Cheney: Was There ‘A Link Between Iraq And Al Qaeda? Seems To Me Pretty Clear That There Was’
Cheney: Was There ‘A Link Between Iraq And Al Qaeda? Seems To Me Pretty Clear That There Was’
Before the Iraq war began, Dick Cheney was among the most prominent messengers of the false claim that Saddam Hussein had a relationship with al Qaeda. For example, he said it was “pretty well confirmed” that a 9/11 hijacker met with Iraqi intelligence officials before 9/11.
Over the past five years, numerous intelligence reports have conclusively proved that there was no Iraq/al Qaeda relationship. A Senate Intelligence Committee report stated in Sept. 2006 that Saddam and Osama bin Laden were not collaborators, but rather enemies.
More recently, a study commissioned by the Defense Department to look into the Iraq/al Qaeda ties “showed no connection between the two.” But Dick Cheney still isn’t convinced. Speaking at a press conference in Iraq today, Cheney shot down the new report. He acknowledged that — while no “operational link” has been found between Iraq and al Qaeda — it’s “pretty clear” there is a link:
CHENEY: Well, this is no operational link. But there was, as I recall from looking at it, extensive links with Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Egyptian Islamic Jihad was the organization headed by Zawahiri, and he merged EIJ with Al Qaeda when he became the deputy director of Al Qaida, Osama bin Laden’s number two. Now, was that a link between Iraq and Al Qaeda? Seems to me pretty clear that there was.
But it’s a question — I would urge you to go read the report. I know ABC reported on it. If you dig into the report in depth, I think you may find that there was an extensive relationship with a broad range of terrorist groups, that he was a state sponsor of terror. And I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.
During the press conference, Cheney again cited a throughly-debunked Weekly Standard article written by his own biographer Stephen Hayes as laying out the best case of an Iraq/al Qaeda connection. “It was the Weekly Standard that dealt with this subject,” Cheney said.
Though Cheney urged reporters to “go read the report,” reporters will have a difficult time doing that. According to ABC News, the new Pentagon report “won’t be emailed to reporters and it won’t be posted online.” So you’ll just have to take Dick Cheney’s word for it.
Transcript:
STAFF: Last question.
QUESTION: Thanks, Mr. Vice President. Let me play (inaudible) lots of talk this week, fifth anniversary week of the invasion, about the case for war in Iraq. Last week, as you know, there was a report issued by the Pentagon that showed, among many other things, that Saddam Hussein had been supporting Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Blind Sheik, he had been training jihadists from Sudan and elsewhere in Iraq throughout the 1990s and funded the precursor to Ansar al-Islam. I wondered if you could give me your thoughts on that report and also explain why the White House isn’t talking about it.
CHENEY: Well, I’ve taken just a quick look at the summary portion of the report and read an article, and it was the Weekly Standard that dealt with this subject.
(LAUGHTER)
I think there’s never been any doubt in my mind, but what Saddam Hussein was one of the prime state sponsors of terror in the world. He was designated that by the U.S. State Department. And based on all the
things you mentioned, he also used to provide $25,000 payments to the families of suicide bombers.I always hark back to the testimony that George Tenet, then CIA director, gave in I think it was 2003 in public session — this was open testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee — that there was a
relationship between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaida that went back a decade.The fact is, I think the report, to the extent I’ve been able to look at it, indicates pretty clearly that Saddam Hussein and the Iraqis had a relationship with a broad range of terrorist groups back in the ’90s. And I think that if you read the report you’re talking about just released by the Defense Intelligence Agency, it’s pretty conclusively makes that case.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) Why so little to talk about?
CHENEY: Well, I think this just came out within the last few days. So, I haven’t had any conversations with — for example, with the Press Office. I just — you’d have to ask them or I’ll ask them when I get home.
QUESTION: (inaudible) if there’s no link between A.Q. and Saddam.
CHENEY: Well, this is no operational link. But there was, as I recall from looking at it, extensive links with
Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Egyptian Islamic Jihad was the organization headed by Zawahiri, and he merged EIJ with Al Qaeda when he became the deputy director of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden’s number two. Now, was that a link between Iraq and Al Qaeda? Seems to me pretty clear that there was.But it’s a question — I would urge you to go read the report. I know ABC reported on it. If you dig into the report in depth, I think you may find that there was an extensive relationship with a broad range of terrorist groups, that he was a state sponsor of terror. And I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.
