W O R L D T H R E A T S - Even More Evidence Against Iraq and Iran

Even More Evidence Against Iraq and Iran

Compiled By: Ryan Mauro

This article aims to show that American allegations against Saddam’s former regime in Iraq and the current regime in Iran are accurate, and that it is likely the threat is/was much greater than commonly thought. This is not a call to war, but to international pressure.

Recent articles in the press from Iraqi detainees indicate that Saddam Hussein felt he could survive the war because of the actions of the UN, Russia, France, and others, hoping that would end the war early or stop it altogether. If these countries had rallied together and even seriously threatened force against Saddam, it is likely he would have complied with UN resolution 1441. I’ve heard people say that the United States is to blame fully for the Iraq War. That simply is not true, because if Saddam had not been emboldened by the resistance of some UN members, no war would have occurred. The blame lies not in America and our perception of national security, but in Saddam himself, the terrorists that showed this war was necessary on 9-11, and the appeasement movement bolstered by business ties and hostility to America.

IRAQ

Throughout this website, there is tons of evidence to prove that Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi regime was developing weapons of mass destruction, and had significant ties to Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and other terrorist groups and their operations. Recently, so much more information was compiled that I felt it was necessary to sum it all together.

First, there is new evidence that indicates Iraq did have weapons of mass destruction. According to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the search for Iraq’s biological weapons program has been complicated by a shift in the personnel and facilities involved in 1996. The primary site for the program switched from al-Hakim to al-Tuwaitha that year, which was believed by the UN to be a nuclear site. Therefore, IAEA, not UNSCOM, inspected the site and no intelligence could be gathered on the biological program.[1] David Kay, who is in charge of the WMD search, also said publicly that two high-ranking Iraqi scientists were helping the team learn more about the biological weapons program. Kay stated that the Iraqis had made shocking innovations in the milling and drying processes needed to weaponize anthrax. He also said that almost every week he sees another “mind-boggling” discovery.[2]

North Korea’s potential role as a supplier to Iraq has also come to light. We already knew from the Kay Interim Report that Saddam had paid the Koreans approximately $10 million for a long-range ballistic missile, but now we know the deal goes even further. Between 2000 and 2003, Iraq was in lengthy negotiations with Korea to send a full production line to build No-Dong ballistic missiles to Iraq via Syria.[3] There is also new testimony that says that contrary to the allegations of opposing politicians in Britain and America, Iraq did indeed have the capability to use WMDs in 45 minutes. Lt.-Colonel al-Dabbagh, former head of an Iraqi air defense unit in the western desert, told the London Sunday Telegraph that he is the source for the claim. In the interview, he said that cases containing WMD warheads (from factories on the outskirts of Baghdad) were delivered to front-line units including his own at the end of 2002, to be used by Fedayeen units and the Special Republican Guard once the war hit a “critical point”. The lieutenant-colonel stands by his claim, saying that the weapons, designed to be launched by hand-held rocket-propelled grenades, could be launched in as little time as 30 minutes. He says Iraqi officers referred to the weapons as “the secret weapon”, and that local army commanders were not allowed to use them unless they were on the direct orders of Saddam Hussein. However, the Iraqi army was not loyal so they were not used. Al-Dabbagh says the weapons are now hidden at secret sites inside Iraq, and people will only begin revealing the sites once Saddam is gone.[4]

On the same day Saddam was confirmed to be in American custody, new evidence of a WMD program was revealed. In a secret memo written to Saddam from the former head of Iraqi intelligence, a “Niger Shipment” is discussed (probably uranium) that has been transported to Iraq through Libya and Syria.[5] Additionally, according to Debkafile, David Kay and the Coalition authorities are getting closer and closer to finding Iraq’s WMDs. As reported in my previous investigation, “WMDs: Believe Iraq or Believe the Evidence?” some were moved into Syria and possibly Lebanon. Debkafile is now reporting that the search for some of the weapons has been narrowed down to a desert section of Syria’s Al-Jazirah province, known as Dayr Az-Zawr which is wedged in between the Syria’s borders with Turkey and Iraq.[6] Fox News analyst Mansoor Ijaz has also said that since the capture of Saddam Hussein, a senior former regime figure has begun talking and new tips are flowing in. He could not reveal all he knew, he said, but said there was credible leads showing weapons were hidden somewhere in a lab in Baghdad, and other chemical and biological weapons components and systems were moved into Iran and Syria. He also said the CIA was interrogating a man with proof on him that enriched uranium was smuggled into Iran. He finished with predicting that in the coming months we’d see the proof that Iraq had chemical and biological weapons and probably, nuclear capability.[7] Indeed, new evidence is emerging to that effect. Yonadam Kanna, the Assyrian Christian representative in the Iraqi interim government has come out and said that a nuclear engineer, who worked with thirteen other scientists in his team, is talking in custody, and can confirm that Saddam Hussein was working on a nuclear weapon.[8]

