NYT: High Qaeda Aide Retracted Claim of Link With Iraq

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/31/international/middleeast/31inte.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&position=

A senior leader of Al Qaeda who was captured in Pakistan several months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks was the main source for intelligence, since discredited, that Iraq had provided training in chemical and biological weapons to members of the organization, according to American intelligence officials.

Intelligence officials say the detainee, Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi, a member of Osama bin Laden's inner circle, recanted the claims sometime last year, but not before they had become the basis of statements by President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and others about links between Iraq and Al Qaeda that involved poisons, gases and other illicit weapons.

Mr. Libi, who was captured in Pakistan in December 2001, is still being held by the Central Intelligence Agency at a secret interrogation center, and American officials say his now-recanted claims raise new questions about the value of the information obtained from such detainees.

A report in Newsweek magazine several weeks ago first identified Mr. Libi's role in the episode. And the fact that "an Al Qaeda operative" who had provided the most detailed information alleging such ties had backed away from many of his claims was mentioned by the Sept. 11 commission in a brief footnote to the report it issued this month.

[Benhurst]

1. Strange, but prisoners often change their stories when

electricity is no longer being applied to their genitals.

[Career Prole]

2. The interragator must have set his chair down on the line

for the I.V. sodium pentathol drip. :eyes:

[daleo]

3. A nice way of saying "the value of information gained under torture".

"Mr. Libi, who was captured in Pakistan in December 2001, is still being held by the Central Intelligence Agency at a secret interrogation center, and American officials say his now-recanted claims raise new questions about the value of the information obtained from such detainees."

Although, I think Bush was set on invading Iraq regardless of any facts that might have gotten in the way, anyway.

[OldCurmudgeon]

4. but of course!

Although, I think Bush was set on invading Iraq regardless of any facts that might have gotten in the way, anyway.

Of course he didn't care about facts or the opinions of others. The voices in his head told him to invade.

[Journeyman]

6. Could have been no torture involved at all. . .

Coulda been this slick schlub "Mr Libi" just played George Dumbya like a cheap tin whistle, fed 'em what they wanted to hear knowing they'd act on it and screw themselves -- and all America -- like so many sick puppies in sad, sad heat. Now all our soldiers swelter in a Mess-O-Potamia of our own device. We're screwed, Saddam's outta the picture, and al Qaeda laughs unrestrainedly.

Could happened that way, too.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. Do you really believe no torture was used on this individual?

[Journeyman]

9. Could have. He could have also played ShrubCo for a moron. . .

Do you really believe ShrubCo is incapable of being duped?

[daleo]

10. You could be right, but it sets up a weird mental picture for me

Interrogator 1: "Has he admitted there are no WMD yet?"
Interrogator 2: "He still maintains Saddam has WMD"
Interrogator 1: "Increase the voltage. He'll not play George Bush for a fool!"

[Old and In the Way]

5. We have to take Bush's word for what these terrorists said.

Sorry, I can't believe anything he tells us now.

[bpilgrim]

7. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=718528&mesg_id=718528&page=

peace

[Moderator]

11. Duplicate

Continue here please:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=718528