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SPYGATE: ORIGINS
The Final Thread
And now...the rest of the story...
Part II
SPYGATE: ORIGINS
The Final Thread
And now...the rest of the story...
Part II
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This is the second part of a thread on the 2001 clandestine meetings in Rome two months after 9/11.
The first part can be found here:
This is the second part of a thread on the 2001 clandestine meetings in Rome two months after 9/11.
The first part can be found here:
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During my research, I began to dig into the Italian sources on this meeting and a whole new narrative began to emerge.
One more diabolical than I could have ever imagined.
During my research, I began to dig into the Italian sources on this meeting and a whole new narrative began to emerge.
One more diabolical than I could have ever imagined.
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In particular, it was the work of two Italian reporters, Carlo Bonini and Giuseppe D’Avanzo, that called into question the version of events presented in Part I.
In particular, it was the work of two Italian reporters, Carlo Bonini and Giuseppe D’Avanzo, that called into question the version of events presented in Part I.
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The two men wrote a series of articles on the buildup to the invasion of Iraq for the newspaper La Repubblica. They are also the authors of the book “Collusion: International Espionage and the War on Terror.”
The two men wrote a series of articles on the buildup to the invasion of Iraq for the newspaper La Repubblica. They are also the authors of the book “Collusion: International Espionage and the War on Terror.”
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According to Bonini & D’Avanzo, the story of Ghorbanifar writing his plan for regime change on the back of a napkin is a fairytale.
It never happened.
According to Bonini & D’Avanzo, the story of Ghorbanifar writing his plan for regime change on the back of a napkin is a fairytale.
It never happened.
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Ghorbanifar was nothing more than a decoy. A shiny object to distract from the real reason for the meeting.
Ghorbanifar was nothing more than a decoy. A shiny object to distract from the real reason for the meeting.
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The “Iranians exiles” were not whom they appeared to be. They were actually representatives from the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) sent with the blessings of Iranian intelligence.
nuralcubicle.blogspot.com/2005/10/sismis…
The “Iranians exiles” were not whom they appeared to be. They were actually representatives from the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) sent with the blessings of Iranian intelligence.
nuralcubicle.blogspot.com/2005/10/sismis…
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Nicolo Pollari was the head of SISMI at the time of the meeting.
He confirmed to the reporters, on the record, that the Iranians could not have been exiles since they traveled freely to and from Iran.
nuralcubicle.blogspot.com/2005/10/sismis…
Nicolo Pollari was the head of SISMI at the time of the meeting.
He confirmed to the reporters, on the record, that the Iranians could not have been exiles since they traveled freely to and from Iran.
nuralcubicle.blogspot.com/2005/10/sismis…
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SCIRI is the Shia political party established in Iraq after the Islamic revolution in Iran.
Many in the party fled into Iran during the Iran-Iraq war and fought on the Iranian side.
SCIRI is the Shia political party established in Iraq after the Islamic revolution in Iran.
Many in the party fled into Iran during the Iran-Iraq war and fought on the Iranian side.
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Abdul Aziz al-Hakim was head of the military wing of SCIRI, the Badr Brigade.
According to Bonini & D’Avanzo, “Iran’s SCIRI consulted early with Pentagon hawks about the Iraq War.”
Abdul Aziz al-Hakim was head of the military wing of SCIRI, the Badr Brigade.
According to Bonini & D’Avanzo, “Iran’s SCIRI consulted early with Pentagon hawks about the Iraq War.”
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Why would the Islamic government of Iran want to cooperate with the “Great Satan.”
For one, the Iranians couldn’t stop the invasion, so the challenge was maneuvering to obtain the best possible outcome.
Why would the Islamic government of Iran want to cooperate with the “Great Satan.”
For one, the Iranians couldn’t stop the invasion, so the challenge was maneuvering to obtain the best possible outcome.
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Iran knew that a US invasion of Iraq would throw the country into chaos.
Shiites made up 65% of Iraq’s population, so the Iranians were confident that their position as a regional power would be greatly enhanced if a democratic government was installed in Iraq.
Iran knew that a US invasion of Iraq would throw the country into chaos.
Shiites made up 65% of Iraq’s population, so the Iranians were confident that their position as a regional power would be greatly enhanced if a democratic government was installed in Iraq.
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Secondly, the Iranians hated Saddam. The two nations had fought a bloody 8 year war in the 1980’s.
Secondly, the Iranians hated Saddam. The two nations had fought a bloody 8 year war in the 1980’s.
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Why would the Pentagon be interested in cooperating with the Iranians?
