Michael Scheuer, the former head analyst at the CIA’s bin Laden unit, has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Republican Presidential debate held Tuesday May 15, when Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) stated that American foreign policy was a “contributing factor” in the 9/11 attacks.
“They attack us because we’ve been over there; we’ve been bombing Iraq for 10 years.” Paul said. He was then denounced by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani who said it was “absurd” and that he’d “never” heard such a thing before demanding a retraction.
In an interview with Antiwar.com’s Antiwar Radio on May 18, Scheuer, who was the head analyst at the CIA’s bin Laden unit, Alec Station, and authored the books Through Our Enemies Eyes and Imperial Hubris, said “I thought Mr. Paul captured it the other night exactly correctly. This war is dangerous to America because it’s based, not on gender equality, as Mr. Giuliani suggested, or any other kind of freedom, but simply because of what we do in the Islamic World – because ‘we’re over there,’ basically, as Mr. Paul said in the debate.”
Scheuer also agreed with Dr. Paul’s statement in the debate that the war in Iraq was a diversion from capturing or killing Osama bin Laden and that bin Laden was “delighted” that the U.S. is occupying Iraq as it has become a training ground and recruiting tool for new jihadists joining the movement.
Michael Scheuer is a 22-year veteran of the CIA and the author ofThrough Our Enemies Eyes: Osama bin Laden, Radical Islam, and the Future of America and Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror.
It is insane to believe that the U.S. would be targeted by so-called extremists due to the amount of “freedoms” they exercise. The fact of the matter is that there are many European countries that have more freedoms than the United States and they are in no particular danger, or have they even been threatened by these “extremists.” The truth is simple, the United States is an aggressor to these middle eastern states in every facet. These states are protecting themselves the best way they know how. If they had the fire power or technology to do so, don’t you think they would commandeer an attack with missiles or jet planes rather than plotting “terrorist” attacks?
Undoubtedly, I believe “terrorism” is a tactic used against a much superior force in manpower, and munitions.
If you are an American citizen try watching the BBC - not CNN (Censored Nationalist Nonsense)and find out what your country is doing to the world. Extolling the virtues of “Freedom” is not why you are in Iraq. It is for oil, plain and simple. If it was to stop Al-quieda you have invaded the wrong country!!!
I just finished your book Imperial Hubris. I tend to agree with most of your work; however, I would like to ask if it is possible that this war is simply a political tool being used so the republicans can maintain power. This war was decided upon by the neocons as you say. Their idea is to be at war constantly so they can maintain power..see Leo Strauss.. They don’t want the war to be won or for it to end.This way they can maintain power. This administration decided they were going to war then tried to come up with reasons to convince the US and the world that it was necessary. Thhis war was started by politicians for political gains. At this point ithas worked because Bush is still in office. He doesn’t care about the military and the lives lost. It is only important to him that he remains in power as it was for the neocons. See youtube press luncheon of Bush making fun of the fact that there were no WMD’s. as this decision cost the lives of more than 2000 people at that time.
As a muslim , i agree with some of Mr scheuer points for causes of all the violence.But with all due respect he still doesnt have the proper knowledge to comment about religion of islam .Some of the comments he made about islam & Prophet in his interview (mp3) ,is absolutely incorrect and twisted . Enough with the dialogue , on why all the violence happening ,at this point everything is clear ,ie who the liars & opressors are etc.The focus should be how to stop & prevent the excalation in the future . both bush & bin laden has political agenda,yes , but the most important task right now is to start giving justice to the victims , this is the only way we can solve this.So Unless we are really honest to ourselves and point out the victims and stand up for justice ,this violence will devide all of us , and surely majority of us in the world are good hearted people.so it would be a shame to end up hating eachother.
The military needs to be respected and thanked. The United States stands for freedom and liberty, if that at all means anything to you…stand up for whats right. I can’t stand to see people telling lies and not telling the truth for what it really is, parents who have children need to tell them the truth and tell them how America was established and what founding principles this country was built upon. I don’t know everything and I still have much to learn but I at least know the deffinition of freedom and what means to be free. If a time comes when our country is attacked, I’ll be ready and I sure as hell won’t run.
America is facing a 9.4 trillion dollar national debt, balance the budget or repaying it’s loans
is unattainable. Our economy is diminishing our role in the world. America’s strategic plan
is to influence or control as much world oil reserve as it can. Who has to depend on imported
oil the most, China, India, Europe and Japan. Mexico has oil and Canada has oil sand, which
may account for the vision of a multi-currency (Amiro) ideology.
The Iraq invasion was a bad mistake, and misguided, but not for the greed of few.
Oil exported from Iraq, the monetary revenue is going into U.S. Banks. To have access
to those funds, the Iraqi governmental body must sign long term agreements to U.S. Bases
in Iraq. The danger next is for Iran and Venezuela both have large oil reserves.
To attain Iran would be a hard sale to the America people for war failure in Iraq , and the U.S.
economy. The alignment between U.S. And Israel serves that purpose.
If Israel attacks Iran, it has U.S. Backing with military option.
Must the world risk peace for the self interest of the U.S. Government?
I have read Mr. Scheuer’s books and articles and have seen him do many interviews. He obviously believes himself to be brilliant and that Bill Clinton is to blame for everything related to our response, or lack thereof, to terrorism. I’m not a Democrat (in fact, I’m Republican though over the past couple years I tend to be more Independent), but when you read what he says, as much as he claims not to be partisan, that is hard to believe. Besides blaming Clinton for not getting bin Laden nor taking action as he had suggested, he seems to forget how the Republicans blasted Clinton for whatever action (recall when cruise missiles were launched) and how the Republican Congress did not support Clinton on any action (recall wagging the dog).
Putting politics aside, I have but only a couple questions for Mr. Scheuer which no one seems to address, including himself. He was head of the bin Laden group in the CIA, and on numerous occasions blasts Clinton for his inaction (at least a dozen times he claims) for not getting bin Laden. And Mr. Scheuer was able to predict exactly how Iraq and Afghanistan would play out. He knew everything, it seems.
So I’d like Mr. Scheuer to address a couple questions. If he was so right, and Clinton and others did not act on what he knew to be such precise information always after the fact, why didn’t he resign and tell us then? Why, if he knew so much then, and had so much ‘precise knowledge’ ahead of time, did he not predict the events, or even know of the events, that happened under his watch, the very ones that happened (bombings in other countries, and even the Cole bombing, since he was still in the CIA though not head of the bin Lade unit then)and then he blames everyone else for what has happened since?
Mr. Scheuer, you were in charge of the unit gathering information on bin Laden. You claim now, after the fact, to have known so much and yet you let it slide under your watch when no one (Tenet, Clinton, etc) did what you recommended, things that you claim may have thwarted 9/11. I say you let it slide, Mr. Scheuer, because you did not speak up and expose what you saw and knew then. Why, Mr. Scheuer, did you not tell us then, before 9/11, or before any of the other attacks for which bin Laden was responsible? Because hindsight is 20-20 and you can spin it any way you wish to fit your agenda and sell books.
I used to think Mr. Scheurer was a reputable source of information. After reading this books and articles, it is apparent he has an ax to grind against everyone, Clinton, Bush, Tenet, etc and he is THE only person who knew the right course all along.
Read his books, see how his messages changed and decide for yourself. The more I have read, the more it has changed my view of his so-called ‘expertise’.
Mr. Scheuer is not a credible source or expert on this topic or any other. By his ridiculous and untrue statements, especially regarding US support for Israel, he has eliminated himself from serious consideration as someone whose opinions should be respected.
Anyone can write a book. The issue is, What does the book say? Mr. Scheuer does not, in his books or his public statements, say anything worth listening to. He should be ignored.