BUSH REJECTED PLANS TO GO AFTER TOP TERRORIST

[Nordic]

Hmm, seems like a much bigger story than whether or not Dan Rather got conned by somebody.


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THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
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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=1140667&l=56809.
2. "Going after Iraq's most wanted man," The Christian Science Monitor, 9/21/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1140667&l=56810.
3. "Avoiding attacking suspected terrorist mastermind," NBC News, 3/02/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1140667&l=56811.
4. Ibid, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1140667&l=56811.
5. "Zarqawi Group Beheads U.S. Hostage Armstrong," Reuters, 9/20/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1140667&l=56812.

[Sub Atomic]

1. Freepers shouldn't read this post.

because this is what will happen:

[On the Road]

2. Maybe NBC Will Pick Up CBS's Mantle

of critical reporting. One can only hope.

And yes, this is BIG NEWS.

[Inland]

3. Hey, I've posted this twice before DM picked it up! Give me props!

[Quahog]

4. Doesn't that just make you want to vomit

The little monkey boy could have put Zarqawi's lights out THREE FUCKING TIMES, and each time he deciddd not to because it might make his moran supporters less likely to drool with excitement over invading Iraq? And now this guy he let go is sawing the heads off of American citizens live on TV?

I smell a Dem talking point. Oh wait, too bad we're not mean and nasty enough to use it.

[Bread and Circus]

5. I can't believe this. Yet it well get less airplay than DanRather's foible

[WillyT]

6. Holy F--- !!!

Let's pick it up and run with it !!!

And maybe mention Tora Bora a few thousand more times.

And the deaths in Iraq.

And the National Guard call-ups.

And the draft that's coming.

And...

:nuke:

Onedit: Remember... these pukes want perpetual war!!!

[Inland]

7. I said, GIVE ME PROPS!

and bump the thread.

[fob]

8. Props to Inland! I know I've seen this on DU many times before today

and one of those must have been Inlands. Furthermore, where are the stories where the bush* admin claimed to have killed Zarqawi only to have them LATER blame some act on him. And what of the stories where he had lost a leg only to regrow it for one of his Bloodiest Home Video entries?


Edit: Same with Chemical Ali, first bush*co crows about killing him and then weeks later they blame an attack or something on him! Maybe god IS talking to bush* by repeatedly bringing these guys back to life!!

[Terran]

9. Somebody with the right connection, send this to the Kerry campaign!

This is exactly the kind of thing they like to pin on Bill Clinton--but THREE times?? The Pentagon said it was airtight? I'm sorry, how in hell could they spin this away??

[Moderator]

10. Not a valid news source.

Feel free to repost in a different forum.

[Nordic]

11. start e-mailing! Use Skinner's media list! I just sent out about 30

or more in about ten minutes.

They're starting to listen to us folks "sitting here on our pajamas".

Let's let them hear from us on this one.

this is one of those stories that should take Bush down once and for all.


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