Because the Shiite network in Iraq had the best intelligence on Saddam’s forces in Iraq.
Why would the Pentagon be interested in cooperating with the Iranians?
Because the Shiite network in Iraq had the best intelligence on Saddam’s forces in Iraq.
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SISMI’s role was to provide informers and moles within Saddam’s officer corps. In the 1980’s, many Iraqi officers trained in Italy, so SISMI had excellent contacts who held leadership positions in the Iraqi military.
SISMI’s role was to provide informers and moles within Saddam’s officer corps. In the 1980’s, many Iraqi officers trained in Italy, so SISMI had excellent contacts who held leadership positions in the Iraqi military.
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They were desperate men who knew Saddam was not going to survive the invasion. So these Iraqis passed intelligence to the Italians in hopes of saving themselves.
nuralcubicle.blogspot.com/search?q=sismi…
They were desperate men who knew Saddam was not going to survive the invasion. So these Iraqis passed intelligence to the Italians in hopes of saving themselves.
nuralcubicle.blogspot.com/search?q=sismi…
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One piece of intelligence gathered from these sources was the whereabouts of Abu Abbas, the Palestinian behind the highjacking of the Achille Lauro.
One piece of intelligence gathered from these sources was the whereabouts of Abu Abbas, the Palestinian behind the highjacking of the Achille Lauro.
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Bonini & D’Avanzo quote one Italian official saying that SISMI knew from their men on the ground in Iraq and from intel provided by the Shiite network that Saddam’s army was completely impotent
Bonini & D’Avanzo quote one Italian official saying that SISMI knew from their men on the ground in Iraq and from intel provided by the Shiite network that Saddam’s army was completely impotent
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The Iraqi army was worn down from the war with Iran, the invasion of Kuwait, the first Gulf War, from the embargoes and sanctions and no-fly zones. Their military equipment was old and lacked replacement parts. Useless.
The Iraqi army was worn down from the war with Iran, the invasion of Kuwait, the first Gulf War, from the embargoes and sanctions and no-fly zones. Their military equipment was old and lacked replacement parts. Useless.
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Eventually, this intel made its way to the highest levels of civilian leadership at the Pentagon (“Wolfie’s cabal”).
nytimes.com/2001/10/12/wor…
Eventually, this intel made its way to the highest levels of civilian leadership at the Pentagon (“Wolfie’s cabal”).
nytimes.com/2001/10/12/wor…
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The Cabal knew there were no WMDS. No nuclear missiles. No warheads loaded with chemical and biological agents. They expected Iraqi soldiers to desert in mass.
The Cabal knew there were no WMDS. No nuclear missiles. No warheads loaded with chemical and biological agents. They expected Iraqi soldiers to desert in mass.
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As General Fabrio Mini writes, “From a strictly military point of view, the commanders had to have been certain that Iraq possessed no WMD or the vectors to deliver them or than any WMD and associated vectors were destroyed before the war."
As General Fabrio Mini writes, “From a strictly military point of view, the commanders had to have been certain that Iraq possessed no WMD or the vectors to deliver them or than any WMD and associated vectors were destroyed before the war."
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"Even so, the Coalition knew perfectly well that if indeed the Iraqi military has possessed all that, it would not have used it.”
"Even so, the Coalition knew perfectly well that if indeed the Iraqi military has possessed all that, it would not have used it.”
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Ken Adelman of the Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board famously said the liberating Iraq would be a “cakewalk.”
And sure enough American forces rolled into Baghdad, meeting minimal resistance.
Ken Adelman of the Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board famously said the liberating Iraq would be a “cakewalk.”
And sure enough American forces rolled into Baghdad, meeting minimal resistance.
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And it all started in Rome in late 2001, claim Bonini & D’Avanzo.
And it all started in Rome in late 2001, claim Bonini & D’Avanzo.
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In addition to SISMI, a private security company was hired to protect the participants in the meetings.
According to the owner of the company, Antonio Marrapse, Ledeen hired him on “behalf of the American Enterprise Institute.”
In addition to SISMI, a private security company was hired to protect the participants in the meetings.
According to the owner of the company, Antonio Marrapse, Ledeen hired him on “behalf of the American Enterprise Institute.”
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From “Collusion: International Espionage and the War on Terror”:
From “Collusion: International Espionage and the War on Terror”:
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The “who else” was Ahmad Chalabi and the Iraqi National Conference.
The “who else” was Ahmad Chalabi and the Iraqi National Conference.
