Think Progress » FBI agent: Saddam viewed bin Laden as a threat.

Last night, CBS’ 60 Minutes aired an interview with FBI agent George Piro, the man who was charged with interrogating Saddam Hussein over the course of seven months. Piro reported that he asked Saddam whether he had any relationship to Osama bin Laden. Saddam responded by saying he was “wary” of the 9/11 mastermind and “didn’t want associate” with him. Moreover, Saddam viewed bin Laden “as a threat to him and his regime.”

PELLEY: Among the most important questions for U.S. intelligence was whether Saddam was supporting al Qaeda as had been claimed by some in the Bush administration.

PELLEY: What was his opinion of Osama Bin Laden?

PIRO: He considered him to be a fanatic. And as such was very wary of him. He told me, “You can’t really trust fanatics.”

PELLEY: Didn’t think of Bin Laden as an ally in his effort against the United States in this war against the United States?

PIRO: He didn’t wanna be seen with Bin Laden. And didn’t want to associate with Bin Laden.

PELLEY: Did he think bin Laden was a threat to him and his regime?

PIRO: Yes.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/28/fbi-agent-saddam-viewed-bin-laden-as-a-threat/