Report: Jose Padilla Linked To NYC Recruiter Cell

New Report Ties Together OKC-Related Plots

By J.M. Berger

INTELWIRE.com



al Qaeda suspect Jose Padilla may be tied to a New York City sleeper cell that helped recruit Gulf War veterans as terrorists, according to the Miami Herald.



According to the Herald:

Investigators are looking at Padilla's links to Omar Abdel Rahman, the blind sheik convicted in 1995 and serving a life sentence for conspiring to blow up the United Nations, FBI headquarters in New York and two tunnels and a bridge linking New Jersey to Manhattan, the sources said.

One member of Rahman's terror cell, and a participant in bombing plot, was Clement Rodney Hampton-El, a terrorist operative who recruited Gulf War veterans for al Qaeda-linked conspiracies during 1992 and 1993. (related story)



According to the Herald and previous reports, Padilla is also tied to Adham Hassoun, a Fort Lauderdale man who founded an office of the Benevolence International Foundation in Plantation, FL, in February 1993, the same month that Timothy McVeigh visited the area. (related story)



Jose Padilla is a close match with an FBI sketch of "John Doe 2," a suspect in the Oklahoma City bombing who was never apprehended. (related story) Described by multiple witnesses as being Hispanic in appearance, John Doe 2 was never found and the FBI later claimed he had never existed. The FBI said the earlier reports were a case of mistaken identity.



McVeigh stayed in Plantation, just 15 minutes down the road from the Benevolence Office. He arrived at his sister's house the same month that the BIF office opened, and remained for about a month.



A Gulf War vet, McVeigh was briefly stationed in Saudi Arabia in 1991, corresponding to the first stage of the al Qaeda recruiting program later linked to Hampton-El.



Hampton-El was linked to another major al Qaeda recruiter, Mohammed Jamal Khalifa (related story), a brother-in-law of Osama bin Laden who recruited Christians as al Qaeda terrorists in the Philippines and specifically in Cebu City during this time frame. (related story)



Terry Nichols, whose second wife was a "mail order bride" from Cebu City, traveled to the Philippines during key periods prior to the Oklahoma City bombing, including key times when World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef was known to be in the area. (related story)



Yousef designed bombs and worked with recipes nearly identical to that used in the Oklahoma City bombing. (related story)



Padilla had other known links to Hampton-El and the NYC cell. Gulshair Shukrijumah, a South Florida Muslim cleric, was the father of one of Padilla's known associates in the Fort Lauderdale area and served as a character witness during Hampton-El's sentencing for the NYC bomb plot, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Newsweek and others.



Gulshair's son, Adnan Shukrijumah, is currently one of the FBI's most wanted terror suspects. Gulshair Shukrijumah, who died a few weeks ago, received payments from the Saudi embassy which are now under federal investigation, according to Newsweek.

AN INTELWIRE SPECIAL REPORT: OKC



OKC Bomb Formulas Found in Al Qaeda Manuals



Exposed: Al Qaeda & Saudi Gov't Plotted To Recruit Gulf War Vets As Terrorists



McVeigh, Nichols made moves on key dates in al Qaeda recruitment plot



INS Deported bin Laden Brother-in-Law Just Days After OKC Bombing



Linking Terry Nichols to Ramzi Yousef: Is There A Case?



al Qaeda Recruited Christians in Key Terry Nichols Locale



Jose Padilla and John Doe 2? A Look At A Long Shot



NEW: Report Links Jose Padilla To al Qaeda NYC Cell And Gulf War Vet Recruiter



RELATED STORIES:



Newsweek: Alleged Yousef-Iraq Link Debunked By Secret Post-9/11 Mission



Ex-Terror Czar Says Feds Couldn't Disprove Nichols-Yousef Link



Khalifa Links run to Al-Zawahiri, Uranium Plot, Terror Finance Network and even 9/11



Bin Laden Brother-in-Law Denies Terror Ties, Asks To Be Dropped From 9/11 Lawsuit



Media Backgrounder: Jose Padilla

Labels: INTELWIRE-Exclusive

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

Is Pakistan Dismantling Ramzi Yousef's Terror Network?

By J.M. Berger

INTELWIRE.com



Pakistani authorities arrested two figures connected to Ramzi Yousef over the weekend, both of whom are accused of working with the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi terrorist group.



According to Reuters, Pakistan arrested Daud (or Dawood) Badini, a brother-in-law of Yousef who is associated with LeJ.



Like Yousef himself, Badini is accused of targeting Shi'ite Muslims in bomb attacks. Badini is a suspect in a 2003 Quetta mosque bombing that killed more than 40 people, according to Pakistani authorities. Badini's sister is believed to be Yousef's wife.



The Pakistan government also announced the arrest of someone they called a nephew of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed named Mosabir Aruchi (alternately spelled Aroochi, Musabir Urumchi, Masrab Arochi, and Musaad Aruchi in various reports). KSM is also Ramzi Yousef's uncle, which presumably makes Aruchi and Yousef cousins.



