Bill Delahunt: “Multiple intelligence officials said that the Prague meeting, purported to be between Atta and a senior Iraqi…”

“Multiple intelligence officials said that the Prague meeting, purported to be between Atta and a senior Iraqi intelligence officer by the name of Ahmed Khalil Ibrahim Samir al-Ani, was dismissed almost immediately after it was reported by Czech officials in the aftermath of September 11 and has since been discredited further. The CIA reported to Congress last year that it could not substantiate the claim while American records indicate Atta was in Virginia Beach, Virginia at the time, the officials said yesterday. Indeed, two intelligence officials said yesterday that Ani himself, this senior Iraqi intelligence official, now in U.S. custody, has also refuted the report. The Czech Government has also distanced itself from its original claim. A senior defense official in this particular administration with access to high-level intelligence reports expressed confusion yesterday. A senior defense official within the administration himself expressed confusion over the Vice President's decision to reair charges that have been dropped by almost everyone else. He said, 'There isn't any new intelligence that would precipitate anything like this,' the official said, speaking on condition he not be named. But this underscores the need to have this independent commission.”