Kerry needs to consider terrorists' presence in Baghdad

[Chreteau]

Kerry needs to consider terrorists' presence in Baghdad
Courtesy of The Free Lance-Star

John Kerry and his supporters consistently deny any connection between Saddam Hussein's Iraq and al-Qaida. The connection between Saddam and al-Qaida is tenuous at best, but they also take that position further in denying any connections with any international terrorists at all.

Will Mr. Kerry please explain, then, what both Abu Abbas and Abu Nidal were doing in Baghdad prior to the start of the war in Iraq? Consider the following facts:

Abu Nidal, one of the world's most-wanted terrorists, executed terrorist operations as head of organizations variously known as Fatah Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Council, and Arab Revolutionary Brigades, among others. These operations were carried out throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. He was found dead in Baghdad in August of 2002 under dubious circumstances.

Saddam's government claims he committed suicide, but the London Telegraph claims in an article dated Aug. 25, 2002, that he was executed by Iraqi intelligence over his refusal to train al-Qaida fighters based in Iraq. Whichever story is true, the fact remains that Abu Nidal had found safe haven in Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

Next we come to Abu Abbas. U.S. forces in Baghdad captured Abu Abbas in mid-April last year, shortly after the fall of Baghdad. Abu Abbas and his gang of thugs carried out the Achille Lauro cruise ship hijacking in 1985. During the course of this terrorist act, Leon Klinghoffer was murdered in cold blood, and then pushed over the side of the ship, in his wheelchair.

From these facts, one can draw any number of conclusions. But none of those conclusions can be that Saddam Hussein's Iraq had no ties to international terrorism. Those who continue to say so are either lying or are ill-informed.