QUESTION: So, you think there was a direct link between Al Qaeda…
CHENEY: You heard what I said. I was very precise.
QUESTION: But you weren’t.
CHENEY: OK. Thank you all very much.
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He must continue to make it look like the saudi’s weren’t totally responsible for the attack and he can’t find a way to do it?
March 17th, 2008 at 3:57 pmFIRE THIS SON-OF-A-BlTCH NOW!
March 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pmTo refresh everyone’s memories further, Zarqawi had safe haven in a region not only outside of Saddam’s control, but defended by the United States Air Force.
Why does the U.S. hate America?
March 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pmThe only thing missing from that photograph is the froth coming out of Cheney’s mouth…
March 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pmAnother day in bizarro world. The hijackers had more contact with the flippin FBI than they did with Iraq.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:02 pmThe good news is that no one believes a word Cheney says except for the stupidest of the 24%ers. Let’s call them the 10%ers.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:03 pmAnd the reporters said “Sure Dick, we’ll read that report just as soon as you’re done sitting on it…”
March 17th, 2008 at 4:04 pmWhen Cheney makes fingers-in-his-ears statements like this, it reminds me of an old Happy Days episode when Fonzie could not admit he was wrong. Even in the face of evidence, he could not physically get his mouth to pronounce the word “wrong”.
It wasn’t that funny then, and now it’s freakin’ terrifying.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:07 pmOnce again, reality and facts are liberal concepts.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:09 pmZawahiri is not Zarqawi. Zawahiri was active in the Egyptian Muuslim Brotherhood. he founded or co-founded al-qaeda with Osama. Nonetheless, there is no connection with Saddam. And this statement today is a far cry from Atta meeting agents in the Czech republic. This guy just makes it a point to keep his jaws moving. Everyone continues to give him a free pass.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm2 more US troops dead today
3990
March 17th, 2008 at 4:13 pmHuh. His cyborg brain must be stuck in an endless loop. Time to reprogram!
/del
There. Fixed it.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:13 pmDoes anyone care what this lying b@stard thinks in his delusion?
March 17th, 2008 at 4:14 pmHis mouth is so crooked because it is a manifestation of the words that come from within.
It’s ALSO “pretty clear” that Cheney is a LIAR, WAR CRIMINAL and has committed TREASON against what USED to be the USA.
HE has NO CREDIBILITY at all.
Time for you to KILL YOURSELF, Cheney, before you are arrested and put in jail for WAR CRIMES and TREASON.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:14 pmmeanwhile iraqi soldiers comment on the u.s. presidential race:
http://movies.crooksandliars.com/twip_phillips_031608.mov
interesting.
(h/t c&l)
March 17th, 2008 at 4:15 pmthe only link - is a neuron transmitter in Cheneys head
March 17th, 2008 at 4:15 pm.
Cheney isn’t Tilting at Windmills much, is he?
Keeping the ENEMY LOOMING LARGE in his contextual twisting of realities known as abject reasoning. Continue to fight the good fight, honorable soldiers, that enemy must be won over, even if that enemy is one that is imagined into existence.
.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:19 pmHey, Dickie-baby. Report says you’re full of it.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:19 pmTruly the Most Evil Man Alive.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:20 pm.
More facts on the LIARS, and in their words only.
.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:20 pmThere is a clear link between Cheney and insanity.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:21 pmI’m sure there’s a link between myself and Brad Pitt.
Oh wait, that’s only in my dreams, too.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:21 pmMaybe it was a link like this:
http://www.WhatACrockOfCompleteAndTotalHorseShit.com
March 17th, 2008 at 4:23 pm7 US and NATO troops killed today
2 Canadians killed in Afghanistan
March 17th, 2008 at 4:26 pm2 Americans killed in Iraq
2 Danish Troops killed in Afghanistan
1 Czech killed In Afghanistan
“Never give up, never surrender….”
To misquote Erich Segal, “RW authoritarianism means never having to say you’re wrong….”
Cheers,
March 17th, 2008 at 4:26 pmThere is CLEAR a LINK between Bush/Cheney and TREASON against the USA.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:27 pmAt this point there is more evidence that Dick collaborated with Osama than there is that Saddam did. That Dick has not been stuck by lightning is proof that there is no GOD. Why won’t the repulsive old puke just die?
