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Mobo123 · 11-16-2004, 11:10 PM

CIA Agent: Nuke Attack Surely Coming

Dave Eberhart

Former CIA agent Michael Scheuer told CBS “60 Minutes”’ Steve Kroft Sunday that the U.S. fumbled 10 chances to kill or capture terror chief Osama bin Laden before 9/11. Now he is convinced that the international outlaw will attack the U.S. homeland with some sort of nuclear weapon of mass destruction.

"Their intention is to end the war as soon as they can and to ratchet up the pain for the Americans until we get out of their region. ... If they acquire the weapon, they will use it, whether it's chemical, biological or some sort of nuclear weapon," said Scheuer.

In his first television interview without disguise, Scheuer appeared most aggravated by a missed opportunity to level a hunting camp where bin Laden was holding court with several Arab princes.

“If they were eating goat with bin Laden, you know they were up to nefarious purposes. What were a few less Arab princes when considering 3,000 dead Americans?”

At one point, the gung-ho agent was dismissed from the bin Laden project at the CIA that went by the code name “Alec.” He told Kroft that he was considered “too persistent” and constantly lobbied his superiors about their “unwillingness to take risks.”

But after 9/11 he was brought back aboard.

His attitude about U.S. policy has not gotten much better. He holds former CIA Director George Tenet responsible for 9/11 and lambastes former White House security aide Richard Clark for “constantly denigrating our intelligence.”

"One of the questions that should have been asked of Mr. Tenet was why were there always enough people for the public relations office, for the academic outreach office, for the diversity and multicultural office? All those things are admirable and necessary, but none of them are protecting the American people from a foreign threat," said Scheuer.

Scheuer thinks it is a grave mistake for the administration to advertise bin Laden as a “thug or gangster.”

“He is not irrational but a worthy opponent,” Scheuer insisted, going as far as to say that bin Laden was, in his opinion, “a great man.”

“His greatness comes from his ability to influence the course of history.”

"Until we respect him, sir, we are going to die in numbers that are probably unnecessary, yes. He's a very, very talented man and a very worthy opponent," he added to Kroft.

Scheuer coyly admitted to CBS that he was the "anonymous" author of two books critical of the West's response to bin Laden and al-Qaida, the most recent of which is titled "Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror."

The CIA allowed him to write the books provided he remain anonymous, but allowed him to reveal himself for the first time on Sunday's broadcast; he formally leaves the agency on Nov. 12.

Other points from the interview:

Osama bin Laden now has religious approval to use a nuclear device against Americans. "[Bin Laden] secured [authority] from a Saudi sheik ... a rather long treatise on the possibility of using nuclear weapons against the Americans," says Scheuer. "[The treatise] found that he was perfectly within his rights to use them. Muslims argue that the United States is responsible for millions of dead Muslims around the world, so reciprocity would mean you could kill millions of Americans."

He stated his opinion that bin Laden’s “genius” was to define American policies to be hated. Growing violence has been the result. “We are not making strong headway,” he opined. He used Saudi Arabia as a country touched by the new reality of fear. “It was at one point the safest country in the world.”

The only choice we have at this point is a choice between “war and endless war,” he said.

As to the U.S. relationship with Isreal, “The tail is leading the dog.”

The retired CIA man admitted that he was not invited to Cabinet meetings during the Richard Clarke period at the Clinton White House.

George Tenet and Richard Clarke were invited to appear on the CBS program but declined to do so.

11-16-2004, 11:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mobo123 Insane	CIA Agent: Nuke Attack Surely Coming CIA Agent: Nuke Attack Surely Coming Dave Eberhart Former CIA agent Michael Scheuer told CBS “60 Minutes”’ Steve Kroft Sunday that the U.S. fumbled 10 chances to kill or capture terror chief Osama bin Laden before 9/11. Now he is convinced that the international outlaw will attack the U.S. homeland with some sort of nuclear weapon of mass destruction. "Their intention is to end the war as soon as they can and to ratchet up the pain for the Americans until we get out of their region. ... If they acquire the weapon, they will use it, whether it's chemical, biological or some sort of nuclear weapon," said Scheuer. In his first television interview without disguise, Scheuer appeared most aggravated by a missed opportunity to level a hunting camp where bin Laden was holding court with several Arab princes. “If they were eating goat with bin Laden, you know they were up to nefarious purposes. What were a few less Arab princes when considering 3,000 dead Americans?” At one point, the gung-ho agent was dismissed from the bin Laden project at the CIA that went by the code name “Alec.” He told Kroft that he was considered “too persistent” and constantly lobbied his superiors about their “unwillingness to take risks.” But after 9/11 he was brought back aboard. His attitude about U.S. policy has not gotten much better. He holds former CIA Director George Tenet responsible for 9/11 and lambastes former White House security aide Richard Clark for “constantly denigrating our intelligence.” "One of the questions that should have been asked of Mr. Tenet was why were there always enough people for the public relations office, for the academic outreach office, for the diversity and multicultural office? All those things are admirable and necessary, but none of them are protecting the American people from a foreign threat," said Scheuer. Scheuer thinks it is a grave mistake for the administration to advertise bin Laden as a “thug or gangster.” “He is not irrational but a worthy opponent,” Scheuer insisted, going as far as to say that bin Laden was, in his opinion, “a great man.” “His greatness comes from his ability to influence the course of history.” "Until we respect him, sir, we are going to die in numbers that are probably unnecessary, yes. He's a very, very talented man and a very worthy opponent," he added to Kroft. Scheuer coyly admitted to CBS that he was the "anonymous" author of two books critical of the West's response to bin Laden and al-Qaida, the most recent of which is titled "Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror." The CIA allowed him to write the books provided he remain anonymous, but allowed him to reveal himself for the first time on Sunday's broadcast; he formally leaves the agency on Nov. 12. Other points from the interview: Osama bin Laden now has religious approval to use a nuclear device against Americans. "[Bin Laden] secured [authority] from a Saudi sheik ... a rather long treatise on the possibility of using nuclear weapons against the Americans," says Scheuer. "[The treatise] found that he was perfectly within his rights to use them. Muslims argue that the United States is responsible for millions of dead Muslims around the world, so reciprocity would mean you could kill millions of Americans." He stated his opinion that bin Laden’s “genius” was to define American policies to be hated. Growing violence has been the result. “We are not making strong headway,” he opined. He used Saudi Arabia as a country touched by the new reality of fear. “It was at one point the safest country in the world.” The only choice we have at this point is a choice between “war and endless war,” he said. As to the U.S. relationship with Isreal, “The tail is leading the dog.” The retired CIA man admitted that he was not invited to Cabinet meetings during the Richard Clarke period at the Clinton White House. George Tenet and Richard Clarke were invited to appear on the CBS program but declined to do so.