New information also indicated Iraq did indeed have a working relationship with Al-Qaeda. According to Geostrategy-Direct.com, Al-Qaeda began sending trained operatives and officials to Iraq in October 2002 as part of an agreement made with Saddam Hussein through Ansar al-Islam. According to high-ranking detainees, Al-Qaeda sent at least 5 insurgency squads, each with 15 trained terrorists, to Iraq to share their skills in recruitment and explosives training. Iraq then gave the operatives new identities using the names of prominent Iraqi families.[9]

Then of course there is the much-talked-about intelligence leak in The Weekly Standard which detailed some of the ties between Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. Among the information revealed is that the Iraqi intelligence officer that met with Mohammed Atta, the 9-11 ringleader, was authorized to give money to Atta. The article by Stephen F. Hayes is great, and it confirms much of what was written about in my previous articles. The original Weekly Standard article can be viewed here: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/378fmxyz.asp.

On the same day that Saddam Hussein was confirmed to be in Coalition custody, a breath-taking bombshell was reported by The Sunday Telegraph. The paper had gotten a copy of a captured memo written to Saddam Hussein from Tahir Jalil Habbush al-Tikriti, the former head of the Iraqi Intelligence Service, dated July 1, 2001. The document, deemed genuine by Dr. Ayad Allawi, a member of the Presidential Council of Iraq, states that Mohammed Atta was trained for three days in Baghdad at the base of the notorious international terrorist, Abu Nidal, who was also harbored by Saddam. In the memo, Habbush reports: "Mohammed Atta, an Egyptian national, came with Abu Ammer (an Arabic nom-de-guerre — his real identity is unknown) and we hosted him in Abu Nidal's house at al-Dora under our direct supervision. We arranged a work program for him for three days with a team dedicated to working with him . . . He displayed extraordinary effort and showed a firm commitment to lead the team which will be responsible for attacking the targets that we have agreed to destroy.".[10] There are new reports out that these documents were forged, which is entirely possible. However, some of the basis for that belief is that it contradicts what we “know” about Atta’s movements over the years. I have trouble believing this because,

A: Not only Iraq is waging a war with counter-propaganda. The enemies of the US naturally would want to strike down any evidence that Saddam had ties to Al-Qaeda, because a critical aspect of the psychological war is portraying the idea that we attacked a country for no real reason.

B: What we “know” changes all the time. There are discrepancies and debates about Atta’s movements. We also aren’t even positive Mohammed Atta is his real identity, in which case, he could appear to be in several spots at the same time.

C: The document does not say when Atta was trained.

D: Look at almost any investigative matter. Some experts will say it is genuine, others no. Con Couglin is a solid reporter, and he had experts look at it and verify it. I do not know if it is a forgery or not, as I am split 50-50 on the idea. We simply can’t decide until there is a good analysis of the different expert’s opinions on the documentation.

But we do know that Mohammed Atta had some connection to Iraq. There has also been new proof out that an Iraqi intelligence (al-Ani) agent did indeed meet with Mohammed Atta. According to Czech officials, pictures prove the meetings. The press has recently obtained some of these photos, which can be viewed here: http://www.thexreport.com/atta_and_al-ani_photo_and_analysis.htm. If you ask me, there is no longer any doubt Iraq had at least an indirect role in 9-11.

IRAN

The most active state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, has obviously learned from Saddam’s tricks. Iran is successfully learning how to manipulate the internal politics of the United Nations and world community. Being that it is getting closer to election time here in America, Iran realizes that it would be too costly for any president at this time to prepare for a new war, of a much larger and more dangerous magnitude. Iran’s delaying tactics and deception campaign are successfully allowing the path to be laid to becoming a major nuclear power, as well as the most vital state sponsor to Osama Bin Laden.

Iran’s ties to Western Europe and Russia are proving to be Iran’s greatest tool in the geopolitical arena. No country is more responsible for Iran’s nuclear program than Russia. Russia. As an ally of Iran, Russia has a common interest in trying to undermine America’s power. Russia will continue to help Iran in whatever way it can. A high-ranking Mossad officer told Hal Lindsay in April 1991 that he personally had a role in a secret deal made between the two countries in February 1991. In return for Iran agreeing not to interfere with the Islamic republics of the former Soviet Union, Russia would give Iran world-class nuclear and ballistic missile scientists and technology, and would provide all the necessary equipment for its nuclear program. The first 273 scientists arrived in Iran in late February of 1997.[11] Without such ties to Russia and others, it is likely Iran would have to succumb to international pressure or face regime change. This is allowing Iran to pursue a nuclear program while courting the United Nations. Even as the IAEA said it was pleased that Iran was now “fully cooperating”, Iran made significant headway with the completion of the training of 700 engineers (by Russia) for the Bushehr nuclear reactor.[12] The head of the IAEA, El-Baradei, did state that documentation submitted to the IAEA by Iran did prove treaty requirements were not honored, but the UN still blocked any move for sanctions.[13] This particular event shocked me, because the IAEA had incriminating evidence against Iran.

