed us that Afghani consular Ahmed Dahistani (info on him in paper slip ‘2’) had spoken before him of the following:

1-That Usama Bin Ladin and the Taliban group in Afghanistan are in contact with Iraq and that a group from the Taliban and Usama Bin Ladin’s group had conducted a visit to Iraq.

2-That America possesses evidence that Iraq and Usama Bin Ladin’s group had cooperated to strike targets inside America.

3-In case Taliban and Usama’s group are proven involved in those sabotage operations, it will be possible that America directs strikes at Iraq and Afghanistan.

4-That the Afghani consular had heard about the Iraq connections with Usama Bin Ladin’s group during his presence in Iran.

5-In the light of what preceded we suggest writing to the Intentions Committee about the above information.

Please be informed…..your feedback please…..with appreciation.
)signature) (signature(

Information office send immediately to the
Of the 5th directorate/3 Intentions Committee
9/15/2001

Saddam Hussein's Ties to Terrorism: Myths vs Truths

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has reached a sort of "Scot's Verdict"- Not Proven -on the subject of pre-9/11 ties between the Iraqi government and Osama bin Laden.

I'm not going to pretend I can prove the existence of such ties ; but I will lay out the available evidence , and let you draw your own conclusions.

I think, if you read through the material -most of which is from Saddam's own Intelligence Service- you may well conclude there was such a relationship , and you may even have reason to suspect strongly Saddam contributed to 9/11.

The catch is: Will anybody care ? The American people seem less and less interested in the reasons for Operation Iraqi Freedom , than in bringing it to an end...and Devil take the consequences !

Part of the reason for this attitude, in my humble opinion, is the myths that have been given credence to, and repeated so many times  by the (ad hoc) " Anti-war Coaltion" , they have achieved the status of truth.

Myth Number 1: Despite being a bit "rough around the edges" , Saddam Hussein - a good,somewhat nationalistic Arab Socialist- was a peaceful chap, who bore the United States no ill will , and who had not the slightest intention of doing us harm.He had nothing to do with terrorism or terrorists,and instructed his agencies to crack down on them, wherever they might be.

Let's go back to 1990, and read the transcript of a videotape Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) made of his friendly, heartwarming chat with Yasser Arafat. (For those of you too impatient to read the link,Saddam expresses a desire to send suicide bombers-wearing explosive belts-to the US to wreak havoc-and-if possible ,to kill then-president George HW Bush.

Well, that was way back in 1990. George HW Bush was still President.Perhaps Saddam mellowed out a bit later on ?

It's now 1999. Saddam and his son direct the fanatic Fedayeen Saddam to launch an operation against Israeli,British, and US interests under the codename "Blessed July".

(Some of you will dislike the fact this article is printed in the rather conservative "Weekly Standard". It was also printed in the explicitly liberal "Foreign Affairs".)

There is a second story -again in The Weekly Standard and in Foreign Affairs- of an Iraqi connection to the al-Qaeda group, Abu Sayaaf , which is based in the Phillipines.  The Iraqi government, it seems, is providing money to this group to buy weapons, explosives , and the day-to-day neccessaries of kidnapping, bombings, murder, and all-round terrorism.This support continues -sometimes with the assistance of Libyan Intelligence - until 2003.

Then we have the not-so-small matter of the al-Quds (al-Qods - spelling varies)  Martyrs Brigade - which all the world knows is an Iranian-sponsored-and-trained terror organization...only Saddam had his own chapter - founded in 2001 !

There are a lot of mentions of the al-Quds groups in the Iraqi files : for example,a 228 page list of members-50 names per page; a note to the effect their training was supervised by members of the Iraqi Army : "37 draftees,7 warrant officers, and 5 corporals"; a list of roughly 60 names of those who volunteered to undergo the "Martyr Muhammad Jamal al-Durra Course".

There is an open acknowledgement of Iraqi involvement in this training here ; and, for those for whom seeing is believing,there is a 36 page photo spread on the training of one small contingent. (There are also lengthy videos-complete with martial music and Arabic narration, showing two contingents of al-Quds volunteers-one tricked out in Bedouin robes-plus a group of people wearing white lab coats -and struggling to keep step-passing in review before Saddam Hussein.)

In addition, in March,2001, an order was sent out to regular Iraqi military units ,soliciting volunteers for suicide missions.

The translated text is courtesy Joseph Shahada, who uses the name "Veritas", and who has translated many of the captured Iraqi documents.

