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Author Topic:   CNN's CIA doc confirms DIA memo
Venusian Love
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posted July 26, 2006 06:32 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
11 November 2005

CNN's CIA doc confirms DIA memo

Quite the title, eh? So CNN has acquired a January 2003 CIA memo that actually did try and subject the Iraq-Qaeda link to some analytic rigor, but was ignored at the political level.

A January 2003 CIA report raised doubts about claims that al Qaeda sent operatives to Iraq to acquire chemical and biological weapons -- dramatic assertions that were repeated weeks later by then-Secretary of State Colin Powell to the United Nations in making the case for the invasion of Iraq.

CNN on Thursday obtained a CIA document that outlined the history of the claim, which originated in 2002 with a captured al Qaeda operative who recanted two years later.

The CIA report appears to support a recently declassified document that revealed the Defense Intelligence Agency thought in February 2002 that the source, Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi, was lying to interrogators.

See previously for more on the DIA memo. Basically, the administration's most spectacular claims were based on a single-source bullshitter.

A senior administration official said Bush would "directly take on some of these false attacks by some Democratic leaders" during a Veterans Day speech Friday.

That's nice. Now honoring the dead will provide cover for more embarrassing presidential contortions and CYA rationalizations.

Update: The text of Bush's speech. It's appalling, even though I reject the "withdraw now-or-later" argument. That he's hijacking Veterans Day for this crap . . . .

These baseless attacks send the wrong signal to our troops and to an enemy that is questioning America's will. As our troops fight a ruthless enemy determined to destroy our way of life, they deserve to know that their elected leaders who voted to send them to war continue to stand behind them.

It's essentially the same tired demand to celebrate administration dysfuction as the heighth of patriotism.

CNN.com and NYT reports on the speech. The New York Times, Associated Press, and Washington Post look at the White House's emerging strategy. It is essentially yet another political campaign to tar critics and deny reality. Can't wait. NSA Stephen Hadley's notable press briefing is here.

07:34 AM in White House | Permalink
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Tracked on 11 November 2005 at 11:07 AM
Comments
Ahhh, tis a tangled web they weave when they labor to deceive.

Gott's vatching, Jorge... Mengele died and he's burning now... you're next...

Posted by: M. Douglas Wray | 11 November 2005 at 08:41 AM

And is it clear whether this particular ******** happened after al-Libi was sent to Egypt for rougher interrogation? Could be yet another glorious Bush/Cheney victory in the war on terror! Maybe we'll hear about it in the SOTU 2006: "Our Egyptian friends threatened al-Libi with being raped by a German shepherd... let's just say that got his attention!"

Posted by: Thomas Nephew | 11 November 2005 at 02:22 PM

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