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Bush to Explain a Bin Laden Terror Plot

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May 22, 2007 8:19 PM

ABC News' Karen Travers Reports In his remarks at the Coast Guard Academy graduation on Wednesday, President Bush will discuss recent intelligence that asserts that Osama bin Laden commissioned a terror cell to be set up in Iraq to plan and launch attacks against the United States.

He will say that in 2005 Osama bin Laden tasked Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to go to Iraq to set up terror cells that would plan and plot attacks against the U.S. and other countries. Suspected terrorists captured or killed in the last 18 months have provided this intelligence but a White House official would not say if they were all captured or killed in Iraq.

A White House official told ABC News Tuesday evening that the President is often asked how the administration can say that Al Qaeda wants to use Iraq as a base to launch attacks. This official said the administration points to Al Qaeda’s public statements but this intelligence will explain further why the President says that was Al Qaeda's intention in Iraq. The President often says if the U.S. does not defeat the terrorists in Iraq, they will come to the United States – he will make this point tomorrow and show how this intelligence supports that statement.

WHY DECLASSIFY THIS INTELLIGENCE NOW? A White House official said that some investigations where they have gleaned this intel have "run their course" and they have every reason to believe that Al Qaeda remains committed to using Iraq as a base for planning attacks.

WHY THIS SPEECH WEDNESDAY? The President is using the commencement address for this announcement because the Coast Guard is involved in protecting the homeland, is present in the Persian Gulf and in the waters around Guantanamo Bay and the President will use this opportunity there to talk more about homeland security.

The President will also discuss the importance of the Coast Guard in protecting America and talk about the homeland security measures the U.S. has taken to prevent another attack here.

May 22, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (108)

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Wake up people...the fact is more people die from murder in the 50 states each day than die in Iraq "at war". We need to concentrate on our interior much more, but the news media wants to harp on problems oversees versus the ones right here in front of each and every US citizen living domestically. We need to make it safe for the citizens at home. It is so easy to jump on Bush and his administration, but how about do something about it instead of bitch and complain. Volunteer at your local homeless shelter, red cross, fire department, SOMEWHERE, instead of riding around in your too big SUV and carrying the kids to soccer and stopping by Target and McDonalds. Wake up. We are the sheep. And loud sheep still get sheared.

Posted by: Mike | May 23, 2007 9:07:27 AM

You know this should have been brought out a long time ago but now all of sudden it is now. Well so far everything has been such lies why would I believe anything he says and I mean anything. When I look at Bush he looks as though everything he has done is finally getting to him he looks so old and drawn.I think if he owns up to what he has done he will feel better for himself and his family just admit what he has done is wrong get our men out of the lie he put us in and he will go to the other side in peace. He is in the blame game and when you are in that game the person blaming will always lose.

Posted by: Carol R Hill | May 23, 2007 9:08:32 AM

ilerlily i hear you loud and clear, but being in Iraq and doing their dirty work for them is not the correct play here. The current Iraqi leaders are just sitting back and letting our boys (and girls) die over there while they are not stepping up to the plate like a "real" country who wants their freedom. IN the Revolutionary War who lost more lives? Was it the Americans who wanted to be free of oppression from Britain or the French who saved our butts? Not that we can compare here. We are not helping Iraq because it will eliminate a terrorist threat, or because its the right thing to do. We are doing it because Daddy said so and thats the way it has to be!

Posted by: lhhgbh | May 23, 2007 9:12:08 AM

Are you sure you know which side of this issue I am on? Didn't think so. Paranoia will destory ya.

Posted by: Mitch | May 23, 2007 9:17:21 AM

Same old same old never changes his tactics I guess he figures we will never figure him out.

Posted by: ant | May 23, 2007 9:19:02 AM

This wouldn't have happend if we didn't invade Irag in the FIRST place! I can't wait to Bush and the rest of the lying liars are gone!

Posted by: Melissa | May 23, 2007 9:19:55 AM

It amazes me after 911 why anyone would want to shy away from terrorism. We need to go wherever terrorism is and defeat them! There is no question whether or not we can defeat them, we can, its a fact. America's job becomes more difficult when we have to watch out for innocent lives.

It is very easy for most people to criticize the president but he is doing his duty by protecting this country. If we want to go into protective mode and wait for the terrorist to come in and kill thousands then thats fine we can, but then you guys would be criticizing that hes not doing enough to protect us.

We will get our revenge once we get a democrat in office and see how bad things get screwed up.

Posted by: Travis | May 23, 2007 9:21:02 AM

Some of you have so much anger towards Bush, "the War", Cheney etc.. It can not be healthy to live a life so full of hate, that the facts no longer matter. Just because you believe the war is wrong, that does not mean that everything that Bush or his people says is wrong. None of you have read this report yet; but this discussion is full of people already judging what it will say. Such an instinctual reaction is the mark of a childish mind. The world is not so black and white.

