(ABC News) Exclusive: Iran in Secret Talks With Al Qaeda, U.S. Officials Say

[sabra]

Source: ABC News


Sources Say Iranian Govt., Terror Group in Contact About Militants Under House Arrest


Senior U.S. officials tell ABC News that the government of Iran and al Qaeda leadership have secretly been in contact regarding the status of several of the terror group's high-level operatives under house arrest in that country.

According to U.S. officials familiar with highly sensitive intelligence on this issue, the contacts are on the status of high-level Al Qaeda operatives, including two of Osama Bin Laden's sons, who have been under house arrest in Iran since 2003. The officials don't believe Iran will allow these operatives to go free, but they don't know Iran's motivation for initiating the talks.

"The Iranians know there would be hell to pay if these guys were set free," a U.S. official told ABC News.

"Iran likely sees these individuals, as major bargaining chips," says another official. "How and when they're going to use those chips or whether they are going to keep them in the bank is part of an ongoing strategic discussion they are having internally."

The fate of these Al Qaeda operatives has been one of the most intriguing mysteries in the war on terror. Shortly after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in late 2001, Al Qaeda's central leadership broke into two groups. U.S. intelligence believes that one group, headed by Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri, fled to the east to find safe haven in Pakistan's tribal areas. The second group, headed by an Egyptian named Saif al-Adel went west to Iran. This second group, which intelligence analysts say includes Al Qaeda's management, or "shura," council, includes about two dozen militants, including al-Adel, Al Qaeda spokesman Suliman abu Ghaith and some of Osama bin Laden's relatives including two of his sons: Saad and Hamza.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/International/story?id=4954667&page=1

[KansDem]

1. Oh,...ok....

:eyes:

The fate of these Al Qaeda operatives has been one of the most intriguing mysteries in the war on terror. Shortly after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in late 2001, Al Qaeda's central leadership broke into two groups. U.S. intelligence believes that one group, headed by Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri, fled to the east to find safe haven in Pakistan's tribal areas. The second group, headed by an Egyptian named Saif al-Adel went west to Iran. This second group, which intelligence analysts say includes Al Qaeda's management, or "shura," council, includes about two dozen militants, including al-Adel, Al Qaeda spokesman Suliman abu Ghaith and some of Osama bin Laden's relatives including two of his sons: Saad and Hamza.

Where have we heard that before?

[november3rd]

19. Second

I was wondering the same thing.

[fascisthunter]

2. rriiiight

[Lerkfish]

3. I have no reason to disbelieve government sources in regards to justifications

for invading middle eastern soverign nations preemptively to steal their oil.

:sarcasm:

[RaVeN_MeaD]

10. Now, if they'd lied about this sort of thing before...

but they keep telling me they didn't, so I guess this is true too.

Additional helping of :sarcasm:

[MinM]

4. ABC, FBI Punk'd by Terror 'Fan Video' (Updated)

Does ABC ever get tired of getting played or being wrong:

ABC, FBI Punk'd by Terror 'Fan Video' (Updated)

On Tuesday, ABC News posted a story headlined "Al-Qaeda Tape to Call for Use of WMDs." Which would be awfully scary -- if it were true.

"Operatives" from the terrorist group, the network warned, "will post a new video on the Internet in the next 24 hours, calling for what one source said is 'jihadists to use biological, chemical and nuclear weapons to attack the West.' The report then quotes FBI spokesman Richard Kolko, who says that "there have been several reports that al Qaeda will release a new message calling for the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) against civilians."

Or maybe not. The video was actually released on Monday Sunday. And while it is called ''Nuclear Jihad, The Ultimate Terror," it is not from Al-Qaeda -- or any other major terrorist group. Rather, it is "a jihadi supporter video compilation," notes Ben Venzke with IntelCenter -- a flick "made by fans or supporters who may not have ever had any contact with a real terrorist."...
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/05/abc-fbi-punkd-b.html

[angstlessk]

5. and we do know how those SAUDI ARABIAN wahabists LOVE those

shiite Iranians now don't we children?

[KeepItReal]

7. You're right. They think Sunnis on the run fled to Shiite, Iran?

eom

[AzDar]

6. This Just In : Jessica Yellin Says ABC Is Totally In The Tank For Bush.....

:patriot:

[Newsjock]

8. Absolutely shameless

ABC News is practicing the modus operandi of the Bush regime: When confronted with their lies, they simply ratchet up the propaganda even louder and more absurd. "What you gonna do about it?" they taunt.

[originalpckelly]

9. In no way is this connected to McClellan's book.

Nope, not at all. :puke:

[liberal N proud]

12. And while the talking heads are busy discussing his book...

Pay no attention over here, it is just another war. Nothing to cover, go on being puzzled by Scotty.

[newfie11]

11. The government that cried wolf too many times!!

I don't believe anything they say.

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. I never did. Not before 9/11 and certainly NOT after!

[L0oniX]

14. I'm calling bull shit. I won't believe anything they say unless they prove it!

Certified verified video or audio is about all I would believe anymore. They have lied way too much for me to ever believe them again. Who the fuck are "Senior U.S. officials? This is a propaganda campaign and run up to another war. Their word is shit. :evilfrown:

[tanyev]

15. Shhhhh! It's a SECRET!!!

Iran is not supposed to know that we know, OK? So everybody that saw this story on ABC has to promise not to tell. DU, too. Shhh!

[LynnTheDem]

16. Jesus fucking Christ already. Enough of this fucking bullshit.

ENOUGH!

[Overseas]

17. TOTAL CRAP !! ABC supports the Bush Crime Family. //end

[november3rd]

18. Ahhemmmm!

First of all, why would anybody believe any "anonymous high level US officials" leaking a story to ABC news? Sounds like Pentagon Punditry to me.

My guess is the censors let this one through because they liked seeing al Qaeda and Iran in the same headline.

Now when Gates, Petraus and "boots on the ground" Bush say, "We know Iran has been holding secret meetings with al Qaeda," they won't have to qualify it with that extra needed measure of truth (about prisoners they've been holding for 5 years.)

Fire the executives. Public takeover.

[MasonJar]

20. Oh, sure! Just like McCain. al Quaeda is Sunni and Iran is Shite.

[Wilms]

21. ABC: Abetting Bush Criminality n/t

[magellan]

22. Who are these chickenshit Senior US Officials who won't be named?

If it's so damned important then they can bloody well come forward or STFU.

[stillcool]

23. I thought bin Laden had a new video..

coming out? I can't wait till we get close to the November elections and we can go back to color coded terror threat levels.