Osama, Al Qaeda, and Saddam walked into a bar...

[cyphen]

no, really. Apparently, they did (so to speak) to discuss the downfall of their common enemies who are threats to their power.

Why isn't anyone here talking about this? odd how the mainstream media has only miniscule mention of it, don't you think? Isn't this fairly, oh.... what's the word i'm looking for??? newsworthy? Why will some of these rags be the first to spout in large bold letters "Bush - a proven LIAR!" while having no truth behind it, and ignore such an immense bombshell such as this? Could it be that they're not reporting the news, but rather trying to shape public opinion to their own agendas? How sick do you have to be to be so blinded by ideology that logic escapes you, truth is irrelevant, journalism is swept aside in favor of a vain attempt to hurt someone you dislike and disagree with at the expense not only of truth, justice, and the american way, but of any thread of decency and credibility? Who is really misleading the American people? (Or trying to?)

(I know some will try and use these last few statements against what i believe in, to which i will just shake my head...)

I find it implausible that some look at the media and say "what liberal slant?" I'm going to get Bernard Goldberg's new book "Arrogance: Rescuing America from the media elite" I suggest everyone read it - i've heard him speak about it several times, and it appears to be a fair approach to the subject.

Anyone have any commentary on the article? 10 years of collaboration with Al Qaeda! As late as March, 2003! Interesting....

[wallie_x]

Tabloid sensationalism + Spin + lies + Give em what they want to hear = $$$$$$$
Just the plain ordinary facts = BORING..turn off the damn TV.

cyphen sez:

Could it be that they're not reporting the news, but rather trying to shape public opinion to their own agendas?

Somehow many still can't figure this one out.
Hey!! What's that? Could it be squeaking?

New movie:
Attack of the Killer Intellectual Lemming Clones!!

[cyphen]

Somehow, i don't think that one's written by Michael Moore!

[John Prophet]

things are so polarized now that no one sees anything but what they want to see.

[jordanabc2332]

Im a little hesistant when this entire article is based on a "memorandum"; this could mean anything really. I want PROOF. Why cant we get one picture, ONE PICTURE of this "meeting". To this date, i havent seen a picture of Osama and Saddam together. If all these meetings took place wouldnt you think there would be some kind of tangible evidence? If they had this kind of proof im sure they would present it to the public for support of the war. In the meantime, dont expect me to believe anything if its based off of intelligence reports in the form of letters, memos, or post-it notes.

[Chuckiechan]

Intelligence is 75% inference, with very little actual "proof". I don't know about the connection between the "boys", but I do know that terrorists can only effectively operate in a dictatorship where the police, military, and press are run by the government.

[Gomer]

You forgot the Saudi's. Oh wait, they didn't walk into the bar, they were too busy flying the planes. But never mind that either.

[Thud]

things are so polarized now that no one sees anything but what they want to see.

Yup.

Usama bin Laden (search) and Saddam Hussein (search) had an operational relationship from the early 1990s to 2003 that involved training in explosives and weapons of mass destruction, logistical support for terrorist attacks, Al Qaeda training camps and safe haven in Iraq, and Iraqi financial support for Al Qaeda - perhaps even for Mohamed Atta - according to a top secret U.S. government memorandum obtained by The Weekly Standard.

I boldened the text I thought was important. Either the folks at the Weekly Standard are treasonous, or they're liars. They either "aquired" information that is considered detrimental to our nation's security and leaked it, or they're simply lying about the importance of this memorandum in attempt to impress their readership. So don't you think they should either be put out of business for treason, or disregarded as just another tabloid in leage with the National Enquirer, et. al? If I, in my military capacity, were to leak info deemed as "top secret", it would be considered treason. I could be taken out back, and shot. Legally, too.

You forgot the Saudi's. Oh wait, they didn't walk into the bar, they were too busy flying the planes. But never mind that either.

Yep, our good pals, the Saudis. I wish we had a barf smiley. They're amongst the richest of the Arabs, yet yield so many recruits to the terrorist kingpins. A vast majority of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis (I forget the numbers now), yet somehow they are still our "allies". Boggles the mind.

Just my opinion.

[shahani]

Why does it boggle the mind?

The Saudi's own more real estate in NYC than anyone else. They own many of the landmark buildings like the Chrysler and GM buildings.

They got trillions in the stock market and US Treasury debt.

Its all about money, oil and power.

So what if you gotta sleep with the devil to get them.

Nothing's ever gonna happen to the Saudis because if they pull their money out of the US, the economy is gonna collapse for a few years. And you think with 2004 elections a year away, Bush is gonna risk that?

So what if a few hundred or thousand more people get killed. Thats beside the point.

As I said, its oil, money and power. And my view is neither jaded nor cynical.

Its just the plain truth.

[cyphen]

That's about the funniest thing you've ever posted, Jay! And you've posted some funny stuff!

John - you're absolutely right - everybody is completely polarized about this - but when that polarization spills over into the media, who informs us, are they not guilty of the worst kind of hypocrisy - because they are in effect responsible for a large portion of the polarization by not fairly and accurately reporting the truth?

My point is only half about the amount of intel the CIA has relating Iraq to Al Qaeda - the other half, and the more important half, relates to the press trying to sway public opinion. That is sickening, and insulting to everything that democracy stands for. Freedom of the press? How about Freedom from the press!