Saddam Protected Zarqawi: Jordan

[Annie]

Don't think you'll see this anywhere else.

http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/004516.php

May 19, 2005
Saddam Protected Zarqawi: Jordan
The UPI reports today that King Abdullah of Jordan told a Saudi newspaper that Jordan wanted Abu Musab al-Zarqawi extradited to Amman prior to Saddam Hussein's removal by US forces. Saddam refused to extradite the terrorist mastermind, providing him sanctuary instead (courtesy of Laurie Mylroie):

Jordan's King Abdullah revealed Thursday that Iraq's former Baath regime had refused to deport Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, blamed for ongoing terrorism in Iraq.
Speaking in an interview with Saudi daily al-Hayat, Abdullah said Zarqawi, a Jordanian, is well entrenched in Iraq and that "he and terrorists like him thrive in such places where security and stability are non-existent." ...

"Since Zarqawi entered Iraq before the fall of the former regime we have been trying to have him deported back to Jordan for trial, but our efforts were in vain," Abdullah added.


One of the arguments that anti-war protestors have made against George Bush was that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with terrorism before we declared war on him in 2003. King Abdullah's information should finally put that canard to rest, although in truth anyone who bothered to read The Connection by Stephen Hayes already knew better. Now we have confirmation from the Jordanian government that Zarqawi had been sheltered by the Ba'athists of Baghdad well before American troops invaded in March 2003, and that Saddam knew Zarqawi was a terrorist.

Now the inevitable question: how much play do you think this will get in the Exempt Media?

 

[manu1959]

no link between sadam and terrorism huh? :alco:

 

[waltky]

Jordan vs. the terrorists...

Terrifying castle siege becomes one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent times, four "terrorist outlaws" killed
Monday 19th December, 2016 - In a terrifying shoot-out, four assailants targeted police officers in Jordan’s southern city of Karak, killing ten people, and then laying siege on one of Jordan’s most popular tourist attractions, a Crusader-era castle.

Jordanian security forces confirmed that after hours, four "terrorist outlaws" were dragged out of the castle and killed. An official statement by the forces said that the four assailants carried automatic weapons and shot at police targets before heading to the castle. Adding that after the assailants were killed, officials had seized large quantities of explosives, weapons and suicide belts from a hideout. Government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani had said earlier that a manhunt had been launched to "eliminate" the gunmen adding, “Jordan's position made it vulnerable to spillover of violence.” "When we are in a region engulfed with fire from every side you expect that such events happen," he said.

Officials later said that a Canadian woman, three other civilians and police officers were among the ten killed in the gun battle. While ten tourists were rescued by the police, at least 34 people were said to be injured, including two foreign nationals, with officials stating that some of the injured were in a serious condition. They have, however, not revealed the identity of the assailants and have not confirmed if they belonged to any militant group. Witnesses told the local media that the assailants launched a shooting spree targeting officers that were patrolling the town before entering the castle. They added that gun battle between the gunmen and security forces lasted for several hours and that the assailants had even used one of the castle's towers to fire at a nearby police station.

Sameeh Maaytah, a former government minister from Karak was quoted on pan-Arab news channel al-Hadath as saying that the initial signs of the attack bore resemblance with Islamist militant attacks. Maaytah added, “This was a group that was plotting certain operations inside Jordan.” Meanwhile, addressing the parliament, Prime Minister Hani al Mulki said, “A number of security personnel had been killed." The local police said in a statement that the assailants had arrived from Qatraneh town, which is a desert outpost lying 30 kms northeast of Karak city and is known for smuggling. The town is also known to house several heavily armed tribal residents that have been resisting state authority for years.

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