A confidential report from the IAEA expressed alarm over the events, saying Iran has failed to meet its obligations on many occasions over a very long period of time. The report said that Iran had tried to conceal its nuclear program, and that up until November, cooperation was limited. The information given to inspectors was slow, often changed, and was often contradictory. The report said Iran appeared to be ready to fully cooperate after being caught in the act.[14] But we must look at what the report said. It noted that Iran tried to hide the production of small amounts of plutonium and low-enriched uranium, and parts of the uranium centrifuge enrichment program and laser enrichment program. It also said Iran had failed to report a large number of activities relating to conversion, fabrication, and irradiation. The country also did not declare secret programs to reprocess nuclear material, and to develop a heavy-water reactor. The report said that Iran had an almost complete nuclear fuel cycle including uranium mining and milling, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, heavy-water production, a light-water reactor, a heavy-water research reactor and associated rod facilities.[15]

Soon after the event, the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center issued a new report warning that Iran could come within weeks of making nukes without violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and simply exit the treaty in the final weeks. The report explained that if the program was not stopped, Iran could potentially possess 50 to 75 nuclear bombs by the end of 2006. This could be done by operating the Russian light-water reactor at Bushehr for 12-15 months, at which time the plutonium could be chemically separated from the spent fuel and convert it to metal. 12-16 weeks later, Iran could finish the metal conversion process. Under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, this is legal, because signatories are allowed to make as many nuclear weapons as they’d like, as long as they don’t have a fissile core which is needed for the nuclear chain reaction.

The report concluded that the IAEA inspections are focusing on the uranium centrifuge program, in which Iran plans to use natural uranium as weapons-grade fissile material. However, says the report, this is a back-up strategy to the one above. Nevertheless, this uranium enrichment program would allow Iran to make between two and six nuclear weapons per year by the end of 2006.[16] Even today as Iran’s nuclear program continues, more is revealed to show that Iran has something to hide. For example, it was learned in November that Iran had led UN inspectors to a decoy site to stop them from finding another undeclared nuclear workshop, according to Iranian exiles.[17] Boldly, Iran has decided to also violate its promise to end the uranium enrichment program. On November 30^th, Hasan Rouhani, the official in charge of the nuclear program, came out and said that Iran had plans to eventually build 7 more nuclear reactors, and decided not to suspend the uranium enrichment program.[18] It is obviously for nuclear weapons, as even an Iranian legislator has told a reformist paper that there is a cover-up of the WMD programs, including a nuclear weapons program.[19] In an attempt to delay international action against this program, Iran has agreed to sign the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty allowing inspectors to conduct surprise inspections. However, it is obvious that Iran will simply wait months for the parliament to ratify it. Once the parliament ratifies it, the Guardians Council will wait weeks or months to buy time and finally ratify it. Finally, Ayatollah Khamenei will ratify it, after buying the precious time needed for Iran to secure its place as a nuclear power.[20]

While Iran fools the UN, it continues the harbor the most deadly elements of Al-Qaeda and to sponsor other terrorists. There is a similar deception campaign here also. In October of 2003, Iran handed to the United Nations a list of 255 Al-Qaeda operatives “detained” by Iran. The same report claimed that 2,300 people trying to get into Iran from Pakistan between October 2002 and July 2003 were deported. However, Iran still refused to name most of those in custody, and did not admit to harboring top Al-Qaeda leaders like Saad Bin Laden or Seif al-Adel.[21] Not long after, Iran also said it would not give Western authorities access to the detainees, share intelligence gained from them, or give them copies of interviews with the prisoners.[22] Saudi Arabia also reported that, despite Iranian claims, no Al-Qaeda members had been deported to the kingdom.[23] In fact, according to captured members of Ansar al-Islam, Iran was assisting terrorists and the insurgency in Iraq. According to captured militants, hundreds of Islamic radicals were arriving in northern Iraq through Iran without being given the slightest resistance.[24]

As reported in my article, “Al-Qaeda Leadership in Iran”, the core operational leadership of Al-Qaeda is in Iran. According to Italian intelligence, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama Bin Laden make many trips into Iran, including trips into Tehran, and stay there for days. Italian intelligence indicated that as of late May, both were in Iran. Fox News analyst Mansoor Ijaz recently cited “an unimpeachable source” when he stated that Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri are in Iran (he said this on November 21^st, 2003). Zawahiri was seen within the past two weeks in Iran, and Bin Laden was seen there in July. Ijaz says that there escape into Iran occurred when President Musharraf sent Pakistan’s army into the border areas with Iran to flush out Al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives.

