Bush Rejected Plans to Go After al-Zarqawi

[RussBLib]

for political reasons

BUSH REJECTED PLANS TO GO AFTER TOP TERRORIST

In his effort to claim he is the strongest candidate on national security, President Bush has lately been speaking a lot about how he is doing everything possible to track down terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi<1> - the man thought to be responsible for escalating attacks on U.S. soldiers in Iraq.<2> But according to NBC News, it was Bush who in 2002 and 2003 rejected three plans to strike and neutralize Zarqawi because he believed a successful strike would undermine the public case for targeting Saddam Hussein.

As NBC News reported, "Long before the war, the Bush administration had several chances to wipe out his terrorist operation and perhaps kill Zarqawi himself - but never pulled the trigger." In June 2002, the Pentagon drafted plans to attack a camp Zarqawi was at with cruise missiles and airstrikes. The plan was killed by the White House. Four months later, as Zarqawi planned to use ricin in terrorist attacks in Europe, the Pentagon drew up a second strike plan, yet "the White House again killed it." In January 2003, the Pentagon drew up still another attack plan, and for the third time, the White House killed it.<3>

According to NBC, "Military officials insist their case for attacking Zarqawi's operation was airtight, but the administration feared destroying the terrorist camp in Iraq could undercut its case for war against Saddam." <4>

Zarqawi is thought to be at least indirectly responsible for hundreds of U.S. casualties. Just yesterday, Zarqawi's terrorist group beheaded an American civilian in Baghdad.<5>

Sources:

1. "President's Remarks to the General Conference of the National Guard Association of the United States," The White House, 9/14/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1827317&l=56809.
2. "Going after Iraq's most wanted man," The Christian Science Monitor, 9/21/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1827317&l=56810.
3. "Avoiding attacking suspected terrorist mastermind," NBC News, 3/02/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1827317&l=56811.
4. Ibid, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1827317&l=56811.
5. "Zarqawi Group Beheads U.S. Hostage Armstrong," Reuters, 9/20/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1827317&l=56812.

[alittlelark]

1. It needs a link to the article

[RussBLib]

6. There are five links at the bottom of the post

the story was compiled using snips from those links, which were working when I posted.

the overall story is here. sorry, I overlooked it somehow

http://www.misleader.org/daily_mislead/Read.asp?fn=df09212004.html

[Eye and Monkey]

2. They didn't want Zarqawi, they wanted war-profits.

Didn't the Pentagon understand that from the get-go?

[Carla in Ca]

8. Well, there is terrorist #2 he didn't get

He talks tough but doesn't act tough. But I guess he is happy having Saddam's gun on display in the Oval Office...what a boob

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Zarqawi is the evil f*ck who's been beheading Americans

but Shrub refused THREE opportunities to take him out because that would undermine the argument for invading Iraq??? You want to explain your reasoning to those people's families, Chimpy?

I am suffering from outrage fatigue. Just when I think I've heard the worst about that douchebag, something else -- like this -- turns up.

NOVEMBER 2.
NOVEMBER 2.
NOVEMBER 2.

[AirAmFan]

13. This could be HUGE! Was it Zarqawi HIMSELF who beheaded the hostage

in the latest Internet video? That's what I remember hearing on a news report. The report said the masked terrorist sawing off the man's head with a knife was al-Zarqawi HIMSELF.

Thus there's likely a DIRECT link between Dubya's order two years ago to let Zarqawi slide and the video image of the same man cutting off an American's head. Imagine a MoveOn ad with reports of Dubya's decision to let Zarqawi escape overlaying the terrorist video of Zarqawi sawing off an American's head! It would be historic, dwarfing the famous Democratic "Daisy" ad of 1964--the one that held Goldwater's popular vote down to 25 percent.

[RobertSeattle]

4. And what would the RW say if Clinton had let him get away

Hmmmm, inquirying minds want to know....

[LibeMatt]

15. They would say...

"Impeach him! This is almost as bad as a blow job!"

Stuff like this lends credence to LIHOP and MIHOP (or as I sometimes call them "Reichstag Fire") theories.

np: Samba Da 7-4-04

[whistle]

5. Got to keep the fear factor up

[fortyfeetunder]

7. Well, this was a no-brainer

* and all his men couldn't find Osama binLaden, you think they are capable of spending the same amount of effort finding al-Zarqawi?

I am more convinced the administration wants this stuff to happen to keep the fear of terrorism high and justifying *'s protection of the "children" Bastards all.

[Eye and Monkey]

10. LIHOP/MIHOP - not just for 9-11 anymore.

[liberalpragmatist]

9. Why the hell isn't this a Kerry campaign ad?

I think Kerry's doing great, but this ad would be a SLAM DUNK.

"George W. Bush claims he has made America safer and been resolute in the face of terror. But tell that to the American soldiers who have been killed by forces loyal to Al Qaeda-linked terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Three times in the spring of 2003, the Pentagon drafted plans to make a military strike on Zarqawi's isolated terrorist base in Iraq. According to NBC news, President Bush called off the strikes because destroying the camp would undercut the case to go to war against Saddam Hussein, a man Zarqawi had no links to.

Show quote of George Bush: "The American people are safer"

No, Mr. President; because you put politics and ideology over what's in America's best interests you have made America less safe. "

[RussBLib]

11. Exactly - good ad idea

I've sent it to the Kerry campaign nationally and locally. This one totally slipped under my radar at the time. Gee, I wonder why the so-called liberal media hasn't been all over this?

[Dawgs]

12. Agree.

Kerry is losing in only one issue... Terrorism.

I know that's hard to believe, but like it or not Bush is winning by spreading fear.

This simple to understand fact(al-Zarqawi) could be used to destroy Bush's credibility on the war in Iraq and the fight against Terrorism.

al-Zarqawi is the only link to Al-Qaeda they have in Iraq. Kerry needs to use this to bring some of the stupid-scared-shitless folk back to our side.

Unfortunately, I feel that the media will ignore it. Let's hope Kerry forces them to adress it. We'll see.

[creeksneakers2]

14. I think this is the silver bullet

This story proves Bush lies when he calls Iraq "the war on terror." It proves Bush is unfit to lead the war on terrorism. It undermines Bush's entire case for himself.

I've written to Kerry and DemStategist and the DNC and media outlets with no luck. I'm glad the DNC is finally picking it up. I'm sorry that those people are getting beheaded, but Zarqawi is getting the blame so this ties right into a big current news story.

I'm going to try to send more E-mails tonight.

I'm very happy that DU chose this story for the front page.

[Sugarbleus]

16. Glad you brought this up again... I had almost forgotten it..

I remember reading about this a long while back. I was Stunned then, I'm no less stunned now. :grr:

Great timing bringing this back to forefront again too. :thumbsup: