Bush WH blocked plans to get al-Zarqawi...Three times!!!

[xray s]

In its rush to war and the control of Iraq's oil, the BFEE had the bloody terrorist al-Zarqawi in its sights three times and let him go.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4431601/

Avoiding attacking suspected terrorist mastermind
Abu Musab Zarqawi blamed for more than 700 killings in Iraq
By Jim Miklaszewski
Correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 7:14 p.m. ET March 02, 2004

With Tuesday’s attacks, Abu Musab Zarqawi, a Jordanian militant with ties to al-Qaida, is now blamed for more than 700 terrorist killings in Iraq. But NBC News has learned that 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, U.S. officials say intelligence had revealed that Zarqawi and members of al-Qaida had set up a weapons lab at Kirma, in northern Iraq, producing deadly ricin and cyanide. The Pentagon quickly drafted plans to attack the camp with cruise missiles and airstrikes and sent it to the White House, where, according to U.S. government sources, the plan was debated to death in the National Security Council.

(snip)

Four months later, intelligence showed Zarqawi was planning to use ricin in terrorist attacks in Europe. The Pentagon drew up a second strike plan, and the White House again killed it. By then the administration had set its course for war with Iraq.

“People were more obsessed with developing the coalition to overthrow Saddam than to execute the president’s policy of preemption against terrorists,” according to terrorism expert and former National Security Council member Roger Cressey.

In January 2003, the threat turned real. Police in London arrested six terror suspects and discovered a ricin lab connected to the camp in Iraq. The Pentagon drew up still another attack plan, and for the third time, the National Security Council killed it. 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.

[ClintonTyree]

1. So much for *'s assertion...............

that he's unmercilessly tracking down and taking these terrorists out. All reported by MSGOP as well. What next, FOX reporting something negative about the Chimp in Chief? Stay tuned terra fans.

[frylock]

2. kix0r

:kick:

[YearOfTheLLama]

3. Here is a good story on John Abizaid

He testified about last week's attacks before the House Armed Services Committee.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/03/international/middleeast/03CND-GENE.html

[YearOfTheLLama]

4. Also I heard Zarqawi's total is up to 2200

CNN just reported that his organization, Ansar al-Islam, killed 1500 people at a mosque in Karbala.

Yep, things are really great since the U.S. invaded.

[For PaisAn]

5. This administration is a bunch of despicable

lying sacks of shit. This should be the number one story that all Democrats get out to the public. Sorry, but Democrats don't know how to chose the right issues to push. Too much defense and not enough offense. And as much as I hate those Bush Ads politicizing September 11th, they're just not as strong an issue that would offend all Americans. This story would enrage all Americans and truly expose the farce that Bush is "tough on terrorists" and Kerry is not.

This paragraph says it all
"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."

[For PaisAn]

6. Please, repost this in GD

It really needs major exposure.