March 17th, 2008 at 4:28 pm#15 joe cantwell Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Gotta love Permalinks. C&L does not allow piggy backing videos. Each time it will bring you to the home page header.
Great video!
March 17th, 2008 at 4:29 pmShhh… nobody tell Dick “monkey heart” Cheney that he is in his “last throes”.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:29 pmIf only there were a connection between Cheney and the truth, Cheney and reality, Cheney and humanity. Anything.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:30 pm“Cheney: Was There ‘A Link Between Iraq And Al Qaeda? Seems To Me Pretty Clear That There Was’”
WHAT?!?!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
March 17th, 2008 at 4:30 pmThere’s an error in the story:
CHENEY: Well, this is no operational link. But there was, as I recall from looking at it, extensive links with Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Egyptian Islamic Jihad was the organization headed by Zawahiri, and he merged EIJ with Al Qaeda when he became the deputy director of Al Qaida, Osama bin Laden’s number two. Now, was that a link between Iraq and Al Qaeda? Seems to me pretty clear that there was….
[TP]: To refresh everyone’s memories about Zarqawi, he operated in a region of Iraq before the war that was independent of Saddam and completely outside his control.
Zawahiri is not the same person as Zarqawi. Zarqawi was killed (a couple of times, by U.S. accounts) in Iraq. Zawahiri is one of the remaining al Qaeda big honchos still on the loose….
That needs fixing.
Cheers,
March 17th, 2008 at 4:31 pmUntil they stop giving him a free ride on his lying, then somebody has to keep tabs on this dangerous waste of space.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:32 pmIn that case then, Dick, there is a link between Iraq and Kevin Bacon.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:32 pmI think Dick is breathing through his eyelids.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:35 pmNothing more than a continuation of the same big lie tactic that has been the hallmark of this junta. They know that the media will not challenge them as the liars and scum that they are. They know that a certain minority will be the big lie and gain support. Only when the media will call Cheney out as a liar and delusional will it end.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:36 pmRemember now, this is coming from a man who sees no problem with drinking while taking heart medication and throwing in some firearms. Him saying “it’s pretty clear” is showing just how relative that is when put in the proper context.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:36 pmCHENEY: Well, this is no operational link. But there was, as I recall from looking at it, extensive links with Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Egyptian Islamic Jihad was the organization headed by Zawahiri, and he merged EIJ with Al Qaeda when he became the deputy director of Al Qaida, Osama bin Laden’s number two. Now, was that a link between Iraq and Al Qaeda? Seems to me pretty clear that there was.
——————————–
I read this through several times, looking for a link between Zawahiri and Saddam Hussein, and there isn’t one in this paragraph.
As near as I can tell, Cheney’s “clear link” is that the names “Zawahiri” and “Zarqawi” have some letters in common. Is he really trying to convince us this was a good reason to invade Iraq?
March 17th, 2008 at 4:37 pmSay, anyone know who asked Ctheney that last question? Jeff Gannon/Jimmy Guckert, by chance?
Cheers,
March 17th, 2008 at 4:37 pmLet’s see, Reagan sent “private citizen” Donald Rumsfeld to meet with Saddam @ 1986. Rummy reported that Saddam was someone with whom the U.S. could work as a counterweight to Iran. An emboldened Saddam and Iraq became a client state of the U.S. Saddam misunderstood his place in the hierarchy of U.S. allies in the middle east and miscalculated U.S. reaction to his invasion of Kuwait. Reagan’s client became Bush I’s adversary as a result. The terror links cited by Cheney followed. Now, was that a link between Reagan and Al Qaeda? Not an operational one but it makes as much sense as what The Dick is peddling this week.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:39 pm27. jb Says:
:-PPP That kills. Marry me.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:39 pmIsn’t it amazing that Cheney will invent the most convuluted “links” to connect 9/11 to Iraq, in order to distract everybody from the REAL links between the 9/11 hijackers and Saudi Arabia?
March 17th, 2008 at 4:39 pmThere will be a link between Murders rates in America and troops suffering PTSD when they arrive home from Iraq and Afghanistan
March 17th, 2008 at 4:40 pmThis is like calling the NYT with a story, which they dutifully print, then going on MTP and citing a story which was reported in the NYT. It’s ploy that he used before and apparently he still uses — plants his own story and uses it for credibility.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:40 pmI doubt the reporters present challenged him.
It’s called circular sourcing. He’s the master.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pmThe Pentagon Report that shows no link between Sadam and Al Qaeda can be found here:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/ rapidreport/ 2008/ 03/ report-shows-no.html
March 17th, 2008 at 4:43 pm27. jb Says:
:-PPP That kills. Marry me.
I’ll take that as a compliment. My wife and I can argue about whether we have been married 36 or 37 years.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:45 pmTobie Tall Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
There will be a link between Murders rates in America and troops suffering PTSD when they arrive home from Iraq and Afghanistan
Wars always come home. We have so much Hell to pay.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:47 pmtombaker Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
In that case then, Dick, there is a link between Iraq and Kevin Bacon.
Oh no! A link between Iraq and Kevin Bacon means there’s a link between al Qeada and Kyra Sedgwick. And THAT means there’s a link between Iraq and Oprah Winfrey.
Which means, of course, that Barack Obama was behind 9/11.
This could sink his candidacy.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:50 pmOBAMA’S CAMPAIGN CLOSE TO THE END!!
MAybe you libs want to ignore it but I should break the news to you that Hussein’s career is just about over!! Like almost dead!!
The latest Obama racist / lying scandal is going to do him in as he scrambles all over the place to try and talk his way out of it but his own words are going to doom his campaign! The good Rev Brotha Jeremiah Wright has caused his Presidential aspirations to end!!
March 17th, 2008 at 4:51 pm47. jb Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
27. jb Says:
Hah, wicked! Me and OleHippieDude just had our 38th!!!
No, it was only an extreme compliment because it was as if my own mind had formed your words. ;-)
March 17th, 2008 at 4:51 pmIt’s the “big lie” .. repeating over, and over, and over again something that you know is a lie - because eventually people will believe it. And it works. Hitler was a master at it - but maybe just a picker compared to Cheney’s use.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:52 pmzuch Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Say, anyone know who asked Ctheney that last question? Jeff Gannon/Jimmy Guckert, by chance?
Cheers,
March 17th, 2008 at 4:54 pmPh’nglui mglw’nafh Ctheney R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn (In his house at R’lyeh dead Ctheney waits dreaming.)
A heart attack is too good for that buckeroo. he needs a nice slow death for puttin out the shit he has to people. I keep seeing Benito hanging by his thumbs in a grease rack and think that might be fitting.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:55 pmGood Gooshy cites Murdoch, Murdoch and husseinandterror?
Come on Gooshy, get some REAL evidence from REPUTABLE sources and try again.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:55 pmD+ for effort only on that post.
Congratulations OleHippieChick and OleHippieDude! Keep the faith and don’t let the Bastards like Dick Cheney beat you down.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:57 pmThis FACIST criminal should be behind barrs waiting for his execution for War Crimes!
March 17th, 2008 at 4:57 pmMother, Mary and Joseph!
I just now logged-in to TP and what kind of greeting do i get?
Mug shots of big DICK Cheney, BachMAN and “Hot Karl” Rove all in succession.
It’s enough to make one want to go out and drink massive quantities of green beer!
Actually, i think i’ll stick with a glass or 3 of red wine.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:58 pmAll we need to know about Deroy Murdock - gigi’s fifi source…
March 17th, 2008 at 5:00 pmhe called waterboarding “something of which every American should be proud
Oh, and lest I forget, Deroy Mudrock is also …
March 17th, 2008 at 5:00 pma contributing editor with National Review Online.
RUCerious Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Good Gooshy cites Murdoch, Murdoch and husseinandterror?
Come on Gooshy, get some REAL evidence from REPUTABLE sources and try again.
D+ for effort only on that post.
RUC, you ignore Gigi’s most grievous error in her pathetic post.
She’s implying that Saddam’s “ties to terrorists” and AQI’s introduction to Iraq post-invasion somehow vindicate Deadeye Dick’s delusion.
She moving the goalposts so fast that they’re just a lur. Maybe that’s the idea?