According to Pakistani authorities, a $1 million reward had been posted for Aruchi's arrest, but there is no information to that effect posted under any of the spellings listed above. Given the timing of the report, it's possible Aruchi is an alias used by Badini. This story will be updated if this becomes clear.



LeJ is a small and extremely violent group of Sunni Muslims who are opposed to Western and Shi'ite Muslim influences in Pakistan. It seeks to overthrow the government of Pakistan and replace it with an Islamic fundamentalist theocracy.



LeJ splintered from a Saudi-sponsored Pakistani terrorist group in 1996, about a year after Yousef was arrested. It appears to have consolidated Yousef's surviving terror network under the new umbrella, possibly under the leadership of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed prior to his arrest.



If that is the case, the LeJ might be considered the "Delta Force" of al Qaeda, a special forces unit trained with or under Yousef and KSM, tasked with specific high profile tasks, such as recent attempts to assassinate of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. LeJ and Badini personally have been linked to those attempts by Pakistani officials.



LeJ was directly involved in at least one KSM-sponsored act of terrorism, the 2002 videtaped beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. According to Pakistani authorities, KSM killed Pearl with his own hand. He was reportedly assisted by several LeJ operatives, some of whom are serving time for the murder.



Abu Musab al-Zarqawi may also be tied to LeJ. He was reportedly a member of its predecessor group, and U.S. authorities have said Zarqawi is also linked to Yousef. Zarqawi shares LeJ's anti-Shi'ite predilictions and its ultraviolent techniques, right down to the videotaped beheading of U.S. businessman Nicholas Berg in 2004. (related story)



The South Asia Analysis Group, an India-based think tank, claims that Zarqawi and Yousef worked together on a 1994 attack on an Iranian Shi'ite mosque and that Zarqawi is closely tied to LeJ (external link). The claim is not inconsistent with other sources reviewed by INTELWIRE, but positive independent confirmation is not yet available. SAAG also reports that LeJ volunteers have traveled to Iraq to fight the U.S. occupation.



There have been other clues that a Yousef-linked terror network is still active in Pakistan and elsewhere. In September 2003, the U.S. Treasury Department froze the assets of Abdul Hakim Murad, a close accomplice (and childhood friend) of Yousef's who has been imprisoned since January 1995. (related story)



Additionally, Zarqawi, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Murad, Yousef and several other known co-conspirators in Yousef's circle may all belong to a violent extremist sect known as Al-Takfir Wal Hijra.



The sect is known for killing Westerners, as well as Muslims who do not meet its extremist Wahabbi/Sunni-influenced standards. The sect also preaches that members may be exempted from normal Islamic rules and strictures in order to assist them in infiltrating Western cultures. Takfiri influences are believed to pervade al Qaeda.



AFP reported that Aruchi is a member of a "new" terror group in Pakistan known as Jund Allah. A group with that name exists in Egypt and has previously been tied to al-Takfir Wal Hijra.



Al Qaeda's No. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of Egpytian Islamic Jihad, is believed to be a member of al-Takfir Wal Hijrah and may also be tied to the Egyptian branch of Jund Allah. The suspects were said to have been trained in the same region of Pakistan where Zawahiri is believed to be hiding, according to a report in the Australian media.



An Algerian group operated under the name Jund Allah as early as 1985, according to Jane's Intelligence Review.

Labels: INTELWIRE-Exclusive

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Nichols Sentencing Is Not Quite The End Of OKC Investigations

By J.M. Berger

INTELWIRE.com



Despite an Oklahoma jury's decision to spare Terry Nichols the death penalty (link), the official investigation of the Oklahoma City bombing is not quite at an end.



The FBI is still conducting an internal investigation of whether it mishandled the investigation of the bombing or withheld crucial information from the Nichols and Timothy McVeigh defense teams.



The investigation is not the first internal review of the bombing. A Justice Department internal investigation found substantial irregularities in the forensic analysis of the bomb itself.



The investigation will examine claims of other conspirators, including possible involvement by a gang of white supremacist bank robbers, links which have been extensively covered by the Associated Press.



It may also touch on the possibility of foreign involvement in the bombing. Click here for INTELWIRE's special coverage of possible links between al Qaeda and the conspirator, including several stories on al Qaeda's infiltration of the U.S. military which are exclusive to INTELWIRE.



The trial's outcome is a double-edged sword in terms of any further developments in the case.



Since Nichols was spared the death penalty, he continues to have a strong incentive to avoid incriminating himself with any further admission of terrorist links.



Conversely, Nichols remains alive to at least receive the questions, unlike Timothy McVeigh who was executed on June 11, 2001.

