You seriously have to be impressed by the digging that goes on from the right side of the spectrum in the US. Check out this audio file of an ABC report in 1999 that outlines the connection between Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. The critical part here is that during the Clinton Administration the American press investigated this. After 9/11 they would not touch this story at all. It has become the consensus that there was no connection, even when the same media sources outlined the case in 1999. Pathetic. (Hat-tips to Instapundit and Roger L Simon for this one)
Here are some highlights:
"With an American price on his head there weren't many places bin Laden could go. Unless he teamed up with another international pariah. One also with an interest in Weapons of Mass Destruction. "
"Osama believes in the enemy of my enemy is my friend and it is someone I should cooperate with. That's certainly the current case with Iraq."
"Saddam Hussein has a long history of harbouring terrorists. Carlos the Jackal, Abbu Nidal, Abbu Addas (sp?) - the most notorious terrorists of their era all found shelter and support at one time in Baghdad. Intelligence sources say that bin Laden's long relationship with the Iraqi's began when he helped Sudan's fundamentalist Government in their effort to acquire Weapons of Mass Destruction. Three weeks after the bombing, on August 31st, bin Laden reaches out to his friends in Iraq and Sudan. Iraq's vice-President arrives in Khartoum to show his support for the Sudanese after the US attack. ABC News has learned that during these meetings senior Sudanese officials, acting on behalf of bin Laden, ask if Saddam Hussein would grant him asylum."
"Iraq was indeed interested. ABC News has learned that in December an Iraqi intelligence chief named Faruq Ajazzi (sp?), now Iraq's ambassador to Turkey, made a secret trip to Afghanistan to meet with bin Laden."
"Three intelligence agencies tell ABC News they cannot be certain what was discussed. But almost certainly bin Laden has been told he would be welcome in Baghdad. And intelligence sources say they can only speculate on the purpose of an alliance. What could bin Laden offer Saddam Hussein? Only days after he meets Iraqi officials, bin Laden tells ABC News that his network is wide and there are people prepared to commit terror in his name, who he does not even control."
