for sure Iraq is connected now.
Iraq was connected in 1995 when Bin laden met with the head of Iraqi intelligence.
Iraq was connected in 1998 when Saddam offered safe haven to Bin laden.
Iraq was connected in 2001 when Saddam's IIS through Abu Wael set up Ansar al-Islam as an al qaeda 'affiliate' terror group.
And Iraq's been connected for decades by supporting Abu Nidal, and training terrorists for years, and funding suicide bomber families.
The difference now is that Iraq has gone from being a safe haven and ally to terror groups to being a target for them.