What do you not understand about this statement?
He said he later met al-Zarqawi in Iraq, but was not specific about when.
I've don't deny Al Qaeda is in Iraq now. Never have. But that's alright. Keep it up. Enough citizens of the respective states believe there is a connection, even though one hasn't been officially made.
BTW, that's not vindication you smell, it's what you're trying to shovel as factual evidence