White House Continues to Mislead on Zarqawi

White House Continues to Mislead on Zarqawi

The White House, now in full spin mode, today claimed that the reason we are fighting in Iraq is because of terrorists like Zarqawi. What they fail to mention is that the White House was told Zarqawi was a threat before the war and had three separate opportunities to kill him but failed to do so. Moreover, because Zarqawi had no relationship with Saddam, his presence in Iraq now does not establish that Iraq was part of the war on terror before the invasion. The recent reports of Zarqawi's loyalty to Osama bin Laden prove once again that Bush took his eye off the real threat of terrorism and has served to make us less safe by emboldening the true threats.

BUSH MISSED HIS CHANCE TO KILL ZARQAWI

McClellan: "We are fighting Zarqawi and his network in Iraq so that we don't have to fight — we are fighting them there in Iraq so that we don't have to fight them here at home. The way to win the war on terrorism is to stay on the offensive and to continue to advance freedom to defeat the ideology of hatred that leads — that leads to terrorism." [WH Gaggle, 10/20/04]

Intelligence Reports Predicted Zarqawi's Tactics. "In a prediction that has proved deadly accurate, the British Joint Intelligence Committee in March 2003 wrote, 'These cells apparently intend to attack U.S. targets using car bombs and other weapons,'" according to the Butler Commission. Zarqawi set up "sleeper cells" in Baghdad before the Iraq war to attack American forces occupying the country. [Washington Post, 7/15/04; AP, 7/15/04]

White House Stopped Three Plans To Kill Zarqawi Before the Iraq War. "In June 2002, U.S. officials said they had information suggesting [Zarqawi] and al-Qaeda were producing deadly ricin and cyanide at the newly-built laboratory at Kirma in the north. The Pentagon drew up an attack plan with cruise missiles and air-strikes, but the National Security Council at the White House decided against taking any action. On two other occasions before the war began, intelligence showed al-Zarqawi was planning a ricin attack in Europe, but again, plans were drawn up and vetoed by the National Security Council, the Mirror said." [UPI, 10/11/04]

Bush Now Claims To Be Pursuing Zarqawi. Bush: "The first part of the question was how come we haven't found Zarqawi? We're looking for him. He hides." [Bush, 9/23/04]

BEFORE THE WAR, Zarqawi Did Not Have Any Relationship With Saddam

Question: "I think the Senator today says, 'War of Iraq is not part of the war on terrorism.' I assume you disagree with that?"
McClellan: "Yes, well — and again, that shows that he — that is another example of his fundamental misunderstanding of the war on terrorism. Zarqawi is in Iraq." [WH Gaggle, 10/20/04]

CIA Now Says No Conclusive Tie Between Zarqawi and Hussein. "A new CIA assessment undercuts the White House claim that Saddam Hussein maintained ties to al-Qaeda, saying there is no conclusive evidence that the regime harbored terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, U.S. officials said Monday. The CIA review, which the officials said was requested some months ago by Vice President Dick Cheney, is the latest assessment that calls into question one of President Bush's key justifications for last year's U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. … 'The evidence is that Saddam never gave Zarqawi anything,' said another U.S. official. … The findings — delivered to Cheney last week — appear to again put the Bush administration and the CIA on a collision course over intelligence regarding Iraq." [Miami Herald, 10/5/04]

Saddam Never Knew Zarqawi Was In Baghdad. "But a senior US official tells ABC News the CIA report, based on captured documents and interviews with former Iraqi officials, raises serious questions about such statements. The official says there is no clear-cut evidence that Saddam Hussein even knew Zarqawi was in Baghdad, contrary to what President Bush said just last month." [ABC, "World News Tonight," 10/5/04]

THOUGH BUSH CLAIMED OSAMA HAS BEEN MARGINALIZED, HE HAS GAINED A NEW POWERFUL ALLY IN THE WAR ON TERROR

McClellan: "He is someone who just the other day pledged his allegiance to Osama bin Laden." [WH Gaggle, 10/20/04]

Bush Claimed Bin Laden Had Been Marginalized. Bush: "I Am Truly Not That Concerned About Him." In 2002 Bush said: "Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him. And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don't know where he is. I—I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him." [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html]

BEFORE THE WAR, Zarqawi's Attempts To Ally With Bin Laden Were Rejected. "In February, the American military released a letter it said had been written by Mr. Zarqawi to senior leaders in Al-Qaeda, who are thought to be hiding in the mountainous area of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In the letter, the author beseeched Mr. bin Laden for help in Iraq and made clear his subservience to him. According to American intelligence, Mr. Zarqawi's request was rebuffed." [New York Times, 10/18/04]

Because Bush Took His Eye Off the Real Threat of Terrorism, Bin Laden Has Gained a New Ally. "Iraq's most wanted militant has pledged his loyalty to Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda, according to a message posted Sunday on Islamist Web sites." In a statement posted on Islamist Web sites, the Unification and Jihad group headed by al-Zarqawi promised bin Laden it would "listen to your orders." [New York Times, 10/17/04; CNN, 10/18/04]