AN INTELWIRE SPECIAL REPORT: OKC



The following news stories contain a great deal of original material tracing the possibility of al Qaeda complicity in the OKC bombing. al Qaeda involvement in the bombing could be as simple as a shared bomb recipe or as complex as full-scale financial and logistical cooperation the attack. Although such claims have not been proven, INTELWIRE believes there is more than enough evidence to justify a continued investigation.





OKC Bomb Formulas Found in Al Qaeda Manuals



Exposed: Al Qaeda & Saudi Gov't Plotted To Recruit Gulf War Vets As Terrorists



McVeigh, Nichols made moves on key dates in al Qaeda recruitment plot



INS Deported bin Laden Brother-in-Law Just Days After OKC Bombing



Linking Terry Nichols to Ramzi Yousef: Is There A Case?



al Qaeda Recruited Christians in Key Terry Nichols Locale



Jose Padilla and John Doe 2? A Look At A Long Shot



RELATED STORIES:



Newsweek: Alleged Yousef-Iraq Link Debunked By Secret Post-9/11 Mission



Ex-Terror Czar Says Feds Couldn't Disprove Nichols-Yousef Link



Khalifa Links run to Al-Zawahiri, Uranium Plot, Terror Finance Network and even 9/11



Bin Laden Brother-in-Law Denies Terror Ties, Asks To Be Dropped From 9/11 Lawsuit



Media Backgrounder: Jose Padilla

Labels: INTELWIRE-Exclusive

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

Class-Action Suit Alleges House of Horrors At Abu Ghraib

By J.M. Berger

INTELWIRE.com



Gruesome new incidents of torture, rape, child molestation and murder are detailed in a class action lawsuit against two U.S. companies allegedly involved in prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and other facilities.



The two companies are CACI International, a Virginia-based company, and Titan Corp., a San Diego firm. Titan and CACI both denied the allegations in the suit. CACI recently amplified its stand on prisoner abuse allegations in a statement released to INTELWIRE (related story).



The lawsuit provides a long and graphic list of abuses allegedly suffered by Iraqi citizens at the hands of U.S. military personnel and civilian contractors involved in the interrogation of prisoners at Abu Ghraib and other Iraq prisoners. According to the lawsuit, the abuses included:

(a) Removing their clothes and spraying them with cold water during the cold winter;



(b) Stripping them of their clothes entirely and then tying their hands and legs together and allowing fierce and hungry dogs to come two inches away from their faces and bark in their faces;



(c) Kicking them with their heavy military boots on all parts of their bodies including their heads, backs, private parts, and stomach;



(d) Hitting them with guns on their bodies, including their heads, backs, stomach, and private parts;



(e) Removing all their clothes and leaving them outside for days;



(f) Depriving them of food and keeping them in the cold for such lengths of time as to cause fainting;



(g) Lifting their hands above their heads and leaving them standing in that position for days, and beating them whenever they moved or twitched;



(h) Leaving them lying on their stomachs naked on the floor with their hands tied above their heads for long hours.

One plaintiff named Ahmed was "forced to observe the Torture Conspirators torturing his father and (other plaintiffs) by physically and verbally assaulting them, humiliating them, including sexual humiliation." Ahmed's father was tortured to death in front of him, the suit claims. Ahmed also claimed his captors robbed him and destroyed his house.



A plaintiff identified as Ismael charged that his captors at Abu Ghraib abused him in the following ways:

(a) During interrogation, hitting him (Ismael) with electric cables and kicking him with boots if he did not answer or did not answer in the manner desired by the Torture Conspirators;



(b) Tying his hands behind his backs and terrorizing him by shooting electric guns at him;



(c) Stripping him, tying his hands behind his back and releasing dogs to attack his private parts;



(d) Using demeaning and dehumanizing language;



(e) Depriving him of sleep by use of loud music or loose dogs roaming around the tent;



(f) Stripping his clothes off and forcing him to stand on one leg for as long as 6 hours, during which they would hit him with a rifle if he showed any sign of fatigue or moved in any manner;



(g) Hitting his private parts repeatedly.

The lawsuit claims that when Ismael refused to answer a question posed by interrogators, "they stripped off his clothes and covered his face with a bag. Hours later they removed the bag and showed him two photographs of sexual torture committed on detainees known to Plaintiff Ismael. The first photograph showed a young boy (age 12-15) being sexually molested by a person in a United States' uniform. (...) The Torture Conspirators then showed him another photograph of a different detainee, also known to Plaintiff Ismael, who was being forced to perform oral sex on a person in a United States' uniform."



A plaintiff named Neisef, imprisoned at Abu Ghraib and Buka Prisons, also described being stripped and sexually humiliated, then raped. "The Torture Conspirators raped Plaintiff Neisef. A female conspirator placed a hood over his head and called in two other conspirators, who held Neisef down while she raped him. After sexually abusing him for approximately thirty minutes, she left him naked on the floor and told him 'it is our job to take your manhood away from you by the time you leave, you son of a bitch.' "



Neisef also said he was "forced to touch other detainees' body parts," and his captors "wrapped electric wire around (his and other prisoners') penises, and gave them electric shocks. Plaintiff Neisef started to bleed and suffered a ruptured vein on his penis. The Torture Conspirators refused to tend his wounds."



