He never had. Most of his cabinet says it ain't so. Except for Cheney who keeps alluding to the tie.
President Bush has said that we haven't seen evidence. Considering how the media won't be satisfied until they see a videotape, that may be a wise move.
Considering however that Saddam at least knew that 9/11 was coming, and I doubt it was because he and OBL were gossiping, I think President Bush would be better served by given the circumstantial evidence that AQ has operated in Iraq for years.
and Powell before the U.N. (among others)