Sen. Levin Helps Debunk Iraq/Al Qaeda Link

[reprehensor]

Levin Releases Newly Declassified Intelligence Documents on Iraq-al Qaeda Relationship

Documents show Administration claims were exaggerated

WASHINGTON –Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., today released documents recently declassified at his request that illustrate that some claims of a cooperative relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda made by top administration officials in support of the Iraq war were contrary to what U.S. intelligence officials believed to be true.

“These documents are additional compelling evidence that the Intelligence Community did not believe there was a cooperative relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda, despite public comments by the highest ranking officials in our government to the contrary,” Levin said. “At a time when the Senate is considering nominees for the newly restructured leadership of the Intelligence Community, these documents remind us of the need to strengthen the independence and objectivity of intelligence assessments, and to guard against the misuse or exaggeration of intelligence by policymakers.”

The documents that Levin released undermine Administration claims regarding 1) Iraq’s involvement in training al Qaeda operatives, and 2) the likelihood that a meeting occurred between 9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta and an Iraqi intelligence officer in Prague in April 2001.

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[Jack Rabbit]

1. What? You mean they had reason to know they were lying?

I'm shocked, shocked, I say, to learn that the Bushies lied their way into Iraq.

[rodeodance]

2. you betcha--I have not heard a peep about this on the news.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

3. This was published in Australian newspaper

I wonder if the American MSM will print it?

[joanski01]

4. I was watching a repeat of the

Negroponte nomination hearings, and Sen. Ron Wyden ended up his questioning by telling Negroponte that he didn't think he (Negroponte) would be independent enough to be the NID. I wish more of the Senators thought that way.