Neisef also said he was "degraded ... sexually by forcing him to assume a dog position and by threatening to sodomize him with a stick."



Another plaintiff said electric current was applied to his tongue and anus, his toenails were pulled out and he was beaten with iron "skewers." Plaintiffs also complained of being stripped and paraded in front of prisoners and guards, including women. Some said their captors threatened to kill their wives.



All of the plaintiffs reported having their Muslim faith mocked and their efforts to pray disrupted.



One reported his captors attempted "to make him masturbate in front of women and fondl(ed) his penis with a stick so as to give him an erection."



A plaintiff identified as Jane Doe No. 2 was "a 55-year old English teacher" whose husband had been tortured to death in Abu Ghraib under the Saddam regime.



According to the suit, she was detained and interrogated in four different U.S. run facilities in Iraq. Jane Doe 2 charged her captors with:

(a) Detaining her incommunicado, in isolation, for prolonged periods in a tiny (3 metres by 2 metres) dark, unhygienic, cold cell;



(b) Hooding her for extended periods of time so that she was completely disorientated and had difficulty breathing;



(c) Handcuffing her with flexi-cuffs around the wrists and ankles for extended periods causing skin lesions;



(d) Depriving her of food, water, and hygiene facilities;



(e) Threatening and intimidating her with guard dogs;



(f) Threatening her and members of her family with death; and



(g) Interrogating her for extended periods while she was restrained in awkward positions.

Several plaintiffs reported being robbed of money and possessions or having their homes destroyed. At least two men were said in the suit to have been beaten to death.



One 61-year old man was hooded and forced to sit on a hot vehicle surface until severely burned. Another was burned so substantially that he was hospitalized for three months and forced to undergo several skin grafts, and the amputation of his right index finger. He suffered the permanent loss of the use of his left fifth finger."



In another incident:

On or around Ramadan, 2003, the Torture Conspirators located in Abu Ghraib, Iraq tortured putative Class Plaintiff by putting sandbags on his head, stripping him naked, forcing him onto his hands and knees, piling other naked prisoners on top of him, taking pictures from front and back views of the pile of naked prisoners, forcing him to stroke his penis, pretending to put his penis in the mouth of a guard while taking pictures, playing with his penis with a pen, writing on his buttocks, leaving him naked in a cell with no mattress for two days and denying him all food but bread and water for three days.

Several similar incidents were detailed. One plaintiff was handcuffed to a door for hours, beaten, sodomized with a broomstick and had his head dunked in urine.



The lawsuit claims several prisoners were starved, or force fed "foreign objects, such as baseballs." Many were raped, some by "government officials," or forced to take part in other sexual acts.

Labels: INTELWIRE-Exclusive

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

Bush-Linked Private Contractor Targeted In Saudi Attack

By J.M. Berger
INTELWIRE.com

An American citizen shot to death in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday worked for a controversial private contractor that trains the Saudi National Guard. (external link)

Vinnell Arabia Corp. is a contractor that provides training services to the Saudi Guard, which acts as a personal bodyguard and militia for the Saudi Royal family.

Vinnell was the target of a May 2003 car bombing in the kingdom that killed nine of its employees. It was also targeted in a 1995 bombing that killed seven people.

Vinnell is a subsidiary of Northrop-Grumman. Through much of the 1990s, it was owned by the Carlyle Group, an investment firm with extensive ties to both Bush Administrations. George Bush Sr. and James Baker have both served as paid advisers to Carlyle. Baker later helped the current Bush administration coordinate its response to the Florida recount.

According to the Center for Public Integrity, Vinnell also had more than $200 million in joint venture contracts with Brown & Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton, from 1998 to 2002.

Vinnell employs more than 1,000 people in Saudi Arabia, and the company is currently filling a $48 million contract to train the new Iraqi Army, according to CPI.

Labels: Weblog

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

Who Was The Mystery Source On Reagan's Health?

By J.M. Berger

INTELWIRE.com

Editor's Note: A version of this political analysis was written and published several hours before the announcement of President Reagan's death. It was initially posted at 1 p.m. on June 5. Because it was previously published, it has been edited to reflect the news of the former president's death rather than simply being removed.

Several hours before news of Ronald Reagan's death became public, the major newswires broke a story on Saturday about his declining health (external link).



The source of the story may have been identified too specifically in early versions of the story. In early reports, CNN and UPI identified the source as a "White House spokesman on Air Force One" and "a spokesman for President Bush aboard Air Force One" respectively.



But these characterizations were edited in later versions of the story. CNN revised the sourcing to read "sources familiar with the situation" within hours of the initial posting.



