Read other letters about this article

• Wednesday, April 16, 2008 10:55 AM

  The policies espoused by both Clinton and Obama would grievously damage our Nation's National Security Interests.

  Both Clinton and Obama have to mature in their thought processes on Iraq. From both candidates, we are asked to accept that al-Qaida, with recognized terrorist affiliates in more than 60 Nations, had no discernible presence in a hub of world terrorism, I.e. Saddam Hussein’s Iraq! For years, Saddam gave sanctuary in Baghdad to both Abu Nidal and Abul Abbas, who prior to the emergence of bin Laden, were two of the world’s most notorious terrorist operatives. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was an al-Qaida affiliate in Afghanistan, where he commanded a terrorist training camp in the production and deployment of chemical agents, was also provided sanctuary in Baghdad in 2002, along with a cadre of his lieutenants; and, extended medical treatment was given to Zarqawi for injuries that he had received in a U.S. air-strike against his base camp. Zarqawi then transitioned to Northern Iraq and integrated with the the al-qaida affiliate, the Ansar al-Islam extremists, a terrorist organization that Hussein had permitted to operate under the supervision of a senior Iraqi intelligence agent. A group that, with Iraqi compliance, had constructed an extensive underground chemical weapons facility. By claiming that he had no control over his Northern sector, Hussein created plausible deniability with willing dupes such as Clinton and Obama in the event poisonous toxins, such as the ricin attacks in Europe, were traced back to the al-Islam enclave. Of course, we all know that Saddam gassed the Kurds who occupied the same sector when they deviated from his agenda. Further, overhead reconnaissance had verified multiple terrorist training sites within the interior of Iraq, to include an aircraft hi-jacking training facility. As well, Hussein openly funded Palestian homicide bombers who carried out attacks against Israel thru their Hamas and Hezbola initiators; and, dispersed Iraqi agents throughout the world who have been documented to have had numerous contacts with al-Qaida operatives.. Recall that it was Saddam who blatantly attempted to assassinate the 1st President Bush. Can there be any doubt that Saddam would have surreptitiously provided dangerous toxins to disparate terrorist organizations who were in pursuit of his common objectives! A conclusion given emphasis by the recent Pentagon Report which found that although no DIRECT OPERATIONAL relationship could be established between Saddam and al-Qaeda: "Saddam collaborated with known al-Qaeda affiliates and a wider constellation of Islamist terror groups." ; and, "This report is damming to those who doubted Saddam's involvement with Jihadist terrorist groups. It DEVASTATES one of the central myths plaguing our government prior to 9/11, that a Jihadist group would not cooperate with a secular regime and vice versa." Greg Neubeck

  —gneubeck Read gneubeck's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel