ZEITGEIST: THE MOVIE

“Indian authorities also told the US that the trail led back from Sheikh to the then chief of ISI, Lt Gen Mahmud Ahmad who
was subsequently forced to retire by Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf. The FBI had been provided with the details,
including Sheikh’s mobile numbers. But Pistole’s testimony is silent on these issues. The FBI has estimated the September
11 attacks cost between $175,000 and $250,000. That money which paid for flight training, travel and other expenses
— flowed to the hijackers through associates in Germany and the United Arab Emirates.” 1
- On October 6, 2001, a senior-level U.S. government official, told CNN that U.S. investigators had discovered Ahmed
Omar Saeed Sheikh (Sheik Syed), using the alias “Mustafa Muhammad Ahmad” had sent about $100,000 from the
United Arab Emirates to Mohammed Atta. “Investigators said Atta then distributed the funds to conspirators in Florida in
the weeks before the deadliest acts of terrorism on U.S. soil that destroyed the World Trade Center, heavily damaged the
Pentagon and left thousands dead. In addition, sources have said Atta sent thousands of dollars—believed to be excess
funds from the operation—back to Saeed in the United Arab Emirates in the days before September 11. 2
- The Wall Street Journal was one of the only Western news organizations to follow up on the story, citing the Times of India:
“US authorities sought General Mahmud Ahmed’s removal after confirming the fact that $100,000 was wired to WTC
hijacker Mohammed Atta from Pakistan by Ahmad Umar Sheikh at the instance of General Mahmud.” 3
-Another Indian newspaper, the Daily Excelsior, quoting FBI sources, reported that the “FBI’s examination of the hard disk
of the cellphone company Omar Sheikh had subscribed to led to the discovery of the “link” between him and the deposed
chief of the Pakistani ISI, Mahmud Ahmed. And as the FBI investigators delved deep, reports surfaced with regard to
the transfer of $100,000 to Mohammed Atta, one of the terrorists who flew a hijacked Boeing commercial airliner into the
World Trade Center. General Mahmud Ahmed, the FBI investigators found, fully knew about the transfer of money to Atta.”
(2) With regard to Gen. Mahmoud Ahmed meeting with Government Officials:
- It is confirmed that he did meet with Senator Bob Graham and Rep. Porter Goss, the chairmen of the Senate and House
Intelligence Committees. He arrived on the 4th of September, one week before 9-11, on what was described as a routine
visit of consultations with his U.S. counterparts. According to Pakistani journalist, Amir Mateen on Sept 10th 2001:
“ISI Chief Lt-Gen. Mahmoud’s week-long presence in Washington has triggered speculation about the agenda of his mysterious
meetings at the Pentagon and National Security Council. Officially, he is on a routine visit in return to CIA Director
George Tenet’s earlier visit to Islamabad. Official sources confirm that he met Tenet this week. He also held long parleys
with unspecified officials at the White House and the Pentagon. But the most important meeting was with Marc Grossman,
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. One can safely guess that the discussions must have centred around
Afghanistan . . . and Osama bin Laden. What added interest to his visit is the history of such visits. Last time Ziauddin
Butt, Mahmoud’s predecessor, was here, during Nawaz Sharif’s government, the domestic politics turned topsy-turvy
within days.” 4
This, of course, raises a serious question as to why Government Officials were meeting with an individual which had reportedly
requested the 100k wire transfer to Mohammed Atta. We can assume the Government had no knowledge of the
fact before hand. However, since the FBI has confirmed the relationship, it is very odd that no investigation was made, especially
since the 911 Commission admits that it cost ‘only a few hundred thousand dollars’ to finance the attack, making
such a large percentage move of that money very suspicious. Not to mention, they didn’t even bring up Gen. Mahmoud
Ahmed’s 100k wire transfer in their final report, even though it was public knowledge at the time.
Another general point to consider is that fact that Pakistan ISI has worked in lockstep with the CIA for years.
“With CIA backing, the ISI has developed, since the early 1980s, into a parallel structure, a state within a state, with
staff and informers estimated by some at 150,000. It wields enormous power over all aspects of government.” - Michael
Meacher 5
And finally, In the course of Condoleezza Rice’s May 16th press conference, an accredited Indian journalist asked a question
on the role of General Mahmoud Ahmad:
Q: “Are you aware of the reports at the time that the ISI chief was in Washington on September 11th, and on September
10th $100,000 was wired from Pakistan to these groups here in this area? And why was he here? Was he meeting with
you or anybody in the Administration?”
Ms RICE: “I have not seen that report, and he was certainly not meeting with me.”
What is revealing about this denial is that the White House and CNN transcripts of Dr. Rice’s press conference, the words
“ISI chief” were transcribed respectively by a blank “--” and “(inaudible)”, even though they can be clearly heard on the
Video recording.
1 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=107432
2 http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/10/08/india.ressa/
3 http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=95001298
4 Amir Mateen, ISI Chief’s Parleys continue in Washington, News Pakistan, 10 September 2001
5 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/jul/22/usa.september11