Ashcroft’s Baghdad Connection Why the attorney general and others in Washington have backed a terror group with ties to Iraq By Michael Isikoff NEWSWEEK WEB EXCLUSIVE Sept. 26 — When the White House released its Sept. 12 “white paper” detailing Saddam Hussein’s “support for international terrorism,” it caused more than a little discomfort in some quarters of Washington. THE 27-PAGE DOCUMENT—entitled “A Decade of Deception and Defiance”—made no mention of any Iraqi ties to Osama bin Laden. But it did highlight Saddam’s backing of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO), an obscure Iranian dissident group that has gathered surprising support among members of Congress in past years. One of those supporters, the documents show, is a top commander in President Bush’s war on terrorism: Attorney General John Ashcroft, who became involved with the MKO while a Republican senator from Missouri. The case of Ashcroft and the MKO shows just how murky fighting terrorism can sometimes get. State Department officials first designated the MKO a “foreign terrorist organization” in 1997, accusing the Baghdad-based group of a long series of bombings, guerilla cross-border raids and targeted assassinations of Iranian leaders. Officials say the MKO—which originally fought to overthrow the Shah of Iran—was linked to the murder of several U.S. military officers and civilians in Iran in the 1970s. “They have an extremely bloody history,” says one U.S. counterterrorism official. But the MKO, which commands an army of 30,000 from bases inside Iraq, has tried to soften its image in recent years—in part with strong backing from politically active Iranian-Americans in the United States. The MKO operates in Washington out of a small office in the National Press Building under the name the National Council of Resistance of Iran. According to the State Department, the National Council of Resistance is a “front” for the MKO; in 1999, the National Council itself was placed on the State Department terrorist list. But National Council officials adamantly deny their group has earned the terror label and have aggressively portrayed itself to Washington lawmakers as a “democratic” alternative to a repressive Iranian regime that itself is one of the world’s leading sponsors of terrorism. “You’re talking about a really popular movement,” says Alireza Jafarzadeh, the National Council’s chief Washington spokesman, who insists that the MKO “targets only military targets.” Only two years ago, these arguments won sympathy from Ashcroft—and more than 200 other members of Congress. When the National Council of Resistance staged a September 2000 rally outside the United Nations to protest a speech by Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, Missouri’s two Republican senators—Ashcroft and Chris Bond—issued a joint statement of solidarity that was read aloud to a cheering crowd. A delegation of about 500 Iranians from Missouri attended the event—and a picture of a smiling Ashcroft was later included in a color briefing book used by MKO officials to promote their cause on Capitol Hill. Ashcroft was hardly alone. Among those who actually appeared at the rally and spoke on the group’s behalf was one of its leading congressional supporters: Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Torricelli. click for entire, informative article
They're among us!! aaaah... run for your lives!! Oh the humanity! I'll be looking at every white dude differently now. lol.
So is Ashcroft "with" or "against" the War on Terror? Actually, this is just more proof that as long as you know how to play the game in D.C., you can get at least one Congressman to give you support. If OBL had formed a PAC instead of a terrorist cell, he'd be a wanted man for a whole new set of reasons ($$$).
Another example, somewhat similar, is that apparently escaped AlQaeda who are either Kurds or friendly to them are in Kurdish controlled Northern Iraq, where they are protected from Sadam by our no fly zones. The administration constantly referrs to this when they claim AlQaeda is in Iraq.
Incorrect in that there aren't Islamic terror groups hiding out in northern Iraq or that the no fly zone is protecting them? I've seen plenty of reports, in the New Yorker among other places, of the former; though they are not friendly with the Kurds. Why is it not true?
That they are friendly with the Kurds and that Saddam would be in active pursuit of them if possible.
Scandel in Senate! Government fails! Choose new government: Anarchy Deposition Monarchy Republic Democracy Communism Fundementalism
a computer game or something?? sorry! i didn't know! i think i can name all the ghosts from pac-man, though.
