A Dream for a Better World

Rafid Ahmed Alwan was the Iraqi informant who peddled discredited intelligence that helped spur an invasion of his native country.  It was intelligence attributed to Alwan – whose code-name was Curveball – that the White House used in making its case that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.  He described what turned out to be fictional mobile germ factories.  The CIA belatedly branded him a liar. Since his discredited role in the lead-up to war nine years ago, Alwan has moved to Germany hoping for an easier life. He also hoped for a reward for his cooperation with German intelligence officers.  He stated that for what he has done, he should be treated like a king.  However, he has faced withering international scorn for peddling the discredited intelligence and has survived living with his family in a cramped, low-rent apartment flipping burgers or washing dishes at various fast food restaurants. 

Did the CIA manufacture phony documents linking al-Qaeda to Saddam Hussein in an effort to assist the Bush Administration in its lead up to war in Iraq?  According to a new book, “The Way of the World”, the CIA has although the agency adamantly denies the allegation.  The author contends that once the Bush Administration learned in 2003 that the Iraqi President no longer possessed weapons of mass destruction, they ordered the CIA to concoct a fake document that purported to show that Iraq helped trained Mohamed Atta, one of the hijackers in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.  The purpose behind this forgery was to influence public opinion about the war.