The Saddam in Rumsfeld's Closet
In
August, Jeremy Scahill released an article detailing a visit by Donald Rumsfeld
to Iraq in December of 1983 to meet with Saddam Hussein. The article "The
Saddam in Rumsfeld's Closet," became an instant internet success.
Eventually it even reached the desk of Senator Robert Byrd. After Byrd questioned
him in hearings on Capitol Hill, CNN found video tape of the meeting, as
filmed in 1983 by Iraqi television, and Rumsfeld was finally confronted
(sort of) on his meetings with Saddam...notice Rumsfeld's reference to "some
article that somebody wrote"....see excerpt below, followed
by link to a full transcript of the CNN interview:MCINTYRE: You were pressed during the briefings -- during the hearings this week by Senator Byrd on the question of whether the U.S., in any way, aided Saddam Hussein in his chemical weapons program. At the time, during the hearings, you said you had no knowledge of it. Have you looked into it since then?
RUMSFELD: I had no knowledge. I have no knowledge today. I also, I think, advised him that I thought it was most unfortunate that even the implication of that would be raised simply because of some article that somebody wrote. I cannot believe that that would be true, and certainly I would have had absolutely nothing do with it.
FULL TRANSCRIPT: CNN SATURDAY Interview With Donald Rumsfeld (Aired September 21, 2002 - 12:00noonET)
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