more from chapter 2

Most important passage of chapter 2 of the 9/11 Commission report:

"Similar meetings between Iraqi officials and Ben Ladin or his aides may have occurred in 1999 during a period of some reported strains with the Taliban. According to the reporting, Iraqi officials offered Bin Ladin a safe haven in Iraq. Bin Ladin declined, apparently judging that his circumstances in Afghanistan remained more favorable than the Iraqi alternative. The reports describe friendly contacts and indicate some common themes in both sides' hatred of the United States. But to date we have seen no evidence that these or the earlier contacts ever developed into a collaborative operational relationship. Nor have we seen evidence indicating that Iraq cooperated with al Queda in developing or carrying out any attacks against the United States." (emphasis added)
--The 9/11 Commission Report, pg 66

Someone ought to tell Cheney.

posted by Sarai @ 10:17 PM