AP cited a "person familiar with Reagan's health, who did not want to be identified out of sensitivity to the family." Reuters simply said the source was "close to the situation."



"Don't be surprised if ... the time is getting close," CNN quoted the source as saying.



Could the president himself technically be considered a "spokesman for President Bush?" It's unlikely. Such a characterization would be misleading at best, dishonest at worst.



Regardless, the information obviously came from Bush, either directly or through a close spokesman. The "sensitivity of the family" would not likely be an issue otherwise. The deletion of references to a "spokesman for President Bush" and "on Air Force One" seems to indicate that any attribution tying the information to the president was objected to by the source.



The question of "sensitivity to the family" and the initial denials from the Reagans' spokesperson (contradicted, of course, by news of the former president's death) strongly indicate that the family had not wished for the information to become public.



Certainly, the news of Reagan's death will have massive political ramifications for the Republican National Convention in August. It will dramatically change the tenor of that event.



Usually, the early days of the convention feature speeches from some of the more stridently conservative elements of the party on some of the more divisive issues of the day. This accomplishes the dual goals of energizing the party's conservative base while providing a cathartic outlet for divisive partisan anger before the party moves toward the center for the general election.



Reagan's death will shift media coverage from the traditional airing of right-wing grievances to a series of softer-focus tributes to the beloved former president.



The news will also change the tenor of the Democratic Convention in July. It would undercut a similar dynamic for the Democrats by forcing them to temper the anger of the party's left-wing, usually on display in the opening part of the convention.



During the general election, Democrats may also feel pressured to downplay attacks that make comparisons between Bush and Reagan policies, particularly in the area of taxes and deficit spending, an area where Bush may be vulnerable.



A tricky ethical question for reporters covering this story: Can the president of the United States fairly be considered an off-the-record source? There is some precedent for citing the president that way, but it seems problematic, given the magnitude automatically accorded a presidential statement.



Reporters treat such statements as bigger news than they would a statement by a regular source, but the obscuring of the source to a degree such as that seen in the Reagan revisions illustrates the diminishing impact of the story when such a change is made.



One final red flag about the sourcing: When the New York Times published its own story almost five hours later, it cited entirely different sources (including family friends who confirmed that Reagan's health was slipping) and made no reference to the earlier reports, except to quote Reagan's official spokesperson who dismissed "rumors" and denied the former president's health had changed recently. By 4 p.m., the Washington Post still had not published a report on the story at all.



However, the papers of record may have been holding back out of respect for the family, if they knew his death was truly at hand.

Labels: INTELWIRE-Exclusive

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

Analysis: Could A Chalabi Scandal Be Behind Tenet's Surprise Exit?

By J.M. BERGER

INTELWIRE.com



President Bush announced that CIA Director George Tenet has resigned for "personal reasons." (external link)



The CIA said in a statement that Tenet reiterated "personal reasons" in a speech to agency employees. "This is the most difficult decision I have ever had to make," Tenet reportedly said. "And while Washington and the media will put many different faces on the decision, it was a personal decision, and had only one basis -- in fact, the well-being of my wonderful family -- nothing more and nothing less."



Tenet has been under fire for months on several fronts. The CIA has taken criticism for its failure to prevent the 9/11 attacks, and for the evolving scandal over pre-war intelligence claims that Iraq was hoarding weapons of mass destruction.



Secretary of State Colin Powell has said on more than one occasion within the last two weeks that intelligence he cited to justify the invasion of Iraq was flawed. Recently, the CIA's interrogation techniques have also come under close scrutiny in the wake of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.



Perhaps the most likely explanation has to do with Ahmad Chalabi, an Iraqi nationalist favored by the Pentagon who stands accused of revealing U.S. intel secrets to Iran.



Just hours before Tenet's surprise resignation, National Security Adviser Condi Rice announced that Tenet would personally head an investigation into Chalabi on the basis of unspecified national security concerns. (external link)



Perhaps the most likely explanation has to do with Ahmad Chalabi, an Iraqi nationalist favored by the Pentagon who stands accused of revealing U.S. intel secrets to Iran.



Just hours before Tenet gave Bush his resignation, National Security Adviser Condi Rice announced that Tenet would personally head an investigation into Chalabi on the basis of unspecified national security concerns.



The clear implication of the timing of those two events is that Rice (one of Bush's closest confidantes) did not know Tenet was resigning. Most speculation to date has suggested Tenet's resignation was called for by the president, but the timeline calls that substantially into question.



There are any number of reasons why Tenet might not want to oversee an investigation into Chalabi. Such an investigation is likely to embarrass several high-ranking members of the administration, and embarrassment is only the least of the possible outcomes.



A longtime opponent of Saddam Hussein with a vested interest in overthrowing the Baathist regime, Chalabi is believed to be a major source of the flawed Iraq weapons intelligence. Vice President Dick Cheney has long been a proponent of Chalabi and his intelligence, as has Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz.