Beginning of the translation of page 6 from document BIAP 2003-000654

In the Name of God the Merciful The Compassionate

Top Secret

The Command of Ali Bin Abi Taleb Air Force Base

No 3/6/104

Date 11 March 2001

To all the Units

Subject: Volunteer for Suicide Mission

The top secret letter 2205 of the Military Branch of Al Qadisya on 4/3/2001 announced by the top secret letter 246 from the Command of the military sector of Zi Kar on 8/3/2001 announced to us by the top secret letter 154 from the Command of Ali Military Division on 10/3/2001 we ask to provide that Division with the names of those who desire to volunteer for Suicide Mission to liberate Palestine and to strike American Interests and according what is shown below to please review and inform us.

Air Brigadier General

Abdel Magid Hammod Ali

Commander of Ali Bin Abi Taleb Air Force Base

Air Colonel

Mohamad Majid Mahdi.

According to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Saddam Hussein himself,and some of his top deputies were asked about connections between al-Qaeda and the Ba'athist regime. After a little prodding and prompting, they admitted they had had conferences with al-Qaeda representatives prior to 9/11.

Saddam reportedly volunteered the information al-Qaeda asked him for $10 million to carry out their work, but he declined, because he "did not trust them".(This, we are told,is the final conclusive proof: the statements of a man who had achieved worldwide notoriety for his lying.)

We have also been told - more times than I can count-that Saddam Hussein was "too secular" to have any truck with the religious fanatics of al-Qaeda.(That must be why every document I have seen opens with this prayerful invocation :" In the Name of God the Merciful The Compassionate ".)

When I pick this report up again, I will explore other myths about Saddam.

Why the al-Quds Army Decided They Didn't Want to Defend Iraq After All

The al-Quds Brigades - a group of Palestinian "students" who were taking a post-graduate course in terrorism - were in Iraq prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom , and swore all kinds of loyalty to Saddam Hussein.

They said they would fight to the last breath against the evil American invaders;and Saddam saw to it they were issued weapons ,proper robes,tents,and camels (yes,camels !),so they could pose as Bedouins and sneak up on the hated invaders.

That was the plan...until they got wind of what the fun-loving Hussein Family had in mind for them...

(The following is from captured Iraqi documents.I have rendered the somewhat sketchy English of the interpreter into more understandable common vernacular.)

Secret

To: The general military intelligence directorate

Subject: Information

March 11, 2003

The Al-Quds liberation army division supplied us with information  as follows:

1. The Iraqi Government will distribute the same leaflets (to the Iraqi people) that the American forces are distributing but they will contain anthrax. Al Quds volunteers will handle this distribution.

2. Iraq has imported uniforms resembling those used by the Americans  for the purpose of murdering Iraqi citizens,and making them believe American troops were responsible.Al-Quds volunteers will wear these uniforms.

3. Trenches have been dug around the city of Baghdad, and oil barrels and other flammable derivatives have been emplaced forthe purpose of burning and causing mayhem in the city of Baghdad as Iraq did in Kuwait.Al-Quds volunteers will ignite these fires.

4. Diplomats are leaving Iraq and Russia says that it has already taken out its representatives from inside Iraq.

5. There is a rumor that some of the children of ministers and high ranking commercial people have left Iraq for Russia.

Request review…..with regards

Director of the Al-Quds Army Intelligence Organization

Shortly after this bulletin was circulated,the al-Quds Army suddenly became peace-loving foreign students,who were merely seeking a way home from Iraq.

A large group of these folks are still in refugee camps, and are being "tut-tutted" over by clueless UN types and NGO social workers.

One of Saddam's Last Orders

One of the Last Pre-War Documents : From Saddam Himself !

IZSP-2003-00000008 (Full Translation)

Order Number: 31
Based on Para B, Article 58 of the Constitution,the following Order is issued :

All people and companies in the private and mixed sectors are forbidden from importing and producing Biological, Chemical and Nuclear weapons and materials.

All Ministries involved must carry out this order,and must prosecute violators.

Written in Baghdad on 14 Feb 2003.

Saddam Hussein

Top Secret
Western Area.
The above order is from from the President # 1133
15 Feb 2003
#3092,
25 Feb 2003
Please review.

From:
COL Nabeel Lamam Abd-Gabr
Western Area Commander
8 Mar 2003
Secret.

Hmmmmmmmmm.........

If Iraq had no WMD programs prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom, why did Saddam order them shut down ?

Followup: Joseph Shahada,whose translations of Iraqi documents have won him national acclaim,says the order in question was promulgated by Saddam Hussein at the request of Kofi Annan.

It is difficult to determine what Annan's motives were-unless,of course,Annan wanted to make sure Saddam did not deploy any WMD during the anticipated conflict. (Annan,it may be recalled,has said he did not believe Saddam had any such weapons-which still leaves us with a minor mystery !)