Nov. 4, 2007
Faulty Intel Source "Curve Ball" Revealed
60 Minutes: Iraqi's Fabricated Story Of Biological Weapons Aided U.S. Arguments For Invasion
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Play CBS Video Video Curve Ball Revealed Bob Simon tells the story of the Iraqi defector known as "Curve Ball," whose fabricated story of mobile biological weapons drove the U.S. argument for invading Iraq.
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Video Drumheller On Early Warnings "Only on the Web:" Former CIA agent Tyler Drumheller was warned by German authorities that the Iraqi intelligence source known as Curve Ball might not be credible.
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Rafid Ahmed Alwan, seen here dancing at a Baghdad wedding in 1993. (CBS)
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Interactive WMD Fallout Controversy surrounds the hunt for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
The wall stood right in front of where Curve Ball said the trucks went in. CIA analysts who believed in Curve Ball had an explanation.
"There was an idea that it could have been a fake wall," Drumheller says.
The analysts believed Iraq had put up a fake wall to make the Americans think no trucks could pass through. The analysts also believed Curve Ball because he named names. He claimed that Dr. Basil al Sa'ati, a noted nuclear scientist, was a senior official in Iraq’s mobile bio-weapons program. British intelligence found Dr. Basil outside of Iraq and pressed him on Djerf al Nadaf, as did 60 Minutes.
"Rafid Alwan told German intelligence that you personally were fully involved in the project to use Djerf al Nadaf for mobile biological weapons," Simon tells Dr. Basil.
"Big lie," the doctor replies.
If something were going on there, Dr. Basil says he would "definitely" have known about it.
"There are people in the American intelligence community…who believe that seed purification is a cover for biological weapons production," Simon remarks.
"No. It was, it was really seed purification," the doctor replies.
Dr. Basil pointed out that if he had been working on something top secret, why did Saddam let him emigrate from Iraq in 1999? In Germany, Curve Ball was caught by surprise. He didn't know Dr. Basil had left Iraq. Curve Ball became less cooperative, more nervous in debriefings. The Germans became uneasy about their source. And they weren't alone. At a CIA meeting in December 2002, the agency’s former central group chief, Margaret Henoch, raised her own doubts.
"I said, 'You know, I don't know who this guy is. There's no proof that he is who he is. There’s no proof that any of this ever happened. And, from my perspective, I just don’t think we should trust this,'" Henoch recalls.
The top analyst, who believed Curve Ball, brought up the alleged accident at Djerf al Nadaf and said there were pictures of Curve Ball in a hazmat suit.
"Then I said, 'How do you know that was him if he's completely covered? 'Cause it could be me.' And, as God as my witness, she looked at me like a pig looking at a wristwatch. And I thought it was over. And, when I went back, I sort of said to my boss, 'Well, I'm such a genius,'" Henoch says.
"That’s it for Curve Ball," Simon remarks.
"We killed that one," Henoch says. "And it was whack-a-mole. I mean, he just popped right back up."
Curve Ball was still seen as credible at the highest level of the CIA.
On Dec. 18, 2002, sources tell 60 Minutes that an urgent request from CIA Director George Tenet was relayed to the head of German intelligence. Tenet was going to meet President Bush in three days to discuss the case against Iraq. Tenet wanted the Germans to let Curve Ball appear on television or have an American expert debrief Curve Ball and then go on TV with the story.
Failing that, Tenet wanted to use Curve Ball's information publicly. An answer was requested within 48 hours, before Tenet went to the White House.
Produced By Draggan Mihailovich
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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See all 929 CommentsToo bad Clinton didn''t have the guts to have Herbert arrested and tried for his treason right then. It would have saved us a lot of grief and a lot of lives.
"Curveball" gave the bushdicks everything they wanted on a platinum platter. So now he''s living the good life, while hundreds of thousands of people have been murdered because of his lies -- and instead of prosecuting him, the bushdicks are probably still paying him off.
Too bad Clinton didn''t have the guts to have Herbert arrested and tried for his treason right then. It would have saved us a lot of grief and a lot of lives.
"Curveball" gave the bushdicks everything they wanted on a platinum platter. So now he''s living the good life, while hundreds of thousands of people have been murdered because of his lies -- and instead of prosecuting him, the bushdicks are probably still paying him off.
Too bad Clinton didn''t have the guts to have Herbert arrested and tried for his treason right then. It would have saved us a lot of grief and a lot of lives.
"Curveball" gave the bushdicks everything they wanted on a platinum platter. So now he''s living the good life, while hundreds of thousands of people have been murdered because of his lies -- and instead of prosecuting him, the bushdicks are probably still paying him off.
1) Who is Central Group Chief, Margaret Henoch referring to when discussing that she was ignored? Why did that person%u2019s input take precedent, and not Margaret%u2019s? Who was involved?
2) How historically typical is it for one person to make a %u201Cslam dunk%u201D remark that the Executive claims as the sole reason for making the final call? (i.e., in relation to Kennedy%u2019s wisdom and pause during the missile crisis.) Given history, should we citizens have expected the Executive or Powell to have pressed further beyond Tenant%u2019s %u201Cslam dunk?%u201D
3) The report says Curveball appeared credible as presented by the CIA. But to whom, and why?
4) Is the ease with which evidence was accepted by the Executive historically typical or suspect?
5) The month following Powell%u2019s presentation, several concrete flaws were reported to the Executive regarding Curveball%u2019s story. Why did it not change anything? Why were the inspectors%u2019 findings ignored? This was well after %u201Cslam dunk,%u201D so why did we still go to war? Who knew what when?
This report is not just about Curveball. It%u2019s ultimately another report about the events leading to war. I would consider the above questions connected to accountability higher priority than Curveball%u2019s grades or work in cosmetics.
You often have reports that are important for Americans to consume. If you read this, thanks! If not, have a great week anyway.
Too bad Clinton didn''t have the guts to have Herbert arrested and tried for his treason right then. It would have saved us a lot of grief and a lot of lives.
"Curveball" gave the bushdicks everything they wanted on a platinum platter. So now he''s living the good life, while hundreds of thousands of people have been murdered because of his lies -- and instead of prosecuting him, the bushdicks are probably still paying him off.
Too bad Clinton didn''t have the guts to have Herbert arrested and tried for his treason right then. It would have saved us a lot of grief and a lot of lives.
"Curveball" gave the bushdicks everything they wanted on a platinum platter. Obviously he''s living the good life now, no doubt paid off handsomely with our tax dollars.
Too bad Clinton didn''t have the guts to have Herbert arrested and tried for his treason right then. It would have saved us a lot of grief and a lot of lives.
"Curveball" gave the bushdicks everything they wanted on a platinum platter. Obviously he''s living the good life now, no doubt paid off handsomely with our tax dollars.
Too bad Clinton didn''t have the guts to have Herbert arrested and tried for his treason right then. It would have saved us a lot of grief and a lot of lives.
They must all be brought to account for their actions!
We are not safer, terrorism has not be reduced. On the contrary, the root of terror in occupied Palestine is still being ignored.
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There is simply no other politician like Ron Paul. He understands the ills of our nation and how to cure them. The Doctor is in!
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