Mango, incorrect Mango: That they are friendly with the Kurds and that Saddam would be in active pursuit of them if possibleThat they are friendly with the Kurds and that Saddam would be in active pursuit of them if possible Unfortunately the simple arrogance of "incorrect" is certainly not the whole story. There is a Kurdish Islamic fundamentalist group that is in the Northern no fly zone and it is friendly with Al Qaeda, some of these Kurds might be Al Qaeda. Kurdish Islamic extremists From: cnn You know, we just can't know if Sadam would actively pursue these Al Qaeda since he can't do much militarily in the No fly Zone. It's ok, Mango, no one is flawless.
Anyone else notice how the usual crowd has nothing to say about Ashcroft's support of Iranian terrorists. Oh well, it would be interesting to know how much these Iranians contributed to Ashroft for these endorsements.
<b> Unfortunately the simple arrogance of "incorrect" is certainly not the whole story. There is a Kurdish Islamic fundamentalist group that is in the Northern no fly zone and it is friendly with Al Qaeda, some of these Kurds might be Al Qaeda. </b> ....and they are fighting against the mainstream secular Kurdish groups in that area....so how can they be <b>friendly with the Kurds</b>? I posted several times about Ansar Islam and the conflicts with the majority Kurdish population in that area. <A HREF="http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0315/p01s04-wome.html">Taliban-style group grows in Iraq</A> <i>.......Kurdish military sources say that Ansar al-Islam's Mr. Kreker is a former member of a Kurdish Islamic party who joined Ansar al-Islam after its formation in September. Kreker replaced Abu Abdullah Shafae – an Iraqi Kurd who trained with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan for 10 years – and changed his name from Warya Holery. Mr. Shafae is now Ansar al-Islam's deputy. Another of the group's leaders, Abu Abdul Rahman – who, the Kurds claim, was sent to northern Iraq by bin Laden – was killed in fighting in October. <b> Commander Qada also claims that Ansar al-Islam has ties to agents of Saddam Hussein operating in northern Iraq. "We have picked up conversations on our radios between Iraqis and [Ansar] al-Islam," he says from his military base in Halabja. "I believe that Iraq is also funding [Ansar] al-Islam. There are no hard facts as yet, but I believe that under the table they are supporting them because it will cause further instability for the Kurds." Barhim Salih, a PUK leader, says a second group affiliated with Ansar al-Islam is working from the Baghdad-controlled city of Mosul. The Kurdish sources say Hussein's involvement in any mission to destabilize their autonomous ministate would not surprise them. Since 1991, Baghdad has been unable to control the north, because of the no-fly zone created by the US and England and enforced by the US military from a base in Turkey. </b> Still, in November, Hussein warned that he would "cut out the tongues" of any Kurds who defied him. This month he told the Kurds not to be "deceived" by "the foreigner." But he added: "I do not want anyone to be under the illusion that this leadership is calling for dialogue because it is under futile threats." Since Sept. 11, Qada says the Iraqi Army has doubled its troops stationed on the border between government-controlled Iraq and the area the Kurds control. It is a clear sign, Qada says, that Hussein will attack them if the US threatens his regime. Attempts by the PUK to renew negotiations with the group during the past month have failed, and Kurdish sources say Ansar al-Islam is preparing to fight back. Kurd party leaders say some 2,000 Kurdish soldiers stationed high in the mountains of northern Iraq, near the Kurdish city of Halabja, are trading mortar fire with Ansar al-Islam. Both sides have suffered casualties. "We have to treat them seriously, because they are treating us seriously," Mr. Salih says, adding that the US is aware of the Kurdish struggle with Al Qaeda </i> <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2149499.stm">'Al-Qaeda' influence grows in Iraq</A> <i> ...... A pocket of militant Islamic extremists, believed to be linked to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda movement, is causing havoc in the Kurdish area of northern Iraq. The presence of the violently anti-American group, known as the Ansar al-Islam (Partisans of Islam), is likely to attract increasing attention as US moves to overthrow Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime gather pace. A