Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., August 06, 2008 Av 5, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:08 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 16:50 05/08/2008
New book claims Bush White House used forged documents in case for Iraq war
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Central Intelligence Agency 

The Bush administration used forged documents that it presented as evidence of Saddam Hussein's complicity in the September 11 terrorist attacks, and which were later used as a pretext to launch the American invasion of Iraq in March 2003, according to a newly released book by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind.

In "The Way of the World," Suskind writes that documents cited by the administration allege that Hussein's regime permitted Al-Qaida operatives who carried out the 9/11 attacks to train on Iraqi soil, and that Saddam was seeking to obtain uranium in order to manufacture weapons of mass destruction.

According to the book, the Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations was responsible for fabricating the documents. The book goes on to say that the British intelligence agency MI6 recruited Saddam Hussein's intelligence chief, Tahir Abd al-Jalil al-Tikriti, and questioned him in Amman two months before the war, and then handed him over to the CIA.
Advertisement
Al-Tikriti continued to function as an agent for the Americans until after the invasion, when he was taken into custody by the U.S. military. His activities on behalf of the Americans remained a well-guarded secret, as his name continued to appear on a list of wanted members of Saddam's regime. The Americans distributed decks of cards containing the names and pictures of wanted Iraqi officials, among them al-Tikriti.

Months after the overthrow of the Ba'athist regime, al-Tikriti's CIA handlers requested that he handwrite a letter on official Iraqi government letterhead stating that Mohammed Atta, the ringleader of the 9/11 hijackers, underwent training in Iraq prior to carrying out the attacks, according to Suskind. In addition, al-Tikriti wrote in the letter that Al-Qaida aided the Iraqi government in obtaining uranium in Niger. It is worth noting that evidence linking Saddam Hussein to Niger was discredited after the source of the information, an Italian informant, was discovered to have falsified his claims.

