The Washington Post Quotes The President Without
Including The Full Context Of His Remarks Distinguishing Al Qaeda From
Saddam. The Washington Post: "On Sept. 25, 2002, just days
after the CIA received the source's information, President Bush told
reporters: 'Al-Qaeda hides. Saddam doesn't, but the danger is, is that
they work in concert. The danger is, is that al-Qaeda becomes an
extension of Saddam's madness and his hatred and his capacity to extend
weapons of mass destruction around the world. ... [Y]ou can't
distinguish between al-Qaeda and Saddam when you talk about the war on
terror.'" (Walter Pincus, "CIA Learned in '02 That Bin Laden Had No Iraq
Ties, Report Says," The Washington Post, 9/15/06)
- The Full Context Of The President's Quote Shows That He
Was NOT Drawing An Operational Link Between Al Qaeda And Saddam But
Was Making The Point That Both Posed Threats To The World.
QUESTION: "Mr. President, do you believe that Saddam Hussein is a
bigger threat to the United States than al Qaeda?" THE PRESIDENT:
"That's a - that is an interesting question. I'm trying to think of
something humorous to say. But I can't when I think about al Qaeda and
Saddam Hussein. They're both risks, they're both dangerous. The
difference, of course, is that al Qaeda likes to hijack governments.
Saddam Hussein is a dictator of a government. Al Qaeda hides, Saddam
doesn't, but the danger is, is that they work in concert. The danger
is, is that al Qaeda becomes an extension of Saddam's madness and his
hatred and his capacity to extend weapons of mass destruction around
the world. Both of them need to be dealt with. The war on terror, you
can't distinguish between al Qaeda and Saddam when you talk about the
war on terror. And so it's a comparison that is - I can't make because
I can't distinguish between the two, because they're both equally as
bad, and equally as evil, and equally as destructive." (President
George W. Bush, Remarks In A Photo Opportunity With Colombian
President Uribe, Washington, DC, 9/25/02)
In February 2003, CIA Director George Tenet Testified That
Iraq Had Links To Al Qaeda
The Washington Post Says That A CIA Report From Late
September 2002 Claimed That Saddam Did Not Have Links To Al Qaeda.
"The CIA learned in late September 2002 from a high-level member of
Saddam Hussein's inner circle that Iraq had no past or present contact
with Osama bin Laden and that the Iraqi leader considered bin Laden an
enemy of the Baghdad regime, according to a recent Senate Intelligence
Committee report." (Walter Pincus, "CIA Learned in '02 That Bin Laden
Had No Iraq Ties, Report Says," The Washington Post, 9/15/02)
- In February 2003, CIA Director George Tenet Testified That
Iraq Had Links To Al Qaeda. TENET: "Iraq is harboring senior
members of a terrorist network led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a close
associate of al Qaeda. ... Iraq has in the past provided training in
document forgery and bomb-making to al Qaeda. It has also provided
training in poisons and gases to two al Qaeda associates. One of these
associates characterized the relationship he forged with Iraqi
officials as successful. ... I know that part of this - and part of
this Zarqawi network in Baghdad are two dozen Egyptian Islamic jihad
which is indistinguishable from al Qaeda - operatives who are aiding
the Zarqawi network, and two senior planners who have been in Baghdad
since last May. Now, whether there is a base or whether there is not a
base, they are operating freely, supporting the Zarqawi network that
is supporting the poisons network in Europe and around the world. So
these people have been operating there. And, as you know - I don't
want to recount everything that Secretary Powell said, but as you know
a foreign service went to the Iraqis twice to talk to them about
Zarqawi and were rebuffed. So there is a presence in Baghdad that is
beyond Zarqawi." (George Tenet, Select Committee On Intelligence, U.S.
Senate, Hearing, 2/11/03)
- Tenet Testified That Iraq Was Providing Safe Haven To Al
Qaeda. SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MI): "Would you say, Mr. Tenet,
that the Zarqawi terrorist network is under the control or sponsorship
of the Iraqi government?" TENET: "I don't know that, sir, but I know
that there's a safe haven that's been provided to this network in
Baghdad." LEVIN: "So you're not - well, you're saying that you don't
know if they're under the support - that they are under the control or
direction?" TENET: "Yes, sir. We have said - what we've said is
Zarqawi and this large number of operatives are in Baghdad. They say
the environment is good. And it is inconceivable to us that the Iraqi
intelligence service doesn't know that they live there or what they're
doing." (George Tenet, Select Committee On Intelligence, U.S. Senate,
Hearing, 2/11/03)
- In March 2002, Tenet Testified On Iraq's Links To Al
Qaeda. TENET: "We continue to watch Iraq's involvement in
terrorists' activities. Baghdad has a long history of supporting
terrorism, altering its targets to reflect changing priorities and
goals. It is also had contacts with Al Qaeda." (George Tenet,
Committee On Armed Services, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 3/19/02)
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