“President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen announced there on Sunday [February 17, 2001] that two Yemenis being sought in connection with the bombing of the American destroyer Cole in October [2000] had been arrested. Though President Saleh said Yemen could not link the men, Muhammad Ahmed al-Ahdal and Ahmed Muhammad Amin, to Mr. bin Laden, […]
2/16/2001
On February 16, 2001, “American and British warplanes were bombing radar and command-and-control facilities around Baghdad in response to what the military considered an escalated threat to aircraft patrolling no-fly zones. [President] Bush was stunned. How had this happened without his knowing in advance? Heading to a news conference with [Mexican President Vicente] Fox, Bush […]
2/16/2001
Speaking from Mexico following an unexpected operation against Iraqi military communications beyond no-fly zones on February 16, 2001, President Bush said: ” ‘The commanders on the ground, rightly, make the decision as to how to enforce the no-fly zone. …I want to assure those who don’t understand U.S. policy that this is a routine mission. […]
2/16/2001
On February 16, 2001, “Using the unpublicized new ‘response options’ [President] Bush had recently approved, American and British aircraft had hit some twenty military communications targets far inside Iraq, including on the outskirts of the capital. The strikes ‘had set off the air raid system in Baghdad and all hell was breaking loose. It was […]
2/16/2001
On February 16, 2001, “the Pentagon launched air strikes against military communications targets–radar systems and command-and-control facilities–deep inside Iraq, including on the outskirts of Baghdad. American military commanders had requested the strikes as part of the new ‘response options’–the ones that the president [Bush] had just approved–to bomb Iraqi antiaircraft sites beyond the no-fly zones.” […]
2/16/2001
During a Joint Press Conference with President Vicente Fox of Mexico, on February 16, 2001, President George W. Bush was asked by Ron Fournier about his policy toward Iraq, Saddam, and his first military action as president, to which he replied, “Mr. Fournier, Saddam Hussein has got to understand that we expect him to conform […]
2/16/2001
According to al Qaeda defector Jamal al-Fadl’s testimony on February 16, 2001, “Bin Laden organized al-Qaeda in a business-like manner–he formulates the general policies of al-Qaeda in consultation with his shura council. The shura makes executive decisions for the group. Subordinate to that council are other committees responsible for military affairs and the business interests […]
2/16/2001
“On Friday, February 16 [2001], two dozen US and British bombers struck some 20 radar and command centers inside Iraq, some only miles from the outer areas of Baghdad.” – Bob Woodward, Plan of Attack, Page 14 […]
2/15/2001
In an unclassified report to Congress in February 2001, “The CIA had concluded in 2000 that ‘we do not have any direct evidence’ that Iraq had reconstituted its WMD programs, ‘although given its past behavior this type of activity must be regarded as likely.’ Baghdad ‘has had the capability to reinitiate’ both chemical and biological […]
2/15/2001
“In February 2001, in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, Usama bin Ladin was tried in absentia and others were tried in person for their involvement in the 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. It was here that al-Qa’ida’s pursuit of WMD became clear: one of the key […]