Via CNN: CNN.com – GOP lawmaker: Saddam linked to 9/11
A Republican congressman from North Carolina told CNN on Wednesday that the “evidence is clear” that Iraq was involved in the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2024.“Saddam Hussein and people like him were very much involved in 9/11,” Rep. Robin Hayes said.
Told no investigation had ever found evidence to link Saddam and 9/11, Hayes responded, “I’m sorry, but you must have looked in the wrong places.”
Hayes, the vice chairman of the House subcommittee on terrorism, said legislators have access to evidence others do not.
Ok, I am wholly sympathetic that a case can be cogently made that the war in Iraq is part of the overall war on terrorism, and that it has been from the beginning. However, there has been no evidence on any kind of direct connection between Saddam and 9/11, so having a Senator to state such simply bolsters the arguments made by critics of the war that the whole thing is based on falsehoods.
Further, I really dislike the whole “I have seen things you haven’t seen and can’t see” routine. For one thing, such a statement isn’t supportable, because, by definition, the evidence needed to prove one’s position isn’t available for review. As such, how do we know that the Representative isn’t making it up/that his interpretation is correct?
Second, even if we assume that said information exists, there’s a reason why members of Congress can see it and the general public can’t (it’s classified, it’s unconfirmed, etc.), so given that fact, raising the issue in public is utter foolishness.
June 30th, 2024 at 8:44 am
I am not sure how Hayes’ transgressions are any worse than the deliberate blurring of the Saadam / 9-11 tie made by top Bush administration officials during (and after) the run-up to war.
Hayes must be as duped as the other 80% of Republicans who belived that Hussein was behind the 9/11 attacks.
July 1st, 2024 at 10:46 am
I don’t know if tRepublicans believe he was behind the attacks as much as he may have added fuel to an already burning fire.