According to this analyst, Bin Laden has had his head shaved, beard cut shorter and the beard has been dyed so he can look like an Iranian cleric. Zawahiri now wears a black turban and has a dyed beard. Bin Laden is kept out of public while Zawahiri moves around freely. Ijaz also explained that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards was helping to fool Western authorities into searching for Bin Laden in Afghanistan, and also have a role in the rebellion led in western Afghanistan by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (who works with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda). Revolutionary Guards units are helping Hekmatyar’s forces prepare for a new offensive to try to capture as much Afghan territory as possible.[25] In December, the respected intelligence newsletter Geostrategy-Direct.com confirmed using Iranian sources that Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri were seen there in July 2003, after raids by Pakistan’s military along the Afghan border threatened their safety. Bin Laden is now under the protection, disguised as a mullah, of the Revolutionary Guard Corps near the western Iranian border with Pakistan. The newsletter also confirmed that the Iranians were helping in providing look-a-likes to make Western intelligence think they remained in the frontier areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan.[26]

On a separate note, it is possible that Iran has an interest in hiding evidence of Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction. The former head of Iraq’s long-range ballistic missile program has fled to safety in Iran. Other high-ranking figures involved in prohibited weapons research and development have also gone to Syria, Jordan and Iran.[27] In the past, David Kay has confirmed receiving reports of WMD materials and components heading into Iran. Michael Ledeen, author of War Against the Terror Masters, has written extensively on Iran’s possible role in Iraq’s WMDs. According to Ledeen, such a role may have begun in the mid-1990s when a cache of enriched uranium was smuggled into Iran.[28] Ledeen also says that Iraq signed a secret agreement with Iran in January. Saddam agreed to send components for chemical and biological weapons to Iran by hiding them in coffins said to carry the bodies of Iranian soldiers from the war in the 1980s. In return, Iran would allow suicide bombers into Iraq to fight Coalition forces and destabilize the situation in a fashion similar to the Lebanon situation in the 1980s.[29] Debkafile, which uses Israeli intelligence in its reporting, said back in August of 2002 that containers were seen slipping into Iran from Iraq that may have weapons of mass destruction. They were being hidden in the mountains around the border.

Iran has also been tied to a few major terrorist attacks. New testimony in Argentina confirms that the already solid case against Iran is correct—that Iran used Hezbollah to attack a Jewish community center in Argentina in the early 1990s, resulting in that country’s deadliest terrorist attack. Recently we saw the two rounds of attacks in Turkey. In a sense, any Al-Qaeda attack led by operatives harbored in Iran can be blamed on Iran. However, these attacks may have involved an even deeper role by Iran. According to the Arab press citing sources in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Imad Mughniyah, head of Hezbollah (sponsored, supplied and directed by Iran) had a directional role in the bombings in Istanbul.[30] Iran has also been tied to the bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. Although the case against Iran in this case is also solid (members of Hezbollah have been arrested for their roles), more information came out. Former FBI director Louis Freeh testified at a court case that he had direct evidence, “strongly suggesting” that the June 25, 1996 bombing was funded, sanctioned, and directed by senior Iranian officials from the Ministry of Intelligence Security and Revolutionary Guard.[31]

Iran may be planning new terrorist attacks. Between September and October, hundreds of Hezbollah operatives have infiltrated Iraq, mostly setting up cells in Najaf and Karbala.[32] According to Israeli intelligence, Imad Mughniyah is hiding in southern Iraq to organize a new anti-Coalition terror/guerilla campaign to begin in spring of 2003. He is known to direct attacks on behalf of Iran and Syria, Hezbollah, radical Shiites in Iraq (usually backed by Iran), and Al-Qaeda.[33]

As long as the international community continues to harbor close business and military relationships with rogue states like Iraq and Iran, the world media will remain skeptical to the claims of the Americans. As shown here, although working with the international community is vital and always necessary, and war is always the last step, we can not trust the world with our national security. Our interests are not the same. I hope that this report will shed some light on what much of the media is not reporting, and people will understand that the United Nations will never put our vital security interests ahead of their business and ideological interests.