The CIA was quick to disseminate the letter to journalists in Iraq, Britain, and the United States while creating the impression that it was discovered in the Iraqi Foreign Ministry archives by U.S. forces, Suskind writes. A short time later, the British Daily Telegraph was one of the first newspapers to publish the contents of the letter, which was touted as proof that there indeed was a link between Saddam Hussein and Al-Qaida, and that the Iraqi leader was intent on developing weapons of mass destruction. Other newspapers though were more skeptical of the document's authenticity
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
New bestsellers
Three children's books about the US presidential race to be published soon.
False accusation
Pentagon admits it wrongly accused Jewish army engineer of spying for Israel.
  1.   Iraq training for Iran 14:51  |  Steve 05/08/08
  2.   Surprise Surprise 15:16  |  Sadiq M 05/08/08
  3.   But Linthwit claims Iraqi invasion was for Israel! 15:17  |  Free Gilad Shalit 05/08/08
  4.   Nothing new, Europeans and newspaper reader knew before the war 15:21  |  Carl 05/08/08
  5.   Pulitzer Prizes Are A Dime A Dozen 16:24  |  Yosemite 05/08/08
  6.   This has been known for years 16:33  |  Axlerod 05/08/08
  7.   It is well known that the Bush gang faked the premise for war 16:39  |  Natallie Durson 05/08/08
  8.   Once the administration is out...the truth will come out 17:29  |  American GI 05/08/08
  9.   Yosemite 17:45  |  rich 05/08/08
  10.   Mummy Suskind 17:49  |  rich 05/08/08
  11.   Who cares? 17:49  |  Fred Michaelsberg 05/08/08
  12.   Well I`ll be...... 18:02  |  Sam 05/08/08
  13.   More convenient deaths coming? 18:04  |  Mark Lincoln 05/08/08
  14.   Not surprised the Telegraph fell for it 18:27  |  Keith 05/08/08
  15.   SUSKIND IS A BOLD FACE LIAR FOR HIRE 18:38  |  BigBadJohn 05/08/08
  16.   first documented 18:42  |  wh 05/08/08
  17.   #11 Say Fred, enemies of Israel? 18:42  |  ballistic 05/08/08
  18.   #8 American GI 18:45  |  ballistic 05/08/08
  19.   Open letter to Clinton 18:59  |  Dav 05/08/08
  20.   A Message From Israel Supporter Bobby Darin 2nd Attempt 20:33  |  Yosemite 05/08/08
  21.   Ballistic #17 21:35  |  Fred Michaelsberg 05/08/08
  22.   new book Same lies & distortions 22:16  |  Izzy 05/08/08
  23.   Weapons of mass destruction 22:19  |  Sherlock Holmes 05/08/08
  24.   Funny except for the facts 22:19  |  Gee 05/08/08
  25.   French nuclear reactor 22:23  |  Joe 05/08/08
  26.   REBBE KING MOSHIACH GAVE HIS BLESSINGS USA GOVT TO ATTACK SADDAM! 22:41  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 05/08/08
  27.   BigBadJohn 22:55  |  rich 05/08/08
  28.   ballistic 22:56  |  rich 05/08/08
  29.   Ballistic 23:00  |  rich 05/08/08
  30.   #10 Mummy suskind re my little rich 23:33  |  Mummy rich 05/08/08
  31.   #21 Say Fred, "our land", well, who exactly 00:06  |  ballistic 06/08/08
  32.   fred michaelsberg 00:14  |  wh 06/08/08
  33.   #25 Say Rich in England 00:48  |  ballistic 06/08/08
  34.   #27 More crap from ballistic 00:50  |  JP 06/08/08
  35.   patriotism ad nauseum 00:51  |  Akiva P 06/08/08
  36.   Fred Michaelsberg 01:04  |  W 06/08/08
  37.   #22 Who is that? 01:06  |  ballistic 06/08/08
  38.   ballestic,your nothing but a balf faced lier,you hate jews with 01:07  |  terrornator 06/08/08
  39.   Mummy rich 01:48  |  rich 06/08/08
  40.   Part 1.Hillary Clinton on Iraq 01:53  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 06/08/08
  41.   Part 2.Hillary Clinton on Iraq 01:55  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 06/08/08
  42.   part 3.Hillary Clinton on Iraq 01:56  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 06/08/08
  43.   Part 4.The Lead-Up to War 01:58  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 06/08/08
  44.   Part 5.Aftermath of invasion 01:59  |  e,m 06/08/08
  45.   Part 6.Rewriting History 02:00  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 06/08/08
  46.   Part 7.Current Policy 02:01  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 06/08/08
  47.   Part 8.Little Difference from Bush 02:02  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 06/08/08
  48.   Part 9.Little Difference from Bush 02:03  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 06/08/08
  49.   Final Part. The leftist how much they can lie to get to white hou 02:08  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 06/08/08
  50.   Yea, the "American" administration is perfidious! 02:24  |  Akiva P 06/08/08
 Read & React
IAF: Hezbollah anti-aircraft missiles could threaten Israeli planes
Responses: 131
ANALYSIS / Iran's real nuclear tactic is to keep buying time
Responses: 22
Why did the U.S. turn away Gaza Fulbright scholars?
Responses: 51
VIDEO / IDF trains for simultaneous Iran, Syria, Hezbollah missile strikes
Responses: 57
Mofaz: Iran is the root of all evil, threat to world peace
Responses: 17
Rosner's Domain
The reassuring candidacy of Eric Cantor (WTR)
Congress likely to see record number of Jewish legislators
Israel looking for leader and agenda, but finds neither
Should the U.S. invade Darfur?


More Headlines
17:47 Israel, U.S. to develop new Arrow missile defense system
16:56 Israel to free more Palestinian prisoners as gesture to Abbas
17:53 Noam Shalit: Gilad is holding the entire Gaza Strip hostage
17:49 UN Security Council, Germany to weigh new sanctions on Iran
17:43 Jerusalem nurse's 'Nuclear Modified' music CD sparks security alert
12:21 Israeli TV ad poking fun at oil sheikhs draws Saudi ire
16:06 Congress likely to see record number of Jewish legislators
12:12 Mofaz: Iran is the root of all evil, threat to world peace
11:10 Israeli Arab charged with spying for Hezbollah
14:52 PA: Mofaz as head of Kadima would be disaster for peace
17:32 Merkel calls for German firms to practice restraint in Iran deals
15:41 Ultra-Orthodox community issues anti-organ donor cards
10:47 IAF: Hezbollah anti-aircraft missiles could threaten Israeli planes
12:24 Haredi MK tapped as candidate for Jerusalem mayor poses 'real test' for secular
Previous Editions