The CIA has long been considered "politically" opposed to Chalabi (external link), who was recently disowned by the Pentagon as well, on the basis of the Iran allegations.



"I can imagine Tenet is just livid to discover, if this is the case, that someone in or affiliated with the Pentagon had caused this disaster to happen. I can imagine him thinking this was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. But this is pure speculation on my part," Washington Post Associate Editor Robert G. Kaiser said in an Internet chat today. (external link)



Chalabi himself launched a virulent attack on Tenet as the news of his departure broke, accusing Tenet of authoring false intelligence on Iraqi WMDs.



"He provided erroneous information about weapons of mass destruction to President Bush which caused his government massive embarrassment in the United Nations and his own country," Chalabi said, as reported by Reuters. (external link)



Chalabi also accused Tenet of providing the intelligence that sparked a high-profile U.S. Army raid of Chalabi's home last month. (external link) If true, Tenet may also have been facing pressure within the administration, given Chalabi's once-favored status at the highest levels.

Labels: Weblog

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

CACI Responds to INTELWIRE Story on Sale of White House Ethics Videos

By J.M. Berger

INTELWIRE.com





INTELWIRE has received the following letter from CACI International, which it is reprinting here in its entirety, in the interest of giving the company full opportunity to comment on the story Contractor Named In Iraq Torture Report Also Sells Ethics Videos To White House.



Prior to publication of that story, INTELWIRE solicited comment from Darrell Heasley and Mark Hemsworth, employees of CACI Media Services, the division which produces the ethics video. Neither person responded to INTELWIRE's emails.



The email that follows was sent by James Horton of Robert Marston and Associates, a PR firm. The first section is a cover letter from Mr. Horton:

Greetings from CACI:



The attached document about the company and its employees is in response to recent articles appearing in the media concerning the company's work in Iraq. The information presented reflects the company's understanding of certain facts about the situation as of this date.



If you remain interested in the facts about CACI, we request you read the attachment and consult the company's on-line Frequently Asked Questions at www.caci.com to get updated information about CACI.



Thank you for your interest.



CACI Public Information Office

The attached document cited in Mr. Horton's e-mail is below. INTELWIRE stands by its story. INTELWIRE further notes that the document below takes issue with the military's own report on CACI's interrogators and not INTELWIRE's characterization of that report, or the undisputed facts reported by INTELWIRE, including that CACI is named in the report and that CACI sells ethics training videos to the White House.

RE: Company Named in Iraq Prison Torture Report Also Sells Ethics Training Videos To White House



Intelwire – 5-6-04

J. M. Berger jmb@interlwire.com



First of all, the company is saddened and disturbed over the photographs that appeared in the media concerning abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The company was also saddened by the tragic pictures of people jumping out of the windows of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. And the company was further saddened by the horrible pictures of American contractors' charred and mutilated bodies hung from the bridge girders in Fallujah. All these photographs and images, sadly, are part of the war on terrorism.



Secondly, there are some aspects of your article for which we would like to provide additional factual information. We believe the following information adds our perspective to CACI's work in Iraq.



CACI is aware of multiple investigations underway but knows at this time of allegations only against one employee as set forth in the illegally released (leaked) classified (SECRET/NO-FOREIGN] Taguba report (one report in a number of reports conducted as part of an ongoing investigation that has not been concluded), which has not been publicly confirmed.



The military did not have available interrogators needed to gather and analyze field source intelligence data and information in Iraq. CACI provides IT solutions and technology services to the U.S. Intelligence community. CACI interrogation services business is an extension of CACI's tactical intelligence and field services line of business for information collection, data analysis and decision support. CACI performs these contract services because of its commitment to its U.S. Army clients at war in the mid-East.



These private sector positions exist because the military downsized as part of a cutback plan in the early 1990's aimed at reducing Pentagon personnel. The system of private contracting was set up to save taxpayer money by using contractors on an "as needed" basis rather than maintaining military salaries year round, year after year. When services are no longer required contractor work can be cut back quickly.



CACI's interrogators are qualified as required by a Statement of Work. The U.S. military's Statement of Work provides specific criteria for interrogators. CACI employees are monitored and are under direct supervision of the U.S. Army. This was exactly as set forth in CACI services contract to the Army, and CACI has carried it out faithfully.



CACI interrogators were pre-qualified by CACI management both here in the United States and on the ground in Iraq. At all times the U.S. government has had and continues to have oversight of CACI's employees reporting for work.



The Statement of Work requires individuals with information-gathering and analysis experience at the tactical and operational levels and such people need to possess at a minimum a Department of Defense Secret-level security clearance, which requires U.S. government background checks on the individuals. The Statement of Work further specifies that the U.S. military will provide readiness training and briefings on rules of engagement and general orders applicable to U.S. armed forces, DoD civilians and U.S. contractors. This includes abiding by the Geneva Conventions.