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The Shiite network feed disinfo to Chalabi who in turn made sure that his Iraqi defectors provided exaggerated claims of Saddam’s capabilities to western audiences in order to justify an invasion of Iraq.
The Shiite network feed disinfo to Chalabi who in turn made sure that his Iraqi defectors provided exaggerated claims of Saddam’s capabilities to western audiences in order to justify an invasion of Iraq.
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Now you may be thinking this tale is too absurd to be believed. And, indeed, Italy has produced many fantastic stories. Italian intelligence agencies are infamous for their skill at disinformation.
We should be wary.
Now you may be thinking this tale is too absurd to be believed. And, indeed, Italy has produced many fantastic stories. Italian intelligence agencies are infamous for their skill at disinformation.
We should be wary.
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However, it should be remembered that the story of Iraq illegally acquiring uranium from Niger originated in Rome and served as a pretext for the invasion of Iraq.
We should have been more wary then.
However, it should be remembered that the story of Iraq illegally acquiring uranium from Niger originated in Rome and served as a pretext for the invasion of Iraq.
We should have been more wary then.
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I didn’t even discuss the “yellowcake from Niger” and the original "dodgy dossier" in Part I. I have written about it before here:
I didn’t even discuss the “yellowcake from Niger” and the original "dodgy dossier" in Part I. I have written about it before here:
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We do possess confirmation from several people who held high level positions in the US government that the Pentagon expected to take Iraq with ease.
We do possess confirmation from several people who held high level positions in the US government that the Pentagon expected to take Iraq with ease.
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In fact, Gen Wesley Clark claims that the Pentagon was so confident in military success that there was a plan in place to invade multiple Middle East nations.
In fact, Gen Wesley Clark claims that the Pentagon was so confident in military success that there was a plan in place to invade multiple Middle East nations.
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Lawrence Wilkinson, Colin Powell’s chief of staff in the George W Bush administration, recently confirmed he, too, saw such a plan.
Lawrence Wilkinson, Colin Powell’s chief of staff in the George W Bush administration, recently confirmed he, too, saw such a plan.
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While the invasion of Iraq went smoothly, clearly the aftermath did not go as planned.
It was a foreign policy disaster for the US.
While the invasion of Iraq went smoothly, clearly the aftermath did not go as planned.
It was a foreign policy disaster for the US.
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The winners were the Iranians, whose position as a regional power was greatly enhanced.
While that doesn’t prove they aided the US invasion of Iraq, it does cause one to think. 🤔
The winners were the Iranians, whose position as a regional power was greatly enhanced.
While that doesn’t prove they aided the US invasion of Iraq, it does cause one to think. 🤔
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Ledeen’s actual role is masked in mystery.
He denies everything, just about. There were meetings in Rome to gather intelligence that ‘saved soldiers’ lives’ in Afghanistan, he claims.
Ledeen’s actual role is masked in mystery.
He denies everything, just about. There were meetings in Rome to gather intelligence that ‘saved soldiers’ lives’ in Afghanistan, he claims.
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I have read an interview in which he threatened to sue Bonini & D’Avanzo. I can find no record of such a lawsuit.
Bonini is a respected journalist from what I can gather. He has appeared on CSPAN and Bill Moyers’ show in the US.
I have read an interview in which he threatened to sue Bonini & D’Avanzo. I can find no record of such a lawsuit.
Bonini is a respected journalist from what I can gather. He has appeared on CSPAN and Bill Moyers’ show in the US.
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There are times when Ledeen appears to own it. Or, at least, he acknowledges his only regret about the American war effort over the last twenty years is it hasn’t been conducted properly.
As he notoriously wrote in the National Review:
There are times when Ledeen appears to own it. Or, at least, he acknowledges his only regret about the American war effort over the last twenty years is it hasn’t been conducted properly.
As he notoriously wrote in the National Review:
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I certainly hear the echo of Ledeen’s thought in Rove’s pronouncement, “We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality.”
I certainly hear the echo of Ledeen’s thought in Rove’s pronouncement, “We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality.”
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Personally, I tend to view the inability to distinguish between reality and unreality as a symptom of schizophrenia.
Lies, disinformation and propaganda are the enemy to the truth seekers, no matter where they come from.
Personally, I tend to view the inability to distinguish between reality and unreality as a symptom of schizophrenia.
Lies, disinformation and propaganda are the enemy to the truth seekers, no matter where they come from.
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So ask yourself the next time you read a 'hot take' on foreign policy from someone on twitter -- What does he know, really?
End
So ask yourself the next time you read a 'hot take' on foreign policy from someone on twitter -- What does he know, really?
End
