[Stultis]

Speaking of Ansar al Islam, the al Qaeda-linked terrorist group that operated in northern Iraq, the former high-ranking military intelligence officer says: “There is no question about the fact that AI had reach into Baghdad. There was an intelligence connection between that group and the regime, a financial connection between that group and the regime, and there was an equipment connection. It may have been the case that the IIS [Iraqi Intelligence Service] support for AI was meant to operate against the [anti-Saddam] Kurds. But there is no question IIS was supporting AI.”

Well, now. Wouldn't that be OPERATIONAL COORDINATION between Iraq and Al Qaeda, which even those who have allowed that there was communication and training have denied (e.g. Senate Intelligence Select Committee)?

[earplug]

What I don't understand is why would the Kurds allow Terroists in Northern Iraq?
Is it possible that the terrorist were aligned along religious ties with the Kurds?
The NO FLY zone would have kept Saddams AF from this area.
If they were being helped by Saddam why the North?