Iraq docs and our airpower released

You can look at them yourself.

Stephen Hayes must be happy.

The Pentagon Web site described that document this way: ‘2002 Iraqi Intelligence Correspondence concerning the presence of al-Qaida Members in Iraq. Correspondence between IRS members on a suspicion, later confirmed, of the presence of an Al-Qaeda terrorist group. Moreover, it includes photos and names.’

In 2002, AlQaeda was in Iraq. Michael Barone says the Democrats do not want to hear that.

Commenter #17 at Lucianne.com provides a translation to document CMPC-2003-001488

Document CMPC-2003-001488 –
In the Name of God the Merciful

Presidency of the Republic

Intelligence Apparatus

To the respectful Mr. M.A.M

Subject: Information

Our source in Afghanistan No 11002 (for information about him see attachment 1) provided us with information that that Afghani Consul Ahmad Dahestani (for information about him see attachment 2) told him the following:

1. That Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban in Afghanistan are in contact with Iraq and it that previously a group from Taliban and Osama Bin Laden group visited Iraq.

2. That America has proof that the government of Iraq and Osama Bin Laden group have shown cooperation to hit target within America.

3. That in case it is proven the involvement of Osama Bin Laden group and the Taliban in these destructive operations it is possible that American will conduct strikes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

4. That the Afghani Consul heard about the subject of Iraq relation with Osama Bin Laden group during his stay in Iran.

5. In light of this we suggest to write to the Commission of the above information.

Please view… Yours… With regards

Signature:……, Initials : A.M.M, 15/9/2001
translated by – jveritas

Rusty Shackleford thinks he spots a familiar face.

The WaPo puts the most boring headline on the story which indicates to me that the documents do not hurt, and may actually help, the president. If they could hurt him, the headline would reflect that.

Btw – we’ve launched a a big-time assualt on the Iraqi insurgents. About time.

Oh, and President Bush has reaffirmed his policy. The press seems annoyed that he’s not backing down.

Michelle says there will be a presser at 1:30 on all of this.

Mac’s Mind says the release – the journalistically QUIET release – of these papers will be the blast heard ’round the world. We’ll see. It seems to me the press will do all they can to spike or downplay anything really newsworthy.

UPDATE: Alexandra at All Things Beautiful has a nice round up on the air assault in Iraq. Vanderleun says they work by night, too

Alexandra writes:

Somehow I think the President is trying to tell us something, launching the largest air attack on Iraq in three years, on the same day and almost simultaneously giving the zero tolerance message in the national security report, following along the lines of Israel, against terrorism.

Yes, that’s pretty much what I’ve been thinking all day.

1) release Iraqi documents
2) reiterate commitment
3) air assault on insurgents

My prediction: we’ll be out of Iraq sooner than anyone thinks, and the press has been sort of rope-a-doped today. Instead of reporting on Iraqi documents, his commitment and the air assault, they are fixating on…polls. He’s making the press look very, very bad. All they can do in response is continue to try to foment doubt about every move he makes…well, actually, they COULD report on the news…but they’d rather talk about polls and motives and political strategy. Very sad.