Posted by: Dave O'Dea | May 23, 2007 9:23:13 AM

Do you TRULY think that terrorism can be stopped?? It's just like our 'war on drugs' that we haven't even come CLOSE to winning! It's evasive. It lives in the hearts of men and women. We have to continue to educate, and preach political answers, not the force of all out war. The poison of radical religious people need to be bred out of humanity.

Posted by: rglines | May 23, 2007 9:29:30 AM

So Al Qaeda has a presense in Iraq now, after we destroyed their government, army and infrastructure, and turned the place into a chaotic, anarchic free fire zone, blasted by civil war. Well all I can say is ... duhhh.

If Bush had kept the focus on finding Bin Laden, who has always been the real danger, instead of exercising his personal vendetta against Saddam, thus squandering countless lives, hundreds of billions of dollars and the reputation of our nation, there would be no Al Qaeda in Irag today, and maybe, just maybe, Osama and his boy would have been taken out. Instead, Bush said "I don't really care where Osama is."

The gall of this president to think that we are just these mindless, dribbling idiots who can manipulated with his endless "the dog ate my homework" stories is beyond belief.

Posted by: Michael | May 23, 2007 9:32:14 AM

Unfortunately this administration has lost credibility with its claims of "reports". No one believes Bush or his cronies anymore. He needs to resign. WAKE UP!

Posted by: LSR | May 23, 2007 9:32:26 AM

It amazes me all the propaganda that is coming from ALL the news people and how they are controlled. Not only are they controlled, all of us are by power of suggestion that Bush and others use. Even Bush is controlled and don't realize it. It has to do with going towards the NWO (one-world government) which Canada, US and Mexico are already there. Not that there is nothing wrong if the leader of the NWO will be fair to all but, it is going to be very controlled and the freedom as we know it now will definitely be out the window. Eventually the US will be like the other countries and everyone will FLOCK to the new world leader thinking he will save us all and do good for us all when in reality it is like the Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood.

Posted by: mandi | May 23, 2007 9:36:13 AM

I pity the fool that believes anything this administration says anymore.

Posted by: Mr. T | May 23, 2007 9:38:51 AM

Father like Son, Both put US in bottom of list for US dispution, trust, disloyal country esepcially in the Middle East.

Posted by: NA | May 23, 2007 9:38:52 AM

I'm so confused that who is right and who is rong. God bless America.

Posted by: Reddy Thummuru | May 23, 2007 9:39:28 AM

What a coincidence that this info comes on the eve of the Monica Goodling testimony. What a joke

Posted by: John D | May 23, 2007 9:46:14 AM

Don't blame Bush. As long as we have blind patriotism Bush and Cheney will reap the benefits at huge cost to the nation. How did Saddam become from a friend (of President Reagan) to an Enemy. Go back to eighties, remember 8 year Iran - Iraq war? We gave Saddam the weapons to attack the evil Iran and UK (Margaret Thatcher) gave WMD's to kill his own people (Kurds in 1988). How was OK then and not now when he has nothing. I have watched numerous times the President say Saddam has no connection to Al Qeada, no connection to 911 and not building nuclear weapons. We groomed him for benefit and we took him out when we are done using him. Please Mr. President don't bring in the false intelligence. Saddam was a rogue, thug and a criminal all his life but we rewarded him with Apache helocpters (which he used gas his own people). Patriotism without researching what your government does secretly is fatal to the country.

Posted by: TheWindowToWorld | May 23, 2007 9:50:54 AM

TheWindowToWorld...well said.

Posted by: rgline | May 23, 2007 9:54:35 AM

It is so easy to be an armchair critic. We have always had them and always will. If the people who are so critical of the way things are would make an attempt to do something about it instead of just mouthing off, perhaps this situation would be taken care of. Note likely.

Posted by: debbie | May 23, 2007 9:56:47 AM

Apparently letting Bin Laden keep his nice safe haven in Northwest Pakistan is not a threat. Also, gee lets look at the dates: we invade in 2003, in 2005 Bin Laden suggests to Zarhkawi that he sets up training cells to launch attacks on U.S. from Iraq and in other countries. So the invasion that was suppose to make us safer has exposed us and our allies to more risk according to the Decider himself. Bush is immitating Custer on a far grander scale, leading the U.S. into the "A Little Bighorn" on the Euphrates.

No coincidence that this speech and release comes out the same day Monica Goodling is testifying. Right, and I also have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale if anyone is interested.

Posted by: Rickster Sherpa | May 23, 2007 9:58:06 AM

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