number of Washington's regional adversaries - including both Baghdad and Iran - appear to have a finger in the Ansar pie. The Ansar are largely made up of Iraqi Kurds belonging to several radical Islamic groups which merged late last year. They control a string of villages in the plains and mountains between the town of Halabja and the mountain ridge which marks Iraq's border with Iran. But many of the Ansar's Kurdish members are believed to have returned from Afghanistan, where they had gone for training and to wage jihad (Holy War) alongside al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Kurdish leaders who run the rest of Iraqi Kurdistan, and who have suffered heavily at the Ansar's hands, say that at least 20 or 30 Arabs linked to al-Qaeda have also come from Afghanistan to join the Islamist pocket. Kurdish forces have suffered losses at the hands of Ansar They captured and massacred 42 Peshmerga guerrillas from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which controls the eastern half of Iraqi Kurdistan. Some of the victims' hands were tied behind their backs when they died. The aftermath was filmed by the Ansar themselves, only to have the tape captured in a PUK counter-attack. Since then, clashes with the PUK have continued. On 4 July, Ansar militants attacked PUK positions and killed eight Peshmergas, though the attack was beaten back. As far as Islam is concerned, democracy is heresy Mullah Krekar, Ansar leader Exactly who is involved with the Ansar and in what way is not clear. The PUK leader, Jalal Talabani, says the one certain thing is that they had ties with al-Qaeda and Afghanistan: "Many of them were trained there, and there are now about 20 to 30 Arabs who are trained from Afghanistan and who also came here to Kurdistan, and are now with them. Even their leaders are from these Arabs." One of those leaders is Abu Wa'il, a former Iraqi army officer. Shadowy connections <b> A captured Iraqi intelligence officer of 20 years' standing, Abu Iman al-Baghdadi, who is held by the PUK, said Abu Wa'il is actively manipulating the Ansar on behalf of Iraqi intelligence. Abu Iman al-Baghdadi: "Some of Ansar trained in Iraq" "I was captured by the Kurds after Iraqi intelligence sent me to check what was happening with Abu Wa'il, following rumours that he'd been captured and handed over the CIA," al-Baghdadi said. He added that Baghdad smuggles arms to the Ansar through the Kurdish area, and is using the group to make problems for the PUK, one of the opposition factions ranged against Saddam Hussein. "The Ansar's basic allegiance is to al-Qaeda, but some of them were trained in Iraq and went Afghanistan," he said, interviewed in a Kurdish prison. </b> "When the Americans attacked, they came here through Iran. Iraq is supporting them and using them to carry out attacks." But Kurdish sources also believe that Iran is arming and training Ansar members, despite Tehran's denials. Ansar wounded are also said to have been treated in Iranian hospitals. "The Iranian Government always plans to make Islamic security along its border with Kurdistan. Iran is also using these Islamic groups as a pressure card on the secular groups in Kurdistan," says Shwar Mohammad, editor of the Kurdish weekly Hawlati and one of the few people to have interviewed the Ansar leader Mullah Krekar. </i> Your orignal post implied that Saddam would attack Ansar Islam if possible. I have yet to see any reports that support that theory.
Mango, none of your posts refutes that there are Kurds who are either Al Qaeda or friendly with Al Qaeda in Northern Iraq. By saying simply "incorrect" I still think you were somewhat wrong, yourself. Another quote: TOKYO, Aug. 28 -- Suspected members of al Qaeda who fled to Iraq are likely in an area of the country controlled by Kurdish groups, not President Saddam Hussein, a top State Department official said here today. Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage said he does not believe the al Qaeda members are harbored by the Kurdish parties, who Washington is courting as allies against Hussein and who operate in northern Iraq under the protection of U.S. fighter planes. But Armitage's information lends support to the Iraqi leadership's denial that they are playing host to al Qaeda fugitives. And it appeared to undercut one argument used by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to justify a possible attack on Iraq's ruler. Rumsfeld said last week that the al Qaeda members must be in Iraq with the assent of the Baghdad government See the Washington Post Aug 29.