March 17th, 2008 at 5:02 pmDead Meat Dick lying to the very end.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:03 pmRUCerious Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Come on Gooshy, get some REAL evidence from REPUTABLE sources and try again.
—————————————
If he posted reputable sources from mainstream media outlets, all he’d be able to come up with is THIS:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/29959.html
However, that article DID say: “The Pentagon-sponsored study, scheduled for release later this week, did confirm that Saddam’s regime provided some support to other terrorist groups, particularly in the Middle East, U.S. officials told McClatchy. However, his security services were directed primarily against Iraqi exiles, Shiite Muslims, Kurds and others he considered enemies of his regime.”
Therefore, the righties are twisting this into “SADDAM HAD SOME LINKS WITH SOME TERRORIST GROUPS, WHICH PROVES HE WAS BEHIND AL QAEDA AND WE WERE RIGHT TO INVADE.”
Give me a break. Saddam Hussein wasn’t a nice guy. But he had nothing to do with 9/11.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:05 pmralph, the goalposts are so far away you’d need a howitzer to shoot a football between the uprights.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:09 pmGood point.
missmolly Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Isn’t it amazing that Cheney will invent the most convuluted “links” to connect 9/11 to Iraq, in order to distract everybody from the REAL links between the 9/11 hijackers and Saudi Arabia?
Or the REAL links between 911 and the Bush administration!
March 17th, 2008 at 5:19 pmCheney: Was There ‘A Link Between Iraq And Al Qaeda? Seems To Me Pretty Clear That There Was’
Seems to me pretty clear that you’re completely full of shit ………
March 17th, 2008 at 5:25 pmmcgigi is a stooge. nothing more, nothing less. Unless it posts something worth kicking just for the fun of it there is no reason to engage.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:26 pmThe Prague police said very early on that the alleged meeting did not take place. It was a lie. The “shack in the north” was a lie. The drones were a lie. The uranium from Africa was a known lie. The aluminum tubes were a known lie. The mobile weapons labs were a known lie. Ready to launch in 45 minutes was a lie. There were 935 lies. The Downing Street Memo was true. Who forged the Niger Documents? Was it Doug Feith?
March 17th, 2008 at 5:42 pmMax-1 Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
sorry about that max, try youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If7h4pcwMLk
March 17th, 2008 at 5:44 pmLIAR, LIAR, LIAR, LIAR
March 17th, 2008 at 5:50 pmthis guy is totally delusional, call the shrinks.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:56 pmWhy are you libs ignoring the obvious? Saddam Hussein [b]DID[/b] have links to Osama bin Laden.
It’s absolutely true, IF you follow the Kevin Bacon Game rules to the letter:
See? There are just six degrees of separation between Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein! SIX! And you libs think there’s “no link” between them. Shame!
March 17th, 2008 at 5:56 pmThe fact remains that Saddam had strong terrorist ties, and that despite inflicting heavy losses on the terrorists, we are still fighting al Qaeda and groups loyal to al Qaeda in the country of Iraq. That is more than “pretty well confirmed.”good_golly Says: March 17th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
ROTFL!!! GWBush and DICK CHENEY had CLOSER TIES to both Al Qaeda and Saddam than they did to each other!! ROTFL, you’re a dumb b**CH!!
March 17th, 2008 at 6:01 pmwould’ve been way cheaper to invade and occupy Kevin Bacon, and nearly as oily.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:04 pm72…
Toasterhead that is pure brilliance.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:05 pmIs that original or did you find it on the intertubes?
deebaser Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Toasterhead that is pure brilliance.
Is that original or did you find it on the intertubes?
Thank you!
It’s original, custom-built for this thread using readily available information from multiple published sources. Feel free to use it elsewhere!
March 17th, 2008 at 6:12 pmhussein toasterhead Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Ah yes, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. Good ol’ BCCI - if you can handle the chance your head might explode do a little research on that!! Use search words BCCI,Kerry,George W. Bush and have your favorite beverage handy!
March 17th, 2008 at 6:16 pmmary Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Ah yes, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. Good ol’ BCCI - if you can handle the chance your head might explode do a little research on that!! Use search words BCCI,Kerry,George W. Bush and have your favorite beverage handy!
Oh yeah. BCCI is very interesting indeed. I’ve read a lot about it and still don’t quite understand how deep that rabbit hole goes.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:24 pmI don’t know what further proof one needs that it was cheney that planned, ordered and orchestrated 9/11?
