by Patrick Lang (bio below)
DITSUM No. 044-02, February 2002. This would be “Defense Intelligence Terrorism Summary No. 044-02.”
This document from the agency I worked for (DIA) threw cold water on the information provided by al-Libi, a key source in the US government’s attempts to “connect the dots” between the Iraqi government and AQ.
This was in EARLY 2002!!! Al-Libi’s claims to know all about the supposed connection between Saddam and AW were judged by DIA to be doubtful way back then.
How did Jehl get this document? Looks like someone in DIA has had enough abuse and “isn’t going to stand for it anymore.”
Pat Lang
“In an interview on Friday, Mr. Levin also called attention to a portion of the D.I.A. report that expressed skepticism about the idea of close collaboration between Iraq and Al Qaeda, an idea that was never substantiated by American intelligence but was a pillar of the administration’s prewar claims.
“Saddam’s regime is intensely secular and is wary of Islamic revolutionary movements,’’ the D.I.A. report said in one of two declassified paragraphs. “Moreover, Baghdad is unlikely to provide assistance to a group it cannot control.’’ Douglas Jehl, NYT
……………………………………………………..
Col. Patrick W. Lang (Ret.), a highly decorated retired senior officer of U.S. Military Intelligence and U.S. Army Special Forces, served as “Defense Intelligence Officer for the Middle East, South Asia and Terrorism” for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and was later the first Director of the Defense Humint Service. Col. Lang was the first Professor of the Arabic Language at the United States Military Academy at West Point. For his service in the DIA, he was awarded the “Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive.” He is a frequent commentator on television and radio, including PBS’s Newshour, and most recently on MSNBC’s Hardball and NPR’s “All Things Considered.”.
Personal Blog: Sic Semper Tyrannis 2005 || Bio || CV
Recommended Books || More BooTrib <a href="Posts
Novel: The Butcher’s Cleaver (download free by chapter, PDF format)
“Drinking the Kool-Aid,” Middle East Policy Council Journal, Vol. XI, Summer 2004, No. 2
……………………………………………………..
.