Here's an article concerning the fact checking of Dubya and Rummy, with all their billions and thousands of employees who could fact check if they cared to. It mentions the Ashcroft/terrorist connection. U.S. Sources Hedging on Iraq Facts WASHINGTON (AP) - In making the case for war, the Bush administration has delivered a bill of particulars against Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites) that includes al-Qaida terrorist links yet to be demonstrated and weapons he may or may not have within reach. Publicly, President Bush ( news - web sites)'s officials are touting reports that al-Qaida operatives have found refuge in Baghdad and that Iraq once helped them develop chemical weapons. Privately, government intelligence sources are hedging on that subject, suggesting there might be less than meets the eye. Did Iraq really kick out U.N. weapons inspectors in 1998, as Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has said? No. "We made the decision to evacuate," says Charles Duelfer, who was deputy chairman of the U.N. inspection agency at the time. And might Iraq really have nuclear weapons "fairly soon," as Vice President Dick Cheney ( news - web sites) alleges? That depends on the definition of soon, Cheney acknowledges, and no one outside Iraq really knows how close Baghdad is to that point. "I haven't heard any real howlers," Duelfer said of the Bush administration's assertions about Iraq. But some appear to have been made with more passion than proof. Bush's case for war probably would be a slam-dunk with Americans and an easier sell to the world if a firm relationship were established between the terrorist group that mounted the Sept. 11 attacks and the Iraqi leader he wants ousted. It would be helped, too, by showing that Iraq's biological, chemical and nuclear weapons programs are sufficiently advanced to pose a direct threat to the United States if placed in the hands of al-Qaida or any agents out to harm America. But Rumsfeld says all the United States can do is present the risks as best they can be determined, not nail them down beyond a reasonable doubt. "Our goal is not to go into a court of law and try to prove something to somebody," he said. Condoleezza Rice ( news - web sites), President Bush's national security adviser, took the case on Iraqi-al-Qaida links several strides forward this week by alleging that al-Qaida operatives have had a direct relationship with the Iraqi government. "There clearly are contacts between al-Qaida and Iraq that can be documented," she said. She did not document them. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated the evidence for linkage is tenuous, based on sources of varying reliability. The subject of Iraqi weapons is also murkier than has been presented. The U.N. chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, said last month he had no proof that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction. Any such accounting necessarily depends on what inspectors found before they left four years ago and spotty intelligence since. Bush warned the United Nations ( news - web sites) that Saddam could have nuclear weapons within a year of acquiring fissionable material. Cheney said: "On the nuclear question, many of us are convinced that Saddam will acquire such weapons fairly soon." The CIA ( news - web sites)'s own forecasts have not conveyed that much alarm. "We believe that Iraq has probably continued at least low-level theoretical R&D (research and development) associated with its nuclear program," it said in its latest report to Congress, in January. Duelfer doesn't make much of the mischaracterization of his inspection team's pullout in December 1998, noting that while Iraq did not eject the inspectors, it had stopped dealing with them and then would not let them back in. And the Bush administration appears to be "sort of in the ballpark" with its estimates on when Iraq might possess nuclear weapons, he said. As part of its case that Iraq is a threat that must be dealt with, and quickly: _The administration characterizes Saddam as a supporter of terrorism generally. "Iraq's ties to terrorist networks are long-standing," Rumsfeld told Congress. Those ties are complex. One group the U.S. government brands as a terrorist outfit has been favored not only by Iraq but by many members of the U.S. Congress. That group, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, advocates the violent overthrow of the religious government of Iran. It recently held a news conference two blocks from the White House. In the region, Syria and Iran are widely considered to be more active sponsors of terrorism than Iraq is. _The administration alleges al-Qaida operatives, including senior figures, have been in Iraq. But U.S. intelligence sources have said al-Qaida members are believed to be simply moving through Iraq en route to their home countries. They have not offered evidence these sojourners are putting down roots in Iraq, setting up camps or making contact with Saddam's government. Most are believed to be in areas outside the reach of the Iraqi government. Some are thought to be ensconced with anti-Saddam Kurds in parts of northern Iraq cut off from his control by the continual U.S. and British air strikes in the no-flight zone. But at least one midlevel to high-level al-Qaida figure may be in Baghdad, according to the latest intelligence. The administration, as evidence of Saddam's venality, has repeatedly noted he used chemical weapons against Iraqi Kurds in the late 1980s — an event that barely elicited a response from Washington at the time. fact checking
