Talk:Abu Musab al Zarqawi

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Saddam had APB out for Abu Musab Zarqawi

I do not know about Irelan on line's news story retention length, nor have I seen this article anywhere else yet, so I am posting it in its entirety here, in case others believe it should be archived.

--hugh_manateee 12:09, 18 Mar 2006 (EST)

Story, courtsey of Professor Juan Cole

"Saddam 'suspected al-Qaia in side Iraq in 2002'", Ireland Online, March 16, 2006
Iraqi documents collected by US intelligence during the Iraq war and released by the Bush administration show Saddam Hussein’s regime was investigating “rumours” that 3,000 Iraqis and Saudis had travelled unofficially to Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks to fight US troops.
The documents, the first of thousands expected to be declassified over the next several months, were released last night via a Pentagon website at the direction of National Intelligence Director John Negroponte.
Many were in Arabic - with no English translation - including one the administration said showed that Iraqi intelligence officials suspected al Qaida members were inside Iraq in 2002.
However, one of the documents, a letter from an Iraqi intelligence official, dated August 17, 2002, asked agents in the country to be on the lookout for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and another unnamed man whose picture was attached.
Copyright Thomas Crosbie Media, 2006

Story Source

Associated Press:

Document Source

  • "The Pentagon cautioned it has made 'no determination regarding the authenticity of the documents, validity or factual accuracy.'" [1]

More to the Story

Scroll down to:
"Many of the documents were in Arabic, including one indicating Saddam's regime was investigating what it called rumors that 3,000 Iraqis and Saudis had traveled unofficially to Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks to fight U.S. troops.
"The Pentagon Web site said the document confirmed the presence of an al-Qaida terror group in Iraq. It described the document this way: "2002 Iraqi Intelligence Correspondence concerning the presence of al-Qaida Members in Iraq."
"However, a translation by The Associated Press found the document, a letter from an Iraqi intelligence official, dated Aug. 17, 2002, merely asked agents to be on the lookout for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and another suspect whose picture was attached. The letter cited reports that the two could be in Iraq and directed Iraqi security officials to be on alert as a matter of "top priority."
"Attached were three responses in which Iraqi agents said there was no evidence that al-Zarqawi or the other man were in Iraq. Al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian, is now the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq."
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