March 17th, 2008 at 6:39 pmAmericans will believe what Cheney says. The good news is the Carlyle Group completed it mission of cleaning out the US Treasury and leaving a debt of 10 Trillion dollars for Americans to pay. Yes it was a good 7 years with the help of the Media and the GOP. Carlyle Group members Bush Family, Bin Laden Family, Middle East Leaders, Dick Cheney and other Rich Republicans got their 10,000 dollar profit from their investment then closed the company. Yes Americans were distracted with the help of the Media with the sting of Gov. Spitzer. Yet the Media never said a word about the others using prostitution like the CFO of Time Warner, Duke of England or even the Federal Judge Edward Nottingham. Well this was a Republican set up and as usual the Americans fell for it. Now the investors of Bear Stearn’s are getting robbed and it all worked with the wire tapping ordered by Dick Cheney. World Leaders are seeing how easy it is for the Corrupt Bush Administration with the help of the Media trick the public, it’s going to easy for anyone to walk in the US and take over. We have a weak Military and bankrupt Economy and corrupt Government, as the rest of the World Leaders laugh.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:46 pmI think I know the link between Iraq and Al Qaeda that Cheney is talking about… It must be… the Q. Right Diq ?
March 17th, 2008 at 6:59 pmNo wonder Cheney’s worried about Iran. He lies like a Persian rug.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:48 pmCheney is like Paul Simon “still crazy after all these years.” Yet, I would trust this country’s future in the hands of Paul Simon long before I would ever trust Cheney.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:21 pmPhoto Caption: I think it’s pretty well confirmed that mine is the face of evil.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:24 pmYour Zawahiri/Zarqawi mix-up is pretty substantial. As other people have mentioned, you really need to correct it. What Cheney said about Zawahiri and Islamic Jihad is actually true - in that Zawahiri supposedly brought IJ along with him when he hooked up bin Laden, though IJ keeps its Egyptian business going largely w/o any influence that I’m aware of from Zawahiri. What is still not true, as has also already been said, is that any link between Iraq and al-Qaeda existed in any form.
Anyway - fix the post. It’s embarrassing.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:33 pmThere’s too much secrecy in this administration. They hide things not because of State Secrets, but because they need to cover their ass’s.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:02 pm# missmolly Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
CHENEY: Well, this is no operational link. But there was, as I recall from looking at it, extensive links with Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Egyptian Islamic Jihad was the organization headed by Zawahiri, and he merged EIJ with Al Qaeda when he became the deputy director of Al Qaida, Osama bin Laden’s number two. Now, was that a link between Iraq and Al Qaeda? Seems to me pretty clear that there was.
——————————–
I read this through several times, looking for a link between Zawahiri and Saddam Hussein, and there isn’t one in this paragraph.
As near as I can tell, Cheney’s “clear link” is that the names “Zawahiri” and “Zarqawi” have some letters in common. Is he really trying to convince us this was a good reason to invade Iraq?
“good reason to invade Iraq” is the same as a “good reason for people to die”, some of them quite horrible deaths and some didn’t die but have been horribly injured.
That would be 4,000 American soldiers and God only knows how many Iraqis who died for whatever ever changing reasons Cheney gives.
Cheney just had to make this happen whether he had to cheat, lie or steal (Niger embassy burglary in Italy).
We need to impeach this draft-dodging, lying, war profiteer and traitor.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:22 pmI think its funny, as crazy as the claims that Cheney makes are, even as his craziest he never tried to claim that Iran and Al-Queeeda were allies. Good thing our resident scab Good Gin Golly has some secret information that they are in cahoots..which means, (according to her “logic”) that the government we put in power in Iraq and Al-Queda share an ally…Iran…it all makes perfect sense now..
March 17th, 2008 at 9:35 pmThere is as good a chance of a link between Cheney and the Anthrax attacks as there is of a link between Saddam and Al Qaeda
March 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pmWho can blame Dick. He wants to go out with his own fantasy and who are we to take that away from him.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:31 pmCheney: “The Emperor is wearing such fine clothes these days!”
Neocons, nodding “So fine, so very fine”
Little Girl: “Why don’t I have one of those Mommy?”