CACI employees are monitored and are under direct supervision of the US Army. This was exactly as set forth in CACI services contract to the Army, and CACI has carried it out faithfully. All CACI employees work under the monitoring and supervision of the U.S. military chain of command in Iraq. CACI personnel have no management, supervisory or command authority whatsoever over any non-CACI personnel.



CACI has supported the U.S. Army's investigation since it began several months ago at which time CACI personnel in Iraq volunteered to be interviewed by Army officials in connection with that investigation.



CACI will continue to cooperate with all U.S. Government investigations when requested and is now conducting its own internal investigation and analysis of events. CACI has retained outside counsel to investigate any pending actions against any CACI employee's performance relating to prisoner abuse matters. The company does not condone, tolerate or in any way endorse illegal behavior or inappropriate behavior on the part of any employee in any circumstance, at any time, anywhere.



In the unfortunate event that any CACI employee acted improperly or illegally, CACI will take immediate and appropriate action. None of CACI's employees have been charged with any wrongdoing at this time. It is important that the facts be determined and that unsubstantiated allegations not be permitted to unfairly condemn anyone



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We hope you will find this factual information helpful in creating a full and accurate picture of CACI as it relates to both your article and other statements appearing in the media.

Labels: INTELWIRE-Exclusive

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Analysis: Could An Imminent Chalabi Scandal Be Behind Tenet's Surprise Exit?

By J.M. Berger

INTELWIRE.com



President Bush announced that CIA Director George Tenet has resigned for "personal reasons." (external link)



The CIA said in a statement that Tenet reiterated "personal reasons" in a speech to agency employees. "This is the most difficult decision I have ever had to make," Tenet reportedly said. "And while Washington and the media will put many different faces on the decision, it was a personal decision, and had only one basis -- in fact, the well-being of my wonderful family -- nothing more and nothing less."



Tenet has been under fire for months on several fronts. The CIA has taken criticism for its failure to prevent the 9/11 attacks, and for the evolving scandal over pre-war intelligence claims that Iraq was hoarding weapons of mass destruction.



Secretary of State Colin Powell has said on more than one occasion within the last two weeks that intelligence he cited to justify the invasion of Iraq was flawed. Recently, the CIA's interrogation techniques have also come under close scrutiny in the wake of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.



Perhaps the most likely explanation has to do with Ahmad Chalabi, an Iraqi nationalist favored by the Pentagon who stands accused of revealing U.S. intel secrets to Iran.



Just hours before Tenet's surprise resignation, National Security Adviser Condi Rice announced that Tenet would personally head an investigation into Chalabi on the basis of unspecified national security concerns. (external link)



Perhaps the most likely explanation has to do with Ahmad Chalabi, an Iraqi nationalist favored by the Pentagon who stands accused of revealing U.S. intel secrets to Iran.



Just hours before Tenet gave Bush his resignation, National Security Adviser Condi Rice announced that Tenet would personally head an investigation into Chalabi on the basis of unspecified national security concerns.



The clear implication of the timing of those two events is that Rice (one of Bush's closest confidantes) did not know Tenet was resigning. Most speculation to date has suggested Tenet's resignation was called for by the president, but the timeline calls that substantially into question.



There are any number of reasons why Tenet might not want to oversee an investigation into Chalabi. Such an investigation is likely to embarrass several high-ranking members of the administration, and embarrassment is only the least of the possible outcomes.



A longtime opponent of Saddam Hussein with a vested interest in overthrowing the Baathist regime, Chalabi is believed to be a major source of the flawed Iraq weapons intelligence. Vice President Dick Cheney has long been a proponent of Chalabi and his intelligence, as has Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz.



The CIA has long been considered "politically" opposed to Chalabi (external link), who was recently disowned by the Pentagon as well, on the basis of the Iran allegations.



"I can imagine Tenet is just livid to discover, if this is the case, that someone in or affiliated with the Pentagon had caused this disaster to happen. I can imagine him thinking this was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. But this is pure speculation on my part," Washington Post Associate Editor Robert G. Kaiser said in an Internet chat today. (external link)



Chalabi himself launched a virulent attack on Tenet as the news of his departure broke, accusing Tenet of authoring false intelligence on Iraqi WMDs.



"He provided erroneous information about weapons of mass destruction to President Bush which caused his government massive embarrassment in the United Nations and his own country," Chalabi said, as reported by Reuters. (external link)



Chalabi also accused Tenet of providing the intelligence that sparked a high-profile U.S. Army raid of Chalabi's home last month. (external link) If true, Tenet may also have been facing pressure within the administration, given Chalabi's once-favored status at the highest levels.

Labels: INTELWIRE-Exclusive

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

Justice Department: Padilla and Accomplice Planned To Blow Up U.S. Buildings

By J.M. Berger

INTELWIRE.com



Accused al Qaeda operative Jose Padilla was planning to blow up buildings in the American Southwest or New York City, according to the Justice Department, which released documents related to the Padilla case Tuesday.