Mommy, blushing: “Those are boys clothes honey”
March 18th, 2008 at 1:00 amAyman al-Zawahiri (to whom Cheney is referring) and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (who ThinkProgress confusingly misidentifies) are two completely different individuals:
“Who is Ayman al-Zawahiri?: Ayman al-Zawahiri is often referred to as second-in-command of the al-Qaeda terrorist network, behind Osama bin Laden. He is perhaps better understood as a direct counterpart of bin Laden’s—in a way, each made the other’s role possible. Zawahiri, an ideological firebrand of Egyptian birth, helped bin Laden structure his political ideas and projects, and in return bin Laden bankrolled Zawahiri’s preexisting campaign of militancy.
U.S. intelligence agencies believe Zawahiri functions as al-Qaeda’s most important ideological leader, and perhaps also the main operational leader of the network’s activities. Many counter-terrorism officials believe Zawahiri was more instrumental in the tactical planning of the September 11 attacks than bin Laden himself. … He is believed to be hiding in the same region as bin Laden—somewhere in the lawless borderlands between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The FBI has named him its second most wanted terrorist, behind only bin Laden” — Council on Foreign Relations
http://www.cfr.org/publication/9750/
Who was Abu Musab al-Zarqawi?
Jordanian by birth, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi transformed himself into a nationless freelance terrorist. … On June 7, 2006, U.S. forces in Iraq launched an air strike on a safe house some fifty-five miles north of Baghdad, where Zarqawi was hiding. The attack was the product of a prolonged intelligence effort to track down the terrorist leader, and was reportedly helped along by a tip from Jordan’s intelligence service that Zarqawi planned to hold a meeting in nearby Baquba — Council on Foreign Relations”
http://www.cfr.org/publication/9866/
ThinkProgress should refresh its own memory and correct its stated confusion between the two.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:04 amIt’s people like Exley who believe Saddam was behind 9/11, that he had WMDs waiting to attack New York within 45 minutes, that Al Qaeda and Saddam were ALLIES, Best buddies, that keep this evil man from being held accountable. Thanks a lot.
March 18th, 2008 at 2:40 amCaption:
I only meant to . . . pee in the shower . .
March 18th, 2008 at 3:46 amIf Miss Molly is the same from Krugs old column howdy lady .
Now to the task at hand, this is the ill gotten son of a breach birth, the baby died and the afterbirth was slapped to life.
the crooked leer on its face is because the dock
punched the umbilical cord down the Scanlon sucking throat creating a drag on the corners of its feeding orifice, the fangs are reminiscent on what one would find decorating a shrunken Pygmy, head with the same amount of cranial matter to function with.
This perverted excuse of a walking Zygote needs to have euthanasia preformed so that the caricature of a soul can be freed from its shell so it can wonder thru halls of hell for all eternity.
This caricature of human being is hoped by this individual will suffer the most horribleness death imaginable. staring in mirror realizing that he’s the most hated thing on the planet along with shrub the knee guy.
March 18th, 2008 at 4:04 am>ThinkProgress should refresh its own memory and correct its >stated confusion between the two.
Pot.Kettle. I’m guessing your in your late teens or early twenties Exlexlia..hopefully, someday you will grow up and realize that were you to apply your microscopic scrutiny to everything your own side does or says, you couldnt look at yourself in a mirror and support them or anything they do. There are no good guys in this world. Period. The United States, like any other powerful organization, is a wholly amoral entity. Good vs. Evil is just some concept used to sell cheesy science fiction flicks and hypnotize the masses into thinking their knights armor is more shiny than every other countries…
March 18th, 2008 at 4:06 amHere’s the link between Saddam and Al Qaeda
Saddam Hussein - http://tinyurl.com/4n35 - Osama Bin Ladin
March 18th, 2008 at 7:11 am“I’m guessing your in your late teens or early twenties…”
*Sigh* If only…If only…..
By the way, still no correction from ThinkProgress.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:43 amAnd still no apology from TRAITORS Bush or Dick for their LIES about WMD and Iraq.
And Osama, Bush family friend, is STILL FREE 6.5 years later.
The TREASON is IN the White House…
“WHO’S ’sane’, HUSSEIN?
March 18th, 2008 at 2:26 pmNOT ‘Bomb Bomb Iran’ McCain!!”