The plan called for Padilla and at least one unnamed accomplice to rent apartments in several buildings within a confined area which were equipped with natural gas ovens, according to the documents themselves, and a related statement by Deputy Attorney General James Comey.

External Link: Full Document Via TheSmokingGun

The conspirators would then fill the apartments with gas and detonate them simultaneously using timer devices, Comey said. At one point, the plan called for blowing up 20 buildings simultaneously. But the plan was scaled back out of practical considerations, the documents said, when Padilla objected that he could not lease that many apartments in the same vicinity without being caught.



According to the Justice Department document, Padilla obtained his first passport on April 17, 1996. The release features the following disclaimer on its first page: "(This document) does not cover Padilla's activities in the United States prior to his departure (in September 1998) nor his connections to persons in the United States. (Related story: Jose Padilla and John Doe 2)



The document says Padilla trained with Adnan El-Shukrijumah, a fellow resident of South Florida during the mid-1990s. The document confirmed previous reports that Padilla and Shukrijumah had met in the U.S. The South Florida metro region where the two is connected to some known al Qaeda recruiting efforts during this period. (Related Story: McVeigh traveled Florida during key recruitment period)



Padilla and Shukrijumah were originally intended to work together, but Comey said they "could not get along. That personality conflict led them to abandon this operation, although only temporarily."



The U.S. government is detaining an accomplice who was supposed to work with Padilla, according to the document. The document does not name the accomplice, nor does it specify the circumstances of his arrest and detention. The accomplice had refugee status in the U.K., the report said.



"We have not declassified his identity so I can't tell you who the accomplice is right now except to tell you he's in custody," Comey said.



Padilla's accomplice was tasked with building the detonators for the apartment explosions. The design specified in the document is similar to one designed by Ramzi Yousef for use in the infamous Project Bojinka, a precursor to the September 11 plot.



According to the document, Padilla worked with and took instructions from Ammar al-Baluchi, who is believed to be a nephew of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and a first cousin of Yousef. Khalid Shaikh helped design the apartment bombing plot, according to the document, and he suggested Padilla consider targets in the American Southwest, Texas or California.

Related Stories:



Background Information on Jose Padilla



Jose Padilla and John Doe 2

Labels: INTELWIRE-Exclusive

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

Justice Department: Padilla Planned To Blow Up U.S. Buildings

By J.M. Berger

INTELWIRE.com



Accused al Qaeda operative Jose Padilla was planning to blow up buildings in the American Southwest or New York City, according to the Justice Department, which released documents related to the Padilla case Tuesday.



The plan called for Padilla and at least one unnamed accomplice to rent apartments in several buildings within a confined area which were equipped with natural gas ovens, according to the documents themselves, and a related statement by Deputy Attorney General James Comey.

External Link: Full Document Via TheSmokingGun

The conspirators would then fill the apartments with gas and detonate them simultaneously using timer devices, Comey said. At one point, the plan called for blowing up 20 buildings simultaneously. But the plan was scaled back out of practical considerations, the documents said, when Padilla objected that he could not lease that many apartments in the same vicinity without being caught.



According to the Justice Department document, Padilla obtained his first passport on April 17, 1996. The release features the following disclaimer on its first page: "(This document) does not cover Padilla's activities in the United States prior to his departure (in September 1998) nor his connections to persons in the United States." (See story: Jose Padilla and John Doe 2)



The document says Padilla trained with Adnan El-Shukrijumah, a fellow resident of South Florida during the mid-1990s. The document confirmed previous reports that Padilla and Shukrijumah had met in the U.S. The South Florida metro region where the two is connected to some known al Qaeda recruiting efforts during this period. (Related Story: McVeigh traveled to Florida during key recruitment period)



Padilla and Shukrijumah were originally intended to work together, but Comey said they "could not get along. That personality conflict led them to abandon this operation, although only temporarily."



The U.S. government is detaining an accomplice who was supposed to work with Padilla, according to the document. The document does not name the accomplice, nor does it specify the circumstances of his arrest and detention. The accomplice had refugee status in the U.K., the report said.



"We have not declassified his identity so I can't tell you who the accomplice is right now except to tell you he's in custody," Comey said.



Padilla's accomplice was tasked with building the detonators for the apartment explosions. The design specified in the document is similar to one designed by Ramzi Yousef for use in the infamous Project Bojinka, a precursor to the September 11 plot.



According to the document, Padilla worked with and took instructions from Ammar al-Baluchi, who is believed to be a nephew of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and a first cousin of Yousef. Khalid Shaikh helped design the apartment bombing plot, according to the document, and he suggested Padilla consider targets in the American Southwest, Texas or California.



Al-Baluchi was reportedly arrested in early 2003.

Related Stories:



Background Information on Jose Padilla



Jose Padilla and